SAN PABLO CITY – Hundreds of students from various colleges and high schools staged a noise barrage in front of the San Pablo City Cathedral in Sa Mangga on October 3, 2025, marking the city’s first anti-corruption rally. The demonstration, held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., was organized by SAPAK (San Pablo Ayaw sa Korapsyon) in response to mounting public outrage over large-scale corruption exposed in recent months.
Carrying placards and beating improvised instruments, the young protesters expressed their frustration through chanting and shouting, calling for accountability in government. The event was part of a growing wave of anti-corruption actions across the country following revelations of massive irregularities in government flood control projects, now referred to as the “Trillion Peso Scandal.”
Monsignor Jerry Bituon, who addressed the gathering, underscored the difficulty of the fight. “This is a hard fight because we are fighting against ourselves, because for a long time we ignored corruption. We are also fighting against the culture of nonchalance,” he said. He expressed gratitude to the younger generations for their active role in the campaign. “I am thankful that the GenZs and the millennials are already awakened and actively fighting against corruption,” he added.
SAPAK announced that noise barrages will be held every Friday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Sa Mangga as part of a sustained campaign against corruption.
The rally in San Pablo aligns with broader national efforts led by the Catholic Church. In recent weeks, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) urged dioceses and the faithful to join anti-corruption demonstrations, framing them not as political acts but as a “moral stand” against what it called an entrenched culture of dishonesty.
The movement gained momentum on September 21, 2025, when thousands joined nationwide protests on the anniversary of Martial Law. Inspired by the turnout, religious and civic leaders launched the “Trillion Peso March Movement” on October 2, with larger rallies planned for November 30.
Church leaders have justified their involvement by stressing that corruption disproportionately harms the poor by diverting funds intended for healthcare, education, and disaster prevention. They have demanded swift investigations, accountability for public officials and contractors, and the restitution of stolen public funds. The CBCP has also called on Filipinos to “make corruption shameful again” and to reject patronage politics.
The San Pablo rally marked the beginning of a local, youth-driven campaign that is expected to continue weekly, echoing the national call for transparency, accountability, and reform.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
