20/09/2025
๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ผ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐๐ต ๐๐ผ๐น๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐บ๐ถ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ถ๐๐ผ๐น ๐ ๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ
Mindoro Kontra Korapsyon held a rally on Friday, September 19, at the Plaza del Gobernador in front of the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Capitol, continuing their program despite loud music playing from the venueโs speakers during their protest.
The โBlack Friday Protest,โ joined by youth groups such as, Kabataang Mindoreรฑo para sa Progresibong Pagbabago (KMP), Mindoro Artists Initiative (MAI), Mindoro Youth for Environment and Nation (MYEN) and students from Mindoro State University and other colleges, called for increased funding for state universities, lower tuition in private schools, and accountability in controversial flood control and dredging projects. Students also denounced widespread corruption, demanding โbudget sa edukasyon, hindi sa korapsyon.โ
Wearing black shirts as a symbol of dissent, students gathered early at the plaza. However, the program started an hour late after authorities approached the organizers and limited their rally time to just 15โ30 minutes.
Barely ten minutes into the program, the loud music began to overpower the chants and speeches of the protesters.
โToo convenient po na ganon kalakas yung tugtog nila. Regardless kung anong oras sila dapat nagpapatugtogโang alam ko po ay gabi sila kadalasang nagpapatugtogโmakikita po natin na wala silang interes na pakinggan kami. For some reason, I donโt know why. Ipinapakita po ng gobyerno na parang wala silang pakialam sa hinaing namin, which is very disheartening,โ said one student protester.
The plaza is also known for playing music and lights at night, which might explain the loud music during the protest. Still, student protesters felt that the timing and volume were intentional, as it clearly overpowered their voices.
Student organizers added that their effort, after weeks of preparation, was effectively rejected by the government, further emphasizing the lack of space for the youthโs voices in local governance.
Organizers condemned the incident as a form of oppression against the youth. But despite the disruption, they vowed to continue their campaign, asserting that no amount of noise or intimidation will silence their call for education and accountability.
As of writing, no official statement has been released by the Capitol regarding the incident.
Via Mark Alfred Beldia
Photos by Matthew Kevin Miranda
