23/09/2025
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐รฑ๐จ๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ
Numerous students and youth gathered at St. Joseph Cathedral Formation Center amidst the inclement weather to join a local movement against corruption, in relation to the current anomalies in flood control projects, headed by a local youth organization Kabataang Bataeรฑo Laban sa Korapsyon (KBLK), this Monday, September 22.
KBLK member Thirdy Armenio stated that the event aimed to provide the youth a platform to show their stand on communal issues, to push responsible officials to take accountability, and to express their desire for good governance in the country.
โWala tayong kalaban, hindi tayo nandito para mang-riot. Narito tayo para manindigan at makatwiran ang [ating paglaban] sa korapsyon dahil inaalis sa ating mga kabataan ang pag-asa na dapat meron tayoโang pag-asa sa libre at dekalidad na edukasyon,โ Armenio said.
He also shared that the movement was initially set to hold at Plaza Mayor de Ciudad de Balanga through a peaceful protest, but due to the inclement weather, short time of preparation, and legal purposes, the movement proceeded with the youth gathering inside the cathedral formation center.
In response, the participants tied white ribbons within the St. Joseph Cathedral's premises as a symbol of solidarity, and held a plenary session inside the formation center where attendees joined a focus group discussion, sharing testimonials and struggles faced by some of the members.
Meanwhile, police officers and fire trucks were seen on standby in the vicinity of the venue for safety and precautionary purposes and to ensure that the movement would remain peaceful, abiding by local ordinances.
At the end of the program, Bataan Police Provincial Director Colonel Marites Salvadora stated that police forces were not against the initiatives, such as the KBLK movement, especially if it's a peaceful protest.
โKami naman po, โyung mga kapulisan niyo ay hindi naman against sa ganitong mga peaceful po na rally, kaisa naman po kami. Ang iniiwasan po namin ay mapasukan ng ibang grupo na hindi peaceful yung pinaglalaban,โ Salvadora explained.
In light of the movement, the attendees sang the Tagalog rendition of โDo You Hear the People Singโ from Les Misรฉrables to mark the end of the program.
Moreover, KBLK aims to continue mobilizing youth movements in the future that will target societal causes such as good governance in the province and the country. | via Kurbin Ross Bunsua and Ejay Liloc Palomata
Photos taken by Psalm Tolentino, Drenzoe Torres and Jerome John Rosco
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