ILOILO City – The Archdiocese of Jaro is transforming its weekly anti-corruption vigils into a full-scale public protest on November 30, Bonifacio Day, signalling an intensified call for accountability and moral reform in government.
Msgr. Meliton Oso, director of the Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center (JASAC), said the rally – themed “Padabdabon ang Kaisog ni Bonifacio: Martsa kag Manindugan Kontra sa Kagarukan” (“Igniting the Courage of Bonifacio: March and Stand Against Corruption”) – seeks to “rekindle the spirit of resistance and courage” among Ilonggos to speak out against corruption.
Participants will converge at two assembly points — in front of the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral and the University of the Philippines-Iloilo City Campus — before marching through the city at 3 p.m.
The event, organized under the Kahublagan Kontra Kurapsyon, will unite civic, youth, and faith-based organizations in what could become Iloilo’s largest anti-corruption demonstration this year.
“Normalizing corruption has overwhelmed and devastated our nation,” Oso declared. “However, even amidst this turmoil, the Lord is with us; He will guide us through the waves and help us emerge from the turbulent waters by embracing righteousness, honesty, and accountability.”
In the weeks leading up to the rally, the Archdiocese has been holding Friday silent protests and candle-lighting ceremonies at the cathedral, gradually building public momentum. The church façade has become a backdrop for civic awakening, with participants donning shirts emblazoned with the defiant message: “Proud to be Filipino, ashamed of my government.”
During his homily, Oso warned against what he called the “three faces of corruption” — Good Samaritan-Theft, Holy Charity-Theft, and Philanthro-Theft — saying even acts of generosity lose moral value when used for political or personal gain.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has also thrown its support behind the movement. CBCP president Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David encouraged parishioners nationwide to wear white every Sunday until the end of November to symbolize a collective stand for integrity and moral renewal.
The Archdiocese expects thousands to join the Bonifacio Day march, seeing it as more than a political protest — but a moral crusade urging Filipinos to reclaim their conscience and courage in the fight against corruption./PN
