Songs, Effigies, and Raised Fists: Manila Women's Day Rally Gets Creative at Liwasang Bonifacio
International Women's Day hit different this year sa Liwasang Bonifacio — hindi lang placards ang bumungad sa mga dumalo, kundi full-on protest art, live music, at mga effigies na halatang pinaghirapan.
Led by GABRIELA and allied women's groups, the Sunday gathering on March 8 turned the historic Manila plaza into a fusion of activism and creative expression. Cultural groups performed socially conscious songs while artists staged striking installations that doubled as photo backdrops for rally participants.
The themes were clear and urgent: women's rights, the crushing weight of rising living costs, corruption, and the call for greater government accountability. Large effigies depicting political figures and symbols of corruption stood tall among the crowd, a tradition deeply rooted in Philippine protest culture.
Activist cultural groups like Panday Sining — known for using concerts, street art, and visual pieces to spotlight social issues — played a central role in the program. Their art wasn't just decoration; it was a political statement, blurring the line between creative expression and direct action.
Organizers said the gathering aimed to amplify the voices of Filipino women and workers facing economic hardship and gender violence. As performers led chants and songs calling for justice and reforms, participants carried their own placards while posing beside the effigies — proof that in the Philippines, protest is always part performance, and always deadly serious.
Source: Manila Bulletin
