Image: Instagram/@janinegutierrez
To mark the Philippines’ 122nd Independence Day, actress Janine Gutierrez joined various progressive groups in their protest at the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) yesterday, June 12.
The Independence Day protest tackled two main issues: the controversial anti-terrorism bill, which is now only waiting President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature to become a law, and the government’s allegedly anemic response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The “Grand Mañanita” protest in UPD was a jab at Maj. Gen. Debold Sinas’ mañanita birthday party last May, which was attended by over a dozen police officers. It violated quarantine protocols on mass gathering, social distancing and wearing of face masks amid the COVID-19 crisis. Despite getting called out for setting a “bad example,” Sinas was still able to keep his post.
Gutierrez said that she almost did not make it in time for the rally due to the strict security around the area. The actress documented her journey and uploaded it on her Twitter page yesterday.
“Muntik na akong hindi makadalo sa mañanita dahil napakahigpit ng bouncers!” Gutierrez said. “Pero sa huli, nakaabot din. Happy independence day, Pilipinas. Mahal ka namin.”
(I was almost unable to attend the mañanita because of the strict bouncers! But in the end, I made it. Happy Independence Day, Philippines. We love you.)
Muntik na akong hindi makadalo sa mañanita dahil napakahigpit ng bouncers! Pero sa huli, nakaabot din. Happy independence day, Pilipinas. Mahal ka namin ♥️ pic.twitter.com/JUtaUpvEan
— 🌺JANINE (@janinegutierrez) June 12, 2020
Gutierrez also called for the junking of the anti-terrorism bill via Instagram. The actress and her companions wore face masks while protesting inside the state university campus.
Activist and musician Renato Reyes Jr. said that they placed markers along the university to indicate where people should stand during the protest. Reyes showed how protestors practiced social distancing through a high-angled shot of the University Avenue, uploaded on his Twitter account on June 12.
During the mananita,
1. Markers were placed along the university avenue to indicate where people should stand
2. Volunteer doctors and nurses were present
3. Lawyers were deployed
4. Organizers made sure program would not go beyond 12nn
5. Orderly dispersal of participants after pic.twitter.com/tMwmWyGDpO— Renato Reyes, Jr. (@natoreyes) June 12, 2020
According to Reyes, the organizers made sure that the program would not go beyond 12 noon and deployed volunteer doctors, nurses and lawyers in the area. The protestors dispersed in an orderly manner afterward.
Several artists also participated in an online protest during the Independence Day celebration, including actors Enchong Dee, Chai Fonacier and Agot Isidro, musician Noel Cabangon and more. /ra
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