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Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Politics, foodfest, people-watching in anti-Arroyo rally (7:40 p.m.)
MANILA -- Philippine protests can be powerful tools in toppling presidents. They're also a great chance for unlikely allies to unite in the streets, snarf down deep-fried chicken gizzards and bop along with the Sex Bomb dancers.
Tens of thousands of people marched Wednesday in the canyons of high-rise buildings in the capital's Makati financial district, demanding that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo resign. They accused her of rigging last year's election and her family of taking kickbacks from an illegal gambling racket.
The charges are serious, and many are frustrated with refusals by Arroyo--who says she's done nothing wrong--to quit and defuse the crisis that's been boiling for a month.
But the massive crowd's mood was more festive than angry. It looked like a huge street party with an interesting mix of characters.
Maui Berez, 18, staked out a piece of pavement with about five other transvestites. In a clingy red top, padded bra, tight jeans, hair band and faint stubble above his upper lip, Berez was more motivated by social causes than Arroyo's corruption allegations.
"We're poor people and she didn't help us," Berez said.
Down the packed street near the Bank of China, about 30 members of the Communist Party of the Philippines occupied a plot of pavement, holding up a huge red banner with a huge gold hammer and sickle.
Housewife Prime Jardeleze, 49, proudly stood by the banner, wearing a black T-shirt adorned with Che Guevara puffing on a cigar.
She pointed to the late Argentinian revolutionary and said, "He's my favorite hero."
Although many people say they're most upset about poverty or Arroyo's graft allegations, Jardeleze said the president's foreign policy bothered her the most. Arroyo has been a strong U.S. ally.
"Gloria is very much in favor of the imperialists, and we are against the imperialists," Jardeleze said as her comrades whispered to her: "The economy. Talk about the economy."
Jojo Marines, 43, said Arroyo should quit and hand power back to predecessor Joseph Estrada, who was kicked out of office by massive demonstrations in 2001. Arroyo, Estrada's separately elected vice president, played a key role in ousting her former boss and getting him detained on corruption charges.
Like many of Estrada's fans, Marines--a Manila government worker--thought Arroyo rose to power illegally and cheated in last year's vote.
"Twice, she stole the presidency," said Marines, who wore a T-shirt with an image of a shrieking Arroyo with her hands in the air as if she were about to grab something.
Nearby, about 30 Sigma Delta Pi sorority students at the University of the Philippines sat on the street with a big white banner reading "Gloria, Get, Get, Out!"
Street vendors were out in full force, peddling corn on the cob, boiled bananas, fish balls, deep-fried chicken gizzards on a stick and scoops of ice cream on hamburger buns.
Music and entertainment were another crucial component, keeping the crowds from drifting away. Pop stars crooned on a huge stage and the "Sex Bomb" dancers--a group of young women in tight white tops and blue capri pants--did the classic bump and grind.
Some protesters who were far from the stage arranged their own entertainment, a radio blaring the Beatles' "All My Loving." (AP) |
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