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(From left) Andrea Brillantes, Elijah Canlas and Miss Philippines Earth 2025 Joy Barcoma joined protests on September 21, 2025 against alleged corruption in government-funded flood control projects in Metro Manila. Photos from Brillantes' TikTok, Tindig Pilipinas (Canlas) and Barcoma's Instagram
MANILA (UPDATE) — Celebrities lent their star power on Sunday as they joined mass protests across the Philippine capital demanding accountability for alleged corruption in public works projects.
Thousands of demonstrators gathered at key sites, including the People Power Monument along EDSA and Rizal Park in Manila, to express outrage against perceived corruption in flood control projects.
Among them was comedy superstar Vice Ganda, who delivered a fiery, impassioned speech at the People Power Monument during the Trillion Peso March.
In a expletive-laced speech, the "It's Showtime" host called for the return of the death penalty for corrupt government officials and challenged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to jail those behind the anomalous projects.
"Tapos na ang panahon ng mabait at resilient... 'Di na uubra bait-baitan. Hindi ko babaitan mensahe ko — sa katunayan, mga hayop sila. Hindi natin kakalmahan dahil deserve nila ang galit, poot, at pikon," Vice Ganda said.
(The time for being kind and merely resilient is over… pretending to be nice won't work anymore. I won't soften my message—in fact, they are animals. We will not stay calm because they deserve our anger and outrage.)
Ion Perez, Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, Jackie Gonzaga, Donny Pangilinan, Jasmine Curtis and Darren Espanto with officials from Angat Buhay. Photo from Angat Buhay's Facebook page
Vice Ganda attended the protest with fellow Kapamilya stars Anne Curtis, Darren Espanto, Donny Pangilinan, Ion Perez and Jackie Gonzaga, along with Anne's sister, Jasmine Curtis. Also spotted at the Trillion Peso March were Iza Calzado, Catriona Gray and Nadine Lustre.
READ: Vice Ganda calls for death penalty for corrupt officials
Ben&Ben also performed at the EDSA rally.
Early in the day, Elijah Canlas graced the Trillion Peso March, where he called those involved in the alleged misuse of public funds the "best actors."
"Lahat tayo kumakayod, nagtatrabaho nang disente, halos magbuwis-buhay para makapagbayad lang ng buwis, tapos lahat ng pinaghihirapan natin ano nangyayari? Binubulsa lang," he told fellow protesters.
(All of us work hard, earn an honest living, and practically risk our lives just to pay taxes, then what happens to everything we've worked for? It just gets pocketed.)
Meanwhile, Director Joel Lamangan attended the "Baha sa Luneta" protest in Manila, where he also serves as the program's director.
"This [event] is very important so that those people concerned na nangungurakot ng pera ng bayan ay malaman nila na ang tao ay hindi natutulog at nagaglit na sa kanilang ginagawa," said Lamangan, who also appears in the primetime series "FPJ's Batang Quiapo."
(This [event] is very important so that those involved in stealing the people's money will know that the public is not asleep and is angry at what they're doing.)
Maris Racal. Photo courtesy of Altermidya - People's Alternative Media Network
Actresses Angel Aquino, Jodi Sta. Maria, Tessie Tomas, Maris Racal and Andrea Brillantes, along with Miss Philippines Earth Joy Barcoma, were also spotted at the Luneta protest.
Aquino said she had been fighting corruption since her student days at the University of the Philippines in Baguio, but added that things seem to have gotten worse.
"Parang mas malala pa ang nangyayari, mas in our face nila ginagawa ang pagnanakaw nila yung paglulustay nila sa sa mga pera natin," Aquino said on stage at the protest.
(It seems things are even worse, their theft and squandering of our money is even more in our face)
"Mas importante na bantayan natin ang kilos nila at panagutin natin sila," she said.
(It is more important to watch their next moves and to hold them accountable)
In Makati, Dingdong Dantes, Kim Molina and Jerald Napoles were among those who joined a protest run to denounce corruption.
Meanwhile, Pinoy Big Brother Gen 11 alum Jasmine Dudley-Scales marked the first anniversary of her exit from the reality show by using the platform to call for accountability over alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
"Today is the first anniversary of getting out of PBB. I mark one year by using my voice," she said. "As a breadwinner, it’s frustrating to see where billions [are going]. I’m fighting for people’s rights."
Internet personality Sassa Gurl also urged protesters to fight until justice is served, and stressing that the movement does not end with the "Trillion Peso March."
"Hindi ito ang huli, magkikita tayo hangga’t hindi binabalik ang pera," she said. "Gutom tayo—fresh sila? Hindi puwede ’yan. Magalit tayo."
SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
Even stars who could not physically attend the protests expressed their solidarity with the cause through posts on their social media pages.
Angel Locsin broke her social media hiatus to speak up against corruption.
Locsin shared on her Instagram Stories a message of support for Filipinos "fighting corruption," writing: "May God give you more strength to keep going."
READ: Angel Locsin breaks social media hiatus, speaks up vs corruption
Sarah Geronimo also called for justice against what she described as widespread theft of public funds.
For his part, Paulo Avelino, who was unable to attend the rallies, said he fully supported the calls for accountability and clean governance.
Kim Chiu, also posted an open letter to public servants, stressing how Filipinos suffer during every "storm, flood and tragedy" partly due to corruption.
On her Instagram Stories, Janine Gutierrez also shared a video from Akbayan Party-list, writing that although she was out of the country, she was "standing in solidarity with everyone in Luneta, EDSA, and other rallies against corruption."
Several BINI members also took to X (formerly Twitter) to show their support for the protests.
"Wala man kami r'yan, sabay tayong bumubuhos ng panawagan para sa tama at makatarungan," said Jhoanna, who leads BINI.
(Even though we're not there, we join you in pouring out our call for what is right and just.)
On X, housemates from the recent "Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition" also expressed their solidarity with the rallies, including Mika Salamanca, Brent Manalo, Klarisse de Guzman, Bianca de Vera and Kira Balinger.
Apart from the capital region, various protests were staged in other parts of the country. — With reports from Jaehwa Bernardo, Anna Cerezo and Jessie Cruzat, ABS-CBN News
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