It was my first experience to attend a hardcore rally! I’ve attended rallies before but only in UP. It was hot on the streets, good thing I have an umbrella with me. To fight the heat off, I bought ice candy, two of them, so I stayed cool for the whole rally. I liked the running part of the demonstration. It was the most enjoyable part, together with the chanting. I like what the rally does. It has a homogenizing effect. We were marching with high school students, squatters, teachers, workers, everyone in the community. And it felt like we were one. I didn’t feel that I am a UP student with them. There is no difference between me and the people I’m with. The classes and the status didn’t matter in a rally. We were one, as Filipinos.
I got hooked with the chanting and felt like I was an expert in shouting those words. And I felt proud yelling the chants while passersby look at me. In a different perspective, I lowered my pride and showed the ordinary people in the streets that I am part of this rally and I’m proud. I felt the passion of being in the rally. It gave me the feeling that I belong to this big family of people who care and makes a difference for the future of our country.
What I liked about rallies also is the food. In the program in Liwasang Bonifacio, there are lots of stores to buy food. It can also be a good time to go food tripping. After that, we marched to Mendiola. Only eight of us were left in the class. In the program there, different speakers from different sectors spoke and presentations were presented. We finished the program and went home safely. I was tired but that was an experience I’ll never forget.
