Iglesia rally also draws thousands in the provinces
The nationwide peace rally initiated by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) did not only draw over a million people in Metro Manila but also brought thousands of the religious group’s members into the streets of major cities in the country on Monday.
In Davao City, INC members, some came with their whole families, squatted on the streets as they listened to the speech of Arnel Tumanan, INC evangelist and spokesperson, simultaneously aired live nationwide from the Quirino Grandstand at 3 p.m.
A stage was set up at the city’s Rizal Park but except for the three projector screens showing Tumanan, no one among those seated on stage was talking.
At least seven projector screens were also installed in every corner of Davao’s downtown streets and, around each screen, a thick crowd of people gathered, most of them squatting on mats laid down on the pavement. Some were sleeping, still others sitting on the placards they were supposed to hold, while still others were eating their meals.
The whole stretch of Davao’s C.M. Recto Street, covering at least three blocks, was full of people and families squatting on the road pavement, listening to Tumanan. The crowd was thickest at San Pedro and Rizal Streets, where projectors and portable toilets were installed in every corner.
Some residents of Malita, Davao Occidental, told the Inquirer they were very exhausted as they lacked sleep because they left their town at 1 a.m. and arrived in the city at 4 a.m., waiting for the 3 p.m. simulcast to start.
At 4 p.m., some police said they’d been on duty for 14 hours straight and were already very exhausted but said they would still persist to ensure that everyone would go home safe.
In Pagadian City, a large crowd of INC members gathered at the city port, Pajares Avenue as early as 6:30 a.m. for the nationwide rally.
Onto the metro
In Luzon, INC members mostly from Central Luzon provinces joined the rally at the Quirino Grandstand, converging with more than a million members nationwide to advocate for unity and peace.
Clad in white shirts bearing the event’s theme, “National Rally for Peace,” provided by their church, the participants demonstrated their solidarity in supporting the government’s call for harmony amidst pressing national issues.
In Bulacan, INC members began traveling as early as Sunday afternoon, using private cars and buses to ensure their attendance. During their Saturday night worship service, INC leaders emphasized that the rally was not a political event but a show of support for President Marcos’ call to prioritize addressing the nation’s challenges over filing an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.
In Nueva Ecija, members left as early as Sunday morning in private vans and buses, with some staying near Philippine International Convention Center and Manila Hotel before the event.
Luzon programs
In Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, thousands of INC members gathered at Junction 1 and Rizal Avenue , where traffic was rerouted, and a stage was set up for their program.
In Legazpi City in Albay, despite continuous rain, around 30,000 INC members from various parts of Bicol region marched along Sawangan Park, protected by umbrellas and raincoats, carrying placards to express their support for peace.
The Albay provincial police deployed 400 personnel to maintain security, while Gov. Baby Glenda Bongao ordered the suspension of classes and allowed offices to implement work-from-home arrangements to ease traffic congestion in Legazpi, the provincial capital.
According to INC members, the National Rally for Peace was held to show the INC’s commitment to supporting national unity, urging government leaders to focus on resolving pressing issues rather than political distractions.
Visayas crowd
In the Visayas, at least 145,000 INC members in Negros Occidental, Cebu, Iloilo and Leyte took part in the rally.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson suspended work at all capitol-based provincial government offices in Bacolod City on Monday while some roads were closed from 6 a.m. to midnight with the projected large crowd participating in the rally at the city’s Capitol Park and Lagoon.
Police estimated at least 35,000 INC members took part in the Bacolod rally.
In Ormoc City, Leyte, the rally at the public plaza was attended by more than 30,000 INC members—some of whom came from Camotes Island in Cebu.
In Iloilo City, at least 30,000 INC members gathered at the Iloilo City Freedom Grandstand. Mayor Jerry Treñas decided to cancel in-person classes in both public and private schools at all levels as roads were closed to give way to the event.
In Cebu City, another 50,000 people gathered at the South Road Properties, the city’s south reclamation area, for the INC rally, the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office reported. —REPORTS FROM GERMELINA LACORTE, LEAH AGONOY, CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE, ARMAND GALANG, GERALFORD TICKE, MA. APRIL MIER-MANJARES, CARLA P. GOMEZ, JOEY GABIETA, ALLAINE KATE LEDA
