What to expect : September 21 rally at Luneta #FightTyranny

Movement Against Tyranny  says  the rally marking the 45th anniversary of martial law will be held tomorrow at the Luneta along the stretch of Roxas Boulevard between TM Kalaw St. and P. Burgos Ave, in the area fronting the Rizal monument and the Philippine flag.

“We will gather to end the killings and fight tyranny under the gaze of our hero Jose Rizal and with the Philippine flag flying above,” said Sr. Mary John Mananzan, one of the convenors of the Movement Against Tyranny that initially called for the rally.

The National Parks Development Committee (NDPC) earlier “assigned” rallyists to the Lapu Lapu monument (old skating rink) but organizers said they would not fit in that area.

“In the interest of safety, practicality and symbolism, we are gathering at the area in front of the Rizal Monument and Philippine flag. This is where we will exercise our right to free expression and assembly,” said Mananzan.

The Luneta rally starts at 4 pm and will end at 8 pm with the simultaneous ringing of church bells and handheld bells and ringtones by the rallyists. The program will feature speakers from various schools, organizations and sectors as well as cultural performances by various artists.

Pre-rally events

Prior to the Luneta rally, various groups will hold their separate assemblies and events. A mass is scheduled at 2 p.m. at the San Agustin Church in Intramuros where Caloocan Bishop Virgilio David will say mass for the families of the victims of extrajudicial killings.

Also at 2 p.m., a ecumenical prayer gathering will be held at the United Methodist Church along TM Kalaw St. to be led by Rev. Dr. Eleazar Fernandez, President of the Union Theological Seminary.

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan will lead a march from UST to Mendiola at 12 nn, The group will hold a rally at Mendiola at 2 pm after which they will proceed to the Luneta for the 4 pm program.

Meanwhile schools along Taft. Ave. will gather and hold coordinated marches to Luneta at around 3 pm starting from La Salle-Vito Cruz area.

Lawyers and other legal professions will assemble at 2 pm in front of the Supreme Court for a march to Luneta led by the National Union of People’s Lawyers, while lawyers from Makati will hold a caravan led by the Artikulo 3 group.

There will be motorcades from several schools in Quezon City in the morning and afternoon.

Let’s all sing this song at tomorrow’s Luneta rally

DI NIYO BA NIRIRINIG?
(Do You Hear the People Sing from Les Liserables)
Di niyo ba naririnig?
Tinig ng bayan na galit
Himig ito ng Pilipinong
Di muli palulupig
Dudurugin ang dilim
Ang araw ay mag-aalab
At mga pusong nagtimpi
Ay magliliyab
Ikaw ba’y makikibaka
At hindi maduduwag
Na gisingin ang mga panatikong
bingi’t bulag
Kasinungalingan labanan
hanggang mabuwag
Di niyo ba naririnig?
Tinig ng bayan na galit
Himig ito ng Pilipinong
Di muli palulupig
Dudurugin ang dilim
Ang araw ay mag-aalab
At mga pusong nagtimpi
Ay magliliyab
Ikaw ba ay dadaing na lang
Kimi’t magmumukmok
Habang nagpapakasasa
Ang mga trapong bulok
Gisingin ang puso
Galitin hanggang pumutok
Di niyo ba naririnig?
Tinig ng bayan na galit
Himig ito ng Pilipinong
Di muli palulupig
Dudurugin ang dilim
Ang araw ay mag-aalab
At mga pusong nagtimpi
Ay magliliyab! Magliliyab!

Rallies outside Manila

Rallies will also be held in various parts of Southern Tagalog, Baguio, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Tacloban, Butan and Davao City.  Here is a list of other protest rallies.