More than 650,000 protesters wearing matching white T-shirts have transformed central Manila into a sea of white during a massive three-day demonstration against government corruption.
A Sea of White Demands Transparency
From the vantage point of Manila's skyscrapers, the scene below revealed a vast gathering covering Rizal Park's green lawns and spilling into surrounding streets. The protesters, all wearing identical white T-shirts bearing the slogan "transparency for a better democracy", have brought parts of the city to a standstill, forcing closures of schools, roads and offices.
Many participants camped overnight in the park, sleeping in tents or beneath tarpaulins and umbrellas. Families travelled from across the Philippines, some equipped with portable stoves and rice cookers, while others pushed elderly relatives in wheelchairs. The atmosphere was charged with determination, with numerous protesters holding placards demanding authorities "expose the deeds".
Billions Vanish as Floods Devastate Communities
The protest erupted amid growing public fury over a spiralling corruption scandal involving billions of dollars in flood mitigation funds that have mysteriously evaporated. Government investigators have uncovered more than 400 "ghost" flood protection projects that were reported as completed but turned out to be entirely nonexistent.
The country's economic planning minister revealed that up to 70% of public funds allocated for flood control may have been lost to corruption, while some senators estimate the figure at around 50%. This massive financial hemorrhage comes as the Philippines faces increasingly severe weather patterns, with more than 20 typhoons hitting the country this year alone.
The absence of proper flood protections has had deadly consequences. Over the past month, hundreds of Filipinos have died in typhoon-related flooding. As protesters gathered on Sunday, authorities continued searching for approximately 100 people still missing from Typhoon Kalmaegi, which killed at least 269 people in early November. Days later, Typhoon Fung-wong caused further devastation, displacing 1.4 million people and claiming another 28 lives.
Political Implications and Church Power
The massive demonstration was organised and endorsed by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), a powerful Philippine megachurch boasting nearly 3 million members. The INC's influence extends beyond religious matters, as its members traditionally vote as a bloc, giving the sect considerable electoral power.
Edward, a 20-year-old protester from Batangas province, explained his motivation: "We are Filipino … that's why we're here. We have decided to unite as one people to try to make our government better, because there is so much corruption. Our money is being taken but the projects are never completed. There are so many floods. And when the floods come, there are so many issues."
Leonard, a student who travelled with his family from southwestern Luzon, cited his religious obligations: "Our leader announced a rally. It's our nature as the church to unite in the activity that our leader establishes."
The protest could spell significant trouble for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, whom the INC endorsed during the 2022 election. However, relations have since soured, with the church now throwing its weight behind Marcos's running mate and current political rival, Sara Duterte.
In an attempt to quell public outrage, President Marcos promised this week that officials involved in the scandal would be arrested and charged by year's end. "They'll be jailed – there's no merry Christmas for them," he declared.
Meanwhile, at the People Power monument in Quezon City, thousands more protesters gathered in a separate demonstration led by progressive groups and retired generals. Rey Valeros, secretary general of the United People's Initiative, told local media: "Those in power no longer act in accordance with the welfare of the people and according to the wishes of the people. They no longer listen to the cries of the majority."
INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala sought to calm fears of political instability, stating: "We are not fighting the government. It is not our aim to bring down the government as an institution." Religious leader Bienvenido Santiago Jr echoed this sentiment while addressing the crowds: "We do not agree with a coup d'état, with a snap election … We do not want the fall of the government as an institution. What we want is the fall of corruption."
