The group also demanded that the government expedite trials and that there be restitution, publish real statements of assets, liabilities and net worth, including Marcos’; dismantle political dynasties and pork barrel funds; criminalize budget insertions; and allow public participation in budget deliberations.
Bishop Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan was there at the rally and supported the call for transparency and justice. He encouraged the youth to continue their action and march for social justice using social media to spread the Gospel message by being “warriors of truth in the digital space.”
Bishop Robbie Gaa of Novaliches also spoke at the rally, and he was quoted as saying: “Now, we challenge President Marcos Jr. to act decisively, not by shielding anyone, but by letting the truth come out.”
A few brave bishops preaching the Gospel message will not convert the corrupt elite. It seems that most of the hierarchy and their priests are too distant from the suffering people of God and busy dressing up in golden robes for multiple Masses, forgetting that Jesus of Nazareth stood with the poor and challenged corrupt leaders in society. In solidarity with the poor, he said: “Whatever you do for the least of my brothers and sisters, you do for me” (Mt 25:40).
The growing unrest is rising from an ocean of poverty in a nation rich in natural resources and productivity, but corruption is causing inequality in society, keeping wages low, and keeping social deprivation and unemployment high.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show that the country’s national poverty incidence was 15.5 percent in 2023. This means millions of Filipinos couldn’t earn enough to feed themselves and their children.
As of July 1, 2024, the official population of the Philippines was 112,729,484, and 15.5 percent of that were 17,473,069 Filipinos who went hungry every day, unable to meet their basic food needs. Some 57.71 million people live in rural areas, and the PSA said 22 percent of them, or 12.69 million, went hungry every day despite living in food-producing areas. Urban poverty is also severe. The very poor do survive, some by collecting leftovers from restaurants and making a kind of stew called “pag-pag.”
Results of the Social Weather Stations’ April 2025 survey showed that 55 percent of families, or an estimated 15.5 million, considered themselves poor. Assuming an average household size of 4.1 persons, based on 2020 data, this would translate to approximately 63.55 million people in self-rated poverty. We need to ask why.
The answer is most likely found in what the CLCNT said about dismantling politically powerful families. The 1987 Philippine Constitution says political dynasties should be banned. But because these families continue to control Congress, there is no chance they would commit political harakiri and pass laws banning themselves and their relatives from public office.
So, we could say the Philippines is doomed by the political dynasties running the nation for their own benefit and that of their cronies.
They are like the superrich Dives in the story told by Jesus of Nazareth. In it, Dives would not share the crumbs that fell from his table with Lazarus, the beggar dying at his gate. The millions of impoverished and hungry Filipinos will just have to continue to survive on the “pag-pag” falling from the tables of the wealthy./PN
