A journalist recounts their eventful morning, starting with attending mass, rushing to work, and navigating the unexpected police presence and potential unrest at the EDSA Shrine. The story highlights the day's developments, reflecting on the anticipation of possible protests and the journalist's strategic positioning to cover the unfolding events.
I CAME out from the Minor Basilica of Mary Help of Christians Parish after its morning mass. I was donning my “wet look” of sweat running through the fabric of my blue polo shirt as I rushed to get a tricycle ride all the way to the bus terminal.
I occupied a portion of the side seats just to spare myself the trouble of squeezing myself at the rear and back portions.As I decided to rush myself into the office for any other story that might pop up into my feed, I began to remember my papa back at home. I knew that he’ll start to show his concern for me as I have been away for an hour or so. I took the risk to dial him on my Messenger app and sought to reach him. For two minutes, he began to raise his voice, then filled with shock. He did not know that I would be standing by for any event that may arise from that busy day. His parting words sounded more resigned than diplomatic, but I couldn’t blame him.“Go to EDSA Shrine. Clarify to the parish priest if the area has been declared a “no-rally zone.” That was the only message I was waiting to read and make my assignment official. I immediately booked a motorcycle ride from our porch to Poveda. The school, beside the steel parking space of Robinson’s Galleria, was something like 200 meters away from the church. Stopping by the campus would allow me to rush my way to EDSA and Ortigas should any disturbance arise. As it turned out, everything was bland. A mass was being held inside its sacred halls. It was all so fine and normal until police were swarming within and around the shrine’s borders. My instincts told me beforehand that activists from BAYAN will insist on staging a program within the two avenues. I made myself aware of that through monitoring the recent commemorations of the People Power Revolution. Because of this, I already knew my way out should tensions arise. And thank heavens, I was a block away from where the commotion was.But the struggle brought forth a storm. BAYAN and other progressive groups stormed EDSA-Ortigas just as lunch was about to conclude. I hadn’t served a potential story to the desk that they could use when these groups began to sing “when the saints go marching in.” In truth, it wasn’t that song. But their chorus of “ikulong na ‘yan….” barricaded DMW, Greenhills, and Galleria. Artists and militants clothed themselves in red and black. Striped or plain, they echoed their claim of sheer dismay. Sensing the call of a stomach hardly fed throughout the day, I walked my way to the mall and ordered fried rice with wontons for lunch. But even as I was churning out my meal, I kept on hearing the noise outside the glass door.Something was going on outside. I was greeted with cheers and jubilations. BAYAN had already claimed 30,000 participants who successfully occupied the entire block of Epifanio de los Santos and Ortigas Avenues. Hooray, or maybe…nay? It was all a “success” until you reached Poveda. But even before Poveda, their en masse strength was reduced to a pick-me and chainsaw man. Some of them were only doing educational discussions. In truth, 6,000 or so were only reported by the authorities. Yet common sense has told me that their numbers are way below 30K. I left without having to finish the program. Paano ba naman kasi, I had already drenched myself in sweat with my company polo shirt for five hours. I looked like I just came out from a bath again., I returned to base to write and file my stories for Feb. 25, a day when EDSA was split into two. (The writer is a correspondent for Manila Standard, covering the education and health beats. For comments on this piece, please write to him at
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