Celeste Legaspi (left) with “Sadako.” PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEMBERG ANG
Spotted at the Rizal Park, during the rally commemorating the 45th anniversary of the declaration of martial law on Sept. 21, was a rather disconcerting protestor: Sadako of the Japanese-horror hit, “Ring.”
Understandably, celebs Agot Isidro, Cherry Pie Picache and Celeste Legaspi couldn’t resist having a photo-op with the J-Horror icon who flashed a placard that said: “Sad-Ako. Binubuhay ang martial law. #NeverAgain. (I’m sad. Martial law is being revived.)” Art director Dennis Corteza played Sadako.
Agot told the Inquirer: “I have been attending the previous rallies, and this one, I felt, was more empowered. It was good to see lots of young people, and they were the ones who were braver and more vocal. It’s important for everyone to voice out his or her beliefs. It is healthy for a democratic country, as it provides feedback for the sitting administration.”
Celeste recounted: “It was indescribable. I couldn’t go to the Edsa rallies because of my asthma. I’d die there. But, at Rizal Park, I was OK! It was festive, happy and free … my kind of place to be and when it rained hard, we all just helped each other out … ?”
Another goosebumps moment was when Agot, Cherry Pie and Celeste joined other artists in singing the “Les Miserables” anthem, “Do You Hear the People Sing? in Filipino (“’Di N’yo Ba Naririnig?).”
“I was so proud to share the stage with my fellow artists, and to sing the song in Filipino was a highly emotional experience for me,” Agot recalled.
Agot Isidro (left) and Cherry Pie Picache (right) meet Sadako. Photo courtesy of Alemberg Ang
Celeste asserted: “I so loved being with my fellow Filipino artists, standing tall on that stage—singing those wonderful Filipino lyrics, written by committed Filipino minds, to a totally defiant people who are brave and really angry.”
It reminded Celeste that, amid the darkness, “there is hope.”
“They’re killing our children. They’re our future. They cannot be allowed to continue. They need to be stopped. I didn’t go to Edsa in 1986 to just allow this to happen,” Celeste exclaimed. “They better be ready and afraid because we just got started, and there’s no turning back now.”
It was exhilarating, Cherry Pie pointed out. “Ang sarap! To be in the company of people who share your hope, prayers, intense emotions. I can only say: I am proud to be Filipino!” —BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR.