An in-depth analysis of the September 21, 2025 protests that echoed the spirit of 1986
Introduction: When History Repeats with Purpose
When history repeats itself, it often does so with renewed purpose and urgency. On September 21, 2025, Manila and Quezon City became the stage for a massive demonstration against government corruption, as thousands of Filipinos gathered in a striking display of unity. This protest was not a random occurrence; it was meticulously planned to coincide with the 53rd anniversary of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s declaration of martial law — a pivotal event in Philippine history.
The marchers, dressed in black and white, formed a human river stretching from Luneta Park to the People Power Monument. This route was symbolic, evoking memories of the 1986 People Power Revolution that peacefully ended Marcos Sr.’s two-decade dictatorship. According to local reports, an estimated 50,000 people participated, echoing the spirit of collective action that once reshaped the nation (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2025).
What set this protest apart was its paradoxical origin. The investigation into corruption that ignited public outrage had been initiated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son of the ousted dictator. This twist underscored the persistent struggle between memory and power in Philippine society.
Observers noted the profound irony: a Marcos now appeared to champion transparency, even as citizens recalled past abuses associated with the family name (Rappler, 2025). Many participants carried placards referencing both the martial law years and recent allegations of graft within government agencies.
Analysts argue that this demonstration reflects a maturing democracy, where citizens demand accountability regardless of political lineage. The peaceful nature of the protest highlighted the enduring legacy of nonviolent resistance in Filipino political culture.
In conclusion, the events of September 21, 2025, served as a powerful reminder that history’s lessons are never truly forgotten. By invoking both past and present, Filipinos demonstrated their resolve to confront corruption and defend democratic values.
The Catalyst: A 1.9 Trillion Peso Scandal
The protests emerged from revelations of massive corruption in the Philippines’ flood control infrastructure program—a scandal involving 1.9 trillion pesos (approximately $42.6 billion) over the past 15 years. This wasn’t merely another case of government graft; it struck at the core of Filipino suffering.
The Anatomy of “Ghost” Infrastructure
The flood control scandal represents a particularly insidious form of corruption: the theft of funds meant to protect communities from increasingly catastrophic flooding. Investigations revealed how politically connected contractors allegedly cornered major projects through a web of deception:
- Ghost Projects: Infrastructure contracts for work never started
- Phantom Completions: Projects marked as finished but never built
- Political Patronage: Contractors with connections to lawmakers receiving preferential treatment
- Systemic Exploitation: A pattern resembling the 2013 Priority Development Assistance Fund scandal
“The reason the flood control anomalies hit such a raw nerve among our people is because the floods have really become catastrophic for a lot of our people,” explained Teddy Casino, chairman of progressive group Bayan. This observation captures why this particular corruption case resonated so deeply—it directly connected government theft to citizen suffering during increasingly severe weather events.
The Protest: A Masterclass in Peaceful Resistance
Scale and Organization
The September 21 demonstration stood out not just for its size—organizers estimated tens of thousands participated—but for its remarkable discipline and peaceful character. This was particularly significant in a regional context where anti-corruption protests have often turned violent.
“We haven’t seen any violence, we haven’t seen any harm done on the end of the protesters or the end of our police, and I think that’s something that we, as a people, can be proud of,” noted Kiko Aquino Dee, spokesman for the Quezon City protest dubbed the “Trillion People March.”
Symbolic Geography
The protesters’ route held deep historical significance, deliberately retracing the path of the 1986 People Power revolution:
- Luneta Park: The morning gathering point where progressive groups and students demanded criminal charges
- EDSA: The highway that became synonymous with peaceful revolution
- People Power Monument: The afternoon destination, site of the historic 1986 uprising
This geographical symbolism wasn’t accidental—it represented a conscious effort to invoke the moral authority and peaceful methodology of the revolution that restored Philippine democracy.
The Participants: Unity Across Traditional Divides
An Unprecedented Coalition
One of the most remarkable aspects of the September 21 protests was the diversity of participants. The demonstration brought together groups that rarely share the same streets:
- Progressive activists and liberal opposition members
- Catholic and Protestant religious leaders
- University students and educators
- Celebrities and musicians
- Ordinary citizens from various socioeconomic backgrounds
“It’s the strategy of the corrupt people in power to keep Filipinos disunited and fighting among ourselves,” Casino observed. “But now, we are showing that whatever differences that we may have—organisational, political, even ideological and personal—they should not get in the way of the people’s interests and demands for accountability.”
The Voice of Youth
Perhaps most significantly, young Filipinos formed a prominent part of the demonstration. Their participation represented more than mere protest—it signaled a generational awakening to political responsibility.
Twenty-four-year-old medical student Paolo Chaves of the University of the Philippines-Manila captured this sentiment: “We are inheriting this country someday. How can we thrive under a corrupt government? We are tired of this rotten system!”
This generational perspective added urgency to the protests, framing corruption not as a historical problem but as an ongoing theft of the nation’s future.
The Marcos Paradox: Son Investigating Father’s Legacy
Historical Irony
The central irony of these protests cannot be overstated. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose father’s dictatorship was ended by peaceful demonstrations, found himself ordering the very investigation that sparked similar protests. This created a complex dynamic where the president simultaneously positioned himself as an anti-corruption crusader while being the son of a leader synonymous with institutional corruption.
President Marcos Jr.’s promise that the investigation would spare “no sacred cows” took on particular significance given his family’s history. His comment that if he weren’t president, he would be “out on the streets” with protesters drew sharp criticism from protest leaders.
The Weight of Legacy
Kiko Aquino Dee, grandson of democracy icons Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and Corazon “Cory” Aquino, provided a pointed response to the president’s remarks: “I’m saying this as someone who is part of the family of someone victimised by martial law: I hope Marcos remembers that the reason why we can protest today is because we defeated his father.”
This exchange highlighted how the protests operated on multiple levels—addressing current corruption while grappling with historical memory and the ongoing influence of political dynasties.
Historical Context: September 21’s Dark Anniversary
Martial Law’s Shadow
The choice of September 21 as the protest date carried profound historical weight. This date marks the anniversary of the 1972 declaration of martial law by Ferdinand Marcos Sr.—beginning a nine-year period characterized by:
- Systematic human rights violations
- Political repression and media censorship
- Extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances
- Massive plundering of national wealth
- Suspension of democratic institutions
By protesting on this anniversary, demonstrators explicitly connected contemporary corruption to historical authoritarianism, suggesting that while the methods might have changed, the fundamental issue of elite impunity remained.
Echoes of 1986
The 1986 People Power revolution that ended the Marcos dictatorship established a template for peaceful resistance that influenced democratic movements worldwide. Key elements that protesters consciously emulated included:
- Non-violent methodology: Strict adherence to peaceful protest
- Broad coalition building: Unity across traditional political and social divisions
- Moral framing: Positioning the struggle as good versus evil, democracy versus autocracy
- Symbolic locations: Using historically significant sites to amplify the message
- International attention: Appealing to global audiences as witnesses
The Corruption Ecosystem: Beyond Individual Scandals
Institutional Patterns
The flood control scandal didn’t exist in isolation but represented part of a broader pattern of institutional corruption that has plagued Philippine governance for decades. Casino drew parallels to the 2013 Priority Development Assistance Fund scandal, noting how similar forms of discretionary spending have resurfaced under different labels.
This pattern suggests systemic rather than episodic corruption, where:
- Political connections determine contract awards
- Oversight mechanisms are systematically circumvented
- Public funds are treated as private resources
- Accountability measures are routinely ignored
The Cost of Corruption
The human impact of the flood control corruption extended far beyond financial theft. In a country increasingly vulnerable to climate change and extreme weather events, the failure to build proper flood control infrastructure has meant:
- Increased Vulnerability: Communities left defenseless against flooding
- Economic Losses: Repeated flood damage to homes and businesses
- Lost Lives: Casualties from preventable flood-related disasters
- Perpetual Poverty: Resources that could lift communities stolen for private gain
Demands for Justice: Beyond Protest to Policy
Immediate Demands
The protesters articulated specific demands that went beyond general calls for accountability:
- Criminal Charges: Prosecution of all individuals involved in the scandal
- Asset Declaration: Officials must release comprehensive net-worth statements
- Bank Waivers: Transparency measures allowing investigation of suspicious wealth
- Systemic Reform: Changes to prevent future corruption schemes
Long-term Implications
The protests represented more than a reaction to specific scandals—they signaled a potential shift in Philippine political culture. The demonstration’s success in maintaining unity across traditional divides suggested possibilities for:
- Sustained Anti-Corruption Movements: Moving beyond episodic protests to persistent pressure
- Cross-Party Cooperation: Finding common ground on transparency and accountability
- Institutional Reform: Addressing systemic vulnerabilities to corruption
- Democratic Renewal: Reinvigorating civic engagement and political participation
Regional and Global Context
Southeast Asian Anti-Corruption Movements
The Philippine protests occurred within a broader regional context of anti-corruption demonstrations. From Indonesia to Nepal, citizens have increasingly taken to the streets demanding greater transparency from their governments. However, the Philippine demonstration stood out for several reasons:
- Scale and Organization: The size and discipline of the protests
- Historical Resonance: Connection to successful democratic precedents
- Peaceful Character: Absence of violence despite the scale
- Elite Participation: Involvement of celebrities, religious leaders, and other influential figures
International Implications
The success of peaceful anti-corruption protests in the Philippines could influence democratic movements elsewhere, particularly in countries with histories of authoritarian rule. The demonstration showed how historical memory could be mobilized for contemporary democratic purposes.
Media and Digital Mobilization
Information Warfare
The protests occurred in an era of sophisticated information manipulation, where social media can both facilitate organization and spread disinformation. The demonstrators’ success in maintaining message discipline and avoiding violence suggested effective counter-strategies to potential disruption.
Symbolic Communication
The choice of black and white as protest colors carried symbolic weight:
- White: Representing unity, hope, and moral clarity
- Black: Symbolizing defiance, mourning for stolen resources, and determination
This visual symbolism helped create a coherent identity for the movement that transcended individual group affiliations.
Challenges and Opportunities
Potential Obstacles
Despite the protests’ initial success, several challenges could complicate sustained anti-corruption efforts:
- Political Retaliation: History suggests authorities might target protest leaders
- Elite Resistance: Entrenched interests will likely fight transparency measures
- Fragmentation: Maintaining unity across diverse groups requires ongoing effort
- Reform Implementation: Moving from protest demands to actual policy changes
Opportunities for Change
The demonstration also created opportunities for meaningful reform:
- Public Awareness: Increased citizen engagement with governance issues
- Political Pressure: Elected officials face renewed accountability demands
- Institutional Momentum: Investigation processes already underway
- International Attention: Global scrutiny can support reform efforts
The Role of Civil Society
Organizational Capacity
The protests demonstrated the continuing vitality of Philippine civil society, with various organizations successfully coordinating large-scale peaceful demonstrations. This organizational capacity represents a crucial democratic resource that could be mobilized for ongoing reform efforts.
Religious and Moral Authority
The participation of Catholic and Protestant leaders added moral weight to the protests, drawing on the Philippines’ strong religious traditions. This religious dimension helped frame corruption not just as a political issue but as a moral imperative.
Economic Dimensions
Development Impact
The flood control corruption scandal highlighted how corruption undermines development efforts. Resources that could have protected communities and promoted economic growth were instead diverted to private gain, creating a direct connection between governance failure and development challenges.
Climate Vulnerability
In a country increasingly vulnerable to climate change, the theft of flood control funds represents a particularly cruel form of corruption. As extreme weather events become more frequent and severe, adequate infrastructure becomes literally a matter of life and death.
Looking Forward: Sustaining the Movement
Institutional Changes
For the protests to achieve lasting impact, they must translate into concrete institutional changes:
- Legal Reforms: Strengthening anti-corruption laws and enforcement mechanisms
- Transparency Measures: Improving public access to government information
- Oversight Bodies: Establishing independent monitoring institutions
- Democratic Participation: Creating more opportunities for citizen engagement
Political Culture
Perhaps most importantly, the protests represent an opportunity to shift Philippine political culture away from tolerance of corruption toward demands for accountability. This cultural shift could prove more valuable than any specific policy reform.
Conclusion: The Unfinished Revolution
The September 21, 2025 protests in the Philippines represent more than a reaction to specific corruption scandals—they embody an ongoing struggle for the soul of Philippine democracy. By consciously invoking the spirit and methodology of the 1986 People Power revolution, the demonstrators positioned themselves as inheritors and guardians of democratic values.
The protest’s success in maintaining peace, unity, and moral authority suggests that the tools of democratic resistance remain powerful weapons against corruption and impunity. However, the ultimate test will be whether this moment of unity can be sustained and translated into lasting institutional change.
The flood control scandal that sparked these protests serves as a metaphor for broader governance challenges: just as stolen flood control funds leave communities vulnerable to natural disasters, corruption in all its forms leaves societies vulnerable to various forms of harm and injustice.
As Teddy Casino warned, “We should not let our guards down. I hope the people realise that now, and that this Sept 21 protest should be sustained.” The challenge now is whether the Philippines can build on this moment of democratic renewal to create the lasting changes necessary to finally break cycles of corruption and impunity.
The protesters who filled the streets of Manila and Quezon City on September 21 carried not just placards demanding “Return our stolen money!” but also the hopes of a nation seeking to fulfill the promises of democracy. Their peaceful demonstration proved that the spirit of People Power remains alive, ready to defend democratic values against those who would subvert them for personal gain.
In this sense, the September 21 protests represent not the end of a story but a new chapter in the ongoing struggle to realize the democratic ideals for which previous generations sacrificed so much. The question remains whether this generation will prove equal to that historic challenge.
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