Oceans away, Filipinos make voices heard in London protest

LONDON, United Kingdom – Filipinos living in London were oceans away from Luneta Park and were days behind the “National Day of Protest” on September 21, but they still made their voices heard during their own protest here over the weekend on Sunday, September 24. (READ: ‘IN PHOTOS: OFWs protest vs dictatorship on martial law anniversary‘)

Araial Ilustre, one of the organizers of the protest, said they weren’t able to picket on the 21st due to their work schedules. The weekend was more feasible for them.

A small group of Filipinos gathered outside the Houses of Parliament to condemn Martial Law in Mindanao, killings in the name of the war on drugs, fake news, and human rights violations under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Never again, never again to Martial Law; Stop the killing, start the healing,” were among their chants in wake of the anniversary of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ declaring Martial Law 45 years ago. (READ: ‘Thousands join national protest to remind Filipinos of Marcos’ Martial Law‘ )

 

Some here said they have relatives who were either victims of Marcos Martial Law era or have family killed in the name of the war on drugs pic.twitter.com/e6QkDOJLsI

— Jane Bracher (@janebracher) September 24, 2017

“Ito’y isang pakikiisa sa mga tao sa Pilipinas na nag-protesta against the Duterte administration, especially ‘yung sa EJK, saka ‘yung sa human rights violations ng Duterte administration,” Ilustre said in a short interview.

(This is in solidarity with those who protested in the Philippines against the Duterte administration, especially the EJK, and the human rights violations of the Duterte administration.)

“Nagkataon lang na nung 21, hindi kami nagkaroon ng oras, tapos marami rin kailangan asikasuhin na permiso para makagawa ng isang ganitong pagtitipon sa Inglatera,” he added. (It just so happened that on the 21st, we didn’t have time because we still needed to process permits for rallies like this in England.)

The group of about 20 to 30 people ranged from young kids to adults – some of whom said they were relatives of victims of Marcos’ Martial Law years and others had relatives killed in Duterte’s drug war.

The goal for them was to raise international awareness about what’s happening in the Philippines. True enough, they managed to catch the attention of some passers-by outside Parliament.

“It’s not only for Filipinos, it’s also for other people to see and to understand what’s really going on,” Ilustre said.

 

These Filipinos are protesting against Martial Law in Mindanao and EJKs here at Parliament Square in London #MartialLaw45 pic.twitter.com/k1g5aeEFWg

— Jane Bracher (@janebracher) September 24, 2017

 

Ilustre, 40 and now a health worker in Warwickshire after spending 11 years in London, said the gathering was organized via Facebook in just a week, in which time they also secured permits to rally. A couple of policemen approached the Filipinos during the protest but only to inform them not to use megaphones or loud audio equipment.

Filipinos here say there is also pro-administration gathering at Marble Arch, not too far from here in Parliament Square #MartialLaw45 pic.twitter.com/zFL7O0QqRf

— Jane Bracher (@janebracher) September 24, 2017

The protesters, although very few compared to the thousands who gathered at Luneta Park in Manila, were determined to express their indignation toward the Duterte administration, even if they are far away from home.

“Maganda naman ang naging resulta,” said Ilustre. “Hindi man namin matatapatan ‘yung mga tao sa Luneta, ang libelo ng pag-aalab ng aming mga puso ay siguradong kagaya rin ng pag-aalab ng mga puso ng nasa Pilipinas.”

(The result was good. We may not match the people at Luneta, but the fire in our hearts is surely of the same intensity as those in the Philippines.)

Social media, in the same way it was instrumental to putting Duterte in power during last year’s national elections, is also the medium through which many Filipinos are taking a stand against his government.

“Laking pasasalamat din namin sa social media kasi at least kahit papaano napapanood namin sila, nakakapag-comment ka,” Ilustre said. “Kaya kung hindi ako maka-attend ng rally doon, dito ko na lang gagawin or through social media.”

(We’re very thankful for social media because at least we can watch them and comment. So when I can’t attend a rally at home, I do it here or through social media.)

The state of the Philippines at present, with its divisiveness and Duterte’s continuing bloody war on drugs, is of concern to Filipinos abroad like Ilustre, who fears bringing home his children.

“Gusto namin na umuwi sa isang payapang bansa saka maunlad na bansa,” he said. 

“Kasi ‘pag nandito ka sa abroad, kino-compare mo rin eh. Wow ang ganda naman dito, hindi ba puwede sa Pilipinas din? Tapos malalaman mo sa news, matatakot akong iuwi ‘yung mga anak ko kung may ganoong nangyayari.”

(We want to come home to a peaceful and prosperous country. You’re here abroad and you can’t help but compare. It’s beautiful here, why can’t it be like this in the Philippines? And then you’ll watch the news, I would be afraid to take my children home if bad things are happening.)

 

Meanwhile, a pro-administration gathering was held almost simultaneously at Marble Arch in Central London, just some minutes away from Parliament via the underground. A Facebook Live video was also posted by user Malcolm Conlan, showing another pro-Duterte rally that took place at Hyde Park, also in Central London. – Rappler.com