Photos by Demie Dangla and Anjon Galauran
The fire of EDSA need not live in the heart of the EDSA shrine monument alone if it was in the spirit of every Filipino.
After being halted by cops from getting near Camp Crame and the EDSA shrine in Ortigas, the people nevertheless pursued their program in the streets of EDSA between Cubao and Santolan MRT stations. The group prayed along the stretch of EDSA, before pursuing with the originally planned ‘human chain’ in the unplanned venue.
Early afternoon, participants converged in EDSA Cubao MRT station. (Photo by Demie Dangla)
The group later trooped along EDSA, on the way to Camp Crame in Santolan, where the program was originally slated. Part of the program was conducting an interfaith mass and and a ‘human chain,’ a symbolic act where participants brace arms with the person next to him/her. (Photo by Anjon Galauran)
The group also carried posters and banners calling for the ouster of President Noynoy Aquino, who drew flak from the people after the botched operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, which led to the death of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers.
Protesters led by the Bagong Alyansanag Makabayan (BAYAN) demanded ‘truth and accountability’ from the Aquino administration, demanding him to speak up over the controversial Mamasapano incident. (Photo by Anjon Galauran)
The group however was stopped by police officers along EDSA southbound even before they could arrive in Camp Crame. (Photo by Anjon Galauran)
Protesters hence decided to hold program in the ‘unplanned venue’ between Cubao and Santolan MRT stations along EDSA road. (Photo by Demie Dangla)
They also urged the cops to participate in fighting for a similar cause, justice for their fellow SAF troopers. (Photo by Anjon Galauran)
Some cops even felt emotional after the group constantly discussed how they were fighting for a similar cause. (Photo by Demie Dangla)
Some police officers even allowed the placing of stickers in front of their shields. (Photo by Anjon Galauran)
Less than an hour after being stalled, a group comprising of religious groups and civil society members coming from the other side of EDSA southbound, met with the group hailing from Cubao. Among the leaders who arrived were Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Fr. Ben Alforque from the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) , performance artist Mae ‘Juana Change’ Paner, among others.
The group questioned why the larger group from Cubao was halted, whereas they have already ironed out the details of the program together with the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO). (Photo by Anjon Galauran)
The leaders were told by NCRPO that sudden changes occurred after the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) began road closures last night.
The group hence decided to hold program where they were stalled. The church leaders discussed the situation to the crowd before pursuing a collective prayer with the people. (Photo by Anjon Galauran)
Later on, the human chain was also pursued, this time, instead in the same venue where cops stopped the group between Santolan and Cubao MRT stations. (Photo by Demie Dangla)
The groups formed a single file “human chain” that stretched along EDSA. (Photo by Anjon Galauran)
For the participants, bracing arms was a symbol of unity for a single cause, “truth and accountability.”
