The Trillion Peso March held last September 21, Sunday, was attended by a massive crowd of thousands consisting of citizens from various sectors including celebrities like Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, Catriona Gray, and Maris Racal, among others. Also joining them in the protest were some of the country’s top content creators, who used their platform that day to show solidarity in the fight against the continued corruption in government.
Actress and vlogger Ivana Alawi shared a photo of herself heading to the EDSA Shrine and the People Power Monument where the main protest was held. She wrote in her post, “Ang laban na ito ay para sa kinabukasan ng Pilipinas. Tigilan na ang pagnanakaw! Tigilan na ang pangungurakot! MAHIYA NAMAN KAYO!”
Veteran YouTuber Cong TV and his younger brother Junnie Boy were also proud to be part of the event and shared snapshots and video clips of the crowd along EDSA. In his post, Cong TV wrote, “Magnanakaw ka tapos gusto mo walang sisita? Hahaha G*go ka ba?”
In the comments section, he reiterated the need for the community to unite despite having different political views. “Pag ba magkaiba ba tayo ng sinuportahan nung eleksyon wala ng karapatang magalit sa mga nangyayari sa bansa? Sabihin niyo na gusto niyong sabihin. Pare-pareho lang tayong ninanakawan. mas nakakahiyang manahimik kesa hindi bumoses,” he added.
In his own post, Junnie Boy, who attended the march along his wife Vien Ilagan, shared why he chose to take part in the march. “Tumindig ako di lang para sa sarili kundi para sa kinabukasan ng mga kabataan. Kagaya ng marami may anak din ako at ayaw kong maranasan nila ang parehong sakit, galit, at pagkadismaya na nararanasan natin ngayon dahil sa gobyernong nilalamon ng korapsyon. Lumaban tayo para balang araw hindi na nila kailangang gawin to. Kasi ang laban na hindi natin matatapos ngayon sila ang mapipilitang magtuloy bukas. PANAGUTIN ANG MGA P*T*NG IN*NG MAGNANAKAW NA YAN!”
Along with his wife Anne Curtis, food vlogger Erwan Heussaff braved the inclement weather conditions to walk across EDSA and join in the peaceful protest. In his post last September 21, he wrote, “Today wasn’t about sides. It wasn’t about colors or banners. Corruption’s been a constant irritating hum in the background for as long as I can remember. But today, that noise got louder. Because no matter where you stand, we all agree on one thing: we’re sick of the greed. Sick of watching the same cycle play out while nothing really changes. We don’t want a show, a few high-profile arrests to buy our silence. We want the system fixed, so that the people who care, can do the work that moves us forward. Everyone says the Philippines has potential. We know. We’re just tired of watching it get dragged down.”
Talking to protestors she met along EDSA, content creator Sassa Gurl took on a more serious tone as she addressed the current situation in the government. In one clip, she is seen telling a cheering crowd, ‘Kung hindi kayo galit, t*ng in* niyo din! Ganun! Wagwagan na! Never kayong iiwan sa kanal. Lalaban ako kasama ninyo. Ganun! Magalit tayo! Hindi ito ang pinakahuli ha. Magkikita kita uli tayo. Hangga’t hindi binabalik ang pera! T*ng in*ng yan. Gutom tayong lahat, fresh silang lahat? Hindi puwede yan, bakla. Diyos ko. O gora na, laban na!”
In a succeeding reel, she continues to talk to a lively crowd. “Walang nakukulong t*ng in* eh. Nanggigil na ako eh! Ano ito, My Day, My Day lang? Bakla, walang My Day, My Day lang. Galit tayo!”
Despite not being Filipino by blood, Syrian-born vlogger Basel Manadil, who is more popularly known as the Hungry Syrian Wanderer online, has always been vocal about being Pinoy by heart, even before he officially received his Filipino citizenship via naturalization in 2019. In his post, he shared a snapshot of him at the Baha sa Luneta protest at Rizal Park in Manila, even under the blistering hot weather conditions. He wrote, “I stand with Filipinos. Rain or shine. I love this country.”
Organized by various groups across different sectors, the Trillion Peso March came about to bring together the people in a stand to call for accountability and transparency in government amid issues of corruption in the government.