Christian leaders welcomed the signs as “miracles” after tens of thousands of Filipinos gathered at the People’s Power Memorial at a massive prayer meeting against corruption on Sunday.
“The trillion-peso march at People Power Monument was nothing but a miracle. It is the deep work of God’s providence,” said Pastor Jose Colin Bagaforo, the chief convener of the Council of Church Leaders for National Change (CLCNT). “With no funds to start and only 11 days to prepare, we have been furious of over 70,000 infuriated citizens at the brave and systemic corruption that plagues our country.”
Bagaforo said the assembly was joined by more than 83 civil society organisations, along with schools, universities, parishes and faith communities. He expressed his gratitude to donors, volunteers and security forces who ensured the safety of participants.
“This miracle is just beginning,” Bagaforo said. “It inspires us through the tears, songs, and passionate prayers of those who have cried out for justice, which burns moral fire in our hearts and completely eradicates corruption.
The CLCNT, a coalition of Roman Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, Muslim and Indigenous groups, organized the march as a peace and prayer gathering. Organizers said the goal was to express public outrage over whole body grafts, including flood control projects.
The scandal has focused on the allocation of trillions over the past decade, with critics saying it has failed to create the right infrastructure. Civil society leaders argue that budget-related corruption has contributed to the loss of life and the evacuation of thousands of people due to sustained flooding.
Organizers were originally expecting 30,000 participants, but Sunday’s estimate of turnout was more than twice that number. The demonstrators marched from various starting points before converging on the monument. Many wore white shirts and ribbons to inform their nonpartisan stances on corruption.
The main program, which ran from 2pm to 5:15pm, included prayers, testimony, musical performances and speeches from civic leaders. The event was community-funded and donations were collected onsite. Organizers stressed that the march is open to all citizens who peacefully and prayerfully support anti-corruption and pro-protest advocacy.
“We thank our generous donors, those who kept us safe, brave souls who shared strong testimony and speeches, various government agencies, performers and tireless members of the various committees,” Bagafollow said.
Church leaders said the assembly was just the beginning of a sustained moral campaign. They pledged to walk with the citizens “so that our Lord, the good shepherd, tends to his flock.”
Faith leaders also said the presence of young people, students and parish communities signaled widespread support for reform. Organizers pledged to maintain pressure on institutional accountability and transparency in government spending.
In previous statements, faith leaders denounced the misuse of alleged flood control as “moral hatred” and called on government agencies to investigate those responsible. Christian Daily International previously reported that church leaders were calling on Filipinos from all sectors, including clergy, civil servants and lay people to stand up to “prophetic witnesses” and report for accountability.
Bagaforo said the rally set a precedent for future mobilization. “Let’s cultivate this miracle until our demands are fully realized,” he said.
