An estimated 10,000 demonstrators filled the streets of Cebu City on Sunday, November 30, 2025, in a powerful show of unity against corruption. The massive gathering, organized by the Archdiocese of Cebu and civil society coalitions, represented one of the largest anti-corruption protests in recent Visayas history.
Spiritual Awakening Against Corruption
The day began with a solemn mass at the Basilica del Sto. Niño celebrated by Cebu Archbishop Alberto "Abet" Uy. Addressing the faithful who braved the intense heat, the Archbishop delivered a memorable message in Cebuano: "Bahalag mainitan, basta dili lang makawatan" (It's okay to get hot, as long as we are not robbed).
Archbishop Uy powerfully connected the Sugboanong Pakigbisog Kontra Korapsyon (SuPaKK) movement with the beginning of Advent, describing the season as symbolic of preparation, renewal, and new hope. He warned against "spiritual sleep" that distances people from God and weakens moral conscience, contributing to societal issues including broken families, environmental destruction, and widespread corruption.
"Corruption is severe, greed and covetousness are excessive... Because God is absent in the lives of many people. Wake up now," Uy urged the crowd in Cebuano. He called for unity and direction toward God as the solution to the nation's corruption problems.
Personal Stories Highlight Corruption's Human Cost
The protest march proceeded from the basilica to Fuente Osmeña Circle, where emotional testimonies highlighted the real-world consequences of corruption. Ramil Racuña from Dumlog, Talisay City, shared a heartbreaking account linking the deaths of two neighbors during Typhoon Tino's flash floods on November 4 to alleged corruption in the Mananga River dike construction.
Racuña recounted losing his dog in the incident, stating the tragedy made him reflect on how substandard infrastructure endangers communities. "I became a criminal to my own dog, that's when I thought I killed the dog, what more for the people who are affected by that corruption," he expressed in Cebuano.
His testimony reinforced the coalition's demand for accountability from officials involved in public works projects.
Nationwide Demonstrations and Security Measures
While Cebu witnessed its historic gathering, simultaneous protests erupted across the Philippines. In Metro Manila, thousands joined the "Trillion Peso March" led by Akbayan Party-list Representatives Chel Diokno and Perci Cendaña. The protest moved from Edsa Shrine to the Edsa People Power Monument in Quezon City, with participants including Senator Kiko Pangilinan, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, and former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
Meanwhile, progressive groups under Bayan 7 held a separate rally marking Andres Bonifacio's 162nd birth anniversary, with approximately 800 participants advocating for wage increases, farmer subsidies, and an end to corruption.
Authorities implemented extensive security measures nationwide. In Cebu, nearly 1,000 police officers were deployed with an additional 4,000 personnel on standby. Metro Manila saw more than 17,000 police personnel securing protest areas after the Philippine National Police implemented reinforced security plans following September's violent incidents.
Police reported no untoward incidents during all demonstrations, confirming the peaceful nature of the nationwide anti-corruption protests that united thousands of Filipinos in demanding accountability and transparency in government.
