From the Corridors of Power to the Streets of the Philippines

The saying, "The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes," holds profound relevance in the Philippines today. It speaks to the collective blindness that can develop around systemic issues, even as they directly impact daily life. In the Philippines, this "obvious thing" is the pervasive issue of government corruption, a problem that has recently sparked widespread public anger and protest. This outrage, however, is not isolated; it is inextricably linked to a pivotal moment in the nation's past: the declaration of Martial Law on September 21, 1972. The protests against today's alleged corruption are not merely a reaction to current events, but a powerful echo of the struggle against the abuse of power that defined a generation.

While the phrase "ghost infrastructure projects" may seem like a distant, abstract issue, it has become a central and deeply personal matter for many Filipinos. Recent public outrage, fueled by televised congressional hearings and viral social media posts, centers on allegations of massive corruption in flood control projects. These projects, funded by billions of pesos from public taxes, are meant to protect communities from the severe flooding that plagues the country. Yet, as the recent monsoon season brought devastating floods to cities and provinces, it became painfully obvious that these projects were either substandard or nonexistent. This blatant betrayal of public trust resonates with the experience of Filipinos during Martial Law, when government cronyism and rampant theft of public funds were the norm. As activists today point out, the current "Trillion Peso March" is a protest against a "tradition" of corruption rooted in the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., a period now being called the "golden age of corruption.

The public's response, dubbed the "Trillion Peso March," has seen tens of thousands of people take to the streets in Metro Manila and other areas to demand accountability. This movement, a peaceful show of force reminiscent of the 1986 People Power Revolution, unites a diverse mix of students, church leaders, labor unions, and ordinary citizens. By choosing to hold their demonstration on the anniversary of the Martial Law declaration, protesters are sending a clear message. The date, once a symbol of repression, has been reclaimed as a day for renewed vigilance and a demand for government accountability. The demonstrations at the People Power Monument and Luneta Park are a powerful, visual testament to this continuity. They are a declaration of "never again" to the impunity and grand-scale theft that plagued the country for decades.

The "obvious things" in this context are the empty promises and tangible harm caused by corruption. It is no longer an abstract headline but a reality felt in the loss of homes, livelihoods, and the very future of the country's youth. The public has begun to observe these truths, and in doing so, they have chosen to take action, transforming their outrage into a powerful movement for change and accountability. By connecting the current fight against corruption to the historical fight against dictatorship, the Filipino people are not only demanding justice for present-day grievances but also ensuring that the lessons of the past are not forgotten. The courage shown on the streets today proves that the spirit of the People Power Revolution lives on, ready to rise whenever the "obvious truths" of a nation are ignored.

THE POWER OF THE 'PEOPLE' IS GREATER THAN THE PEOPLE IN POWER.