was there at the the Interfaith rally at the corner of Ayala and Paseo de Roxas avenues today, February 29. A light drizzle greeted me when I arrived hours before the start of the rally. That didnt dampen my spirits though. I had faith that the InterFaith rally will continue despite the drizzle. Hope reigned in my heart that the InterFaith rally will set the ground for Filipinos to take a look at our current situation. While waiting for the program to start, a buzz of activity unfolded before me : positioning of anti-GMA placards, the security precautions, TV network preparations, enterprising vendors. Vendors hawking all sorts of wares from ice cream and grilled dried squid to hats, buttons, head gears, shirts and umbrellas loitered around, mingling with the rest of the early birds like me.
By some miracle, the drizzle stopped and its place a rain of confetti from the BPI building fell on my face as I gazed on the looming skyscrapers surrounding the stage. The best is yet to come, as I positioned myself across the stage together with some senior citizens.
A banner with Hear no evil, speak no evil, deliver us from Evil. faced me to my right while various Philippine Flags to my left waved to the unison of the soft breeze of Ayala avenue. Ive never felt so proud to be a Filipino.
The Erap magic is obviously alive as the man with the Gloria Resign sign showed off his Erap shirt and also judging from the deafenings shouts of Erap! Erap! from his supporters.
The charismatic Jesus Is Lord leaders- Brother Eddiev Villanueva, Bishop Dan Balais & Bishop Leo Alconga led the crowd in prayer, with almost everyone raising their hands in prayer in the air.
Hands raised in prayer evoked a heart-rending moment during the InterFaith Rally. Three prayer appeals including one calling on the President to heed the will of the people, and another calling on the Armed Forces to protect the people, not just one family surrounded the air. A few shed tears. One felt the crowds faith that truth will soon happen. We may not know the tipping point but our faith is all we have at this point.
In a stirring moment, green balloons were set free into the air, as a young man sang a gospel song in falsetto and confetti rained on the crowd below.
We have been looking for justice. Because we have the [biggest] number of victims of extrajudicial killings. No one has been punished.
We share your prayer: Lord, deliver us from evil. Tama na, sobra na, bumaba na kayo diyan! (Enough is enough. Step down!)
he atmosphere along Makati Avenue felt like a festive fiesta. Groups of rallyists converted Ayala Avenue to picnic grounds. Others brought along snacks. Feeling sapped of energy, I bought fish balls.
Those far from the stage were able to watch the program through an outdoor TV screen. The crowds soon dwindled as soon as Jun Lozada left the stage but some groups opted to stay and rendered their own mini-programs.
The InterFaith Rally is just a start. . Imagine that! est. 100,000 people marched and shouted We want the truth! and Gloria resign! The rally was a success in terms of sending a message to President Arroyo.
I have faith the truth will soon set us free. (less info)