Big Antiwar Rally Tomorrow at Ayala
Filipinos from various faiths and persuasions tomorrow will march through the streets of Makati City and stage an antiwar rally for peace to demand an end to the illegal, inhuman and brutal American occupation of Iraq.
Tomorrow’s antiwar actions will be highlighted by a concelebrated mass at the Greenbelt Church at 12:00 noon, a “Walk for Peace” around the Ugarte Triangle from 3:00 - 5:15 p.m. followed by an interfaith prayer assembly at the corner of Ayala Ave. and Paseo de Roxas St. from 5:15 - 6:15 p.m.
Ayala, which is at the heart of the country’s premier business district, is a historical site for mass actions. In solidarity, Makati employees have pledged to rain confetti on the antiwar marchers and protesters.
The sound of fire sirens–mimicking the air raid warning sirens at Baghdad–followed by a few minutes of silence will signal the start of the interfaith prayer service.
In an open letter issued last week, Christian and Muslim religious leaders have declared this Friday a “National Day of Interfaith Prayers and Actions for Peace.”
Saying that the US-led war on Iraq was an “unjust and immoral war,” the religious leaders said all peace-loving people should now call for a halt to the war and that prayers and actions “can still work miracles.”
Among the signatories to the letter are Bp. Teodoro Bacani of the Diocese of Novaliches, Bp. Deogracias Iñiguez of the Diocese of Iba, Ustadz Wahab Guialal of the Moro Christian People’s Alliance (MCPA), National Council of Churches in the Philippines Chairperson Dr. Domingo Diel, Jr., Bp. Ignacio Soliba of the Episcopal Church, Bp. Tomal Millamena of the Aglipayan Church, Bp. Benjamin Lasegan of the Lutheran Church, Bp. Elmer Bolocon of the UCCP and Bp. Solito Toquero of the Methodist Church.
Secular leaders led by Vice Pres. Teofisto Guingona and convenors of the Justice Not War Coalition also issued an invitation for people to participate in the Ayala Ave. protests.
Businessmen led by Vicente Jayme have also endorsed and vowed to join the march and rally.
Similar protests led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan will also be staged simultaneously in twenty cities nationwide.
Organizers said the number of participants in this Friday’s Ayala march might match the Feb. 28 prayer assembly at the Luneta Grandstand, the biggest antiwar rally so far to be staged by Filipinos.
