Iglesia ni Cristo vigil: Alternative views, casual get-together

MANILA, Philippines – “Saang lokal ka (From what church locale are you from)?”

They ask this of the person next to them as a conversation starter.

The days-long controversial mass action of powerful homegrown church Iglesia ni Cristo(INC) involved a generally friendly crowd with isolated cases of reported violence, including an attack on an ABS-CBN media crew cab.

The religious crowd remained in a celebratory mood on the 3^rd day of the vigil Saturday, August 29, even as critics blamed them for monstrous vehicular traffic in the area.

INC media provided alternative views to seemingly prevailing sentiments circulating on social media, where the century-old religious denomination was receiving flak for blocking a major road.

They were able to secure a permit on Saturday for mass action on the EDSA and Shaw Boulevard extension until Sunday, August 30.

Earlier, the crowd blocked the EDSA-Ortigas service roads despite the absence of a permit.

On Saturday, both the northbound and southbound service roads of the EDSA-Shaw intersection remained unpassable.

Mood

A mix of young and old, the INC flock during Saturday’s vigil started growing before noon.

INC followers in casual wear, listened to mild rock and lively song numbers, oblivious to the humid environment under the elevated tracks of the Metro Rail Transit Shaw station and the engine noise of the trains that stopped intermittently.  

“Pormal po ang pagsamba sa amin (Our services our formal),” said one member, very much unlike the gathering on Shaw. 

Many of the church-born members had never experienced joining any such mass action on the streets before, being disallowed by the church from joining rallies. (READ: Iglesia ni Cristo Members brave street action for ‘salvation’) 

They sit on the ground rubbing elbows with fellow INC members who they had never met before and who had come from other locales. Others found comfortable spots to sleep on.

A motorbike with the key left in its slot was reported to the organizers so the owner could claim it. Meals in plastic wraps continued to be distributed to the INC members on the 3rd day of the vigil.

But members of INC’s network of volunteer security personnel – men in collared shirts bearing the acronym SCAN, or the Society of Communication and Network – also provided street children with meals on Saturday. SCAN volunteers are usually tapped to help guard and secure chapel compounds.

Alternative media

The moving movie trailer of Joel Lamangan’s dramatic film Felix Manalo, a biography of the INC founder himself, was looped and flashed on the multiple screens in the venue.

Eagle News, INC’s news television program, was also streamed live.

Anchors provided alternative views on issues surrounding the INC vigil, including putting the blame on the government for failing to provide a long-term solution to road traffic.

“Traffic naman talaga sa Pilipinas (It really is traffic here in the Philippines),” said one television host.

Former Alagad party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta, known in Iglesia circles as Ka Dante, called the Department of Justice (DOJ) the “Department of Selective Justice” on air.

Eagle News (Iglesia ni Cristo news program) anchor Ka Dante calls DOJ the Department of Selective Justice #Rappler pic.twitter.com/RvqoEynl2T

— Buena Bernal (@buenabernal) August 29, 2015

Calls

The INC members are calling on government to keep its hands off religious matters, referring to an illegal detention complaint before the DOJ against INC leaders, among others. (READ: INC lawyer Cuevas hits De Lima bias)

The vigil started on Thursday, August 28, in front of DOJ in downtown Manila. (READ: Iglesia ni Cristo members prepared for days-long street vigil)

They have also raised other issues such as the acceptance of Anthony Menorca – younger brother of a former INC minister Lowell Menorca II, who was allegedly abducted – into the DOJ Witness Protection Program. The elder Menorca who was detained in a Cavite jail for alleged illegal possession of explosives was eventually freed and later denied the abduction, although his younger brother claimed Lowell said all these under duress. 

The INC has also brought up other issues like the administration’s Disbursement Acceleration Program – parts of which were declared unconstitutional – and Mamasapano, a covert counterterrorism operation which claimed the lives of 44 elite cops and rebels. – Rappler.com