In an era when social media outrage is just a click away, one might ask: do protests and demonstrations still matter? Can gathering in the streets still shake the foundations of power when corruption stares us in the face, bold and unashamed?
To answer that, we first need to understand the distinction.
A protest is an act of dissentโan expression of disapproval against injustice or abuse. It may take the form of a statement, an article, or even an online campaign. A demonstration, meanwhile, is a protest brought to life in public spaces. It is collective, organized, and visibleโa show of unity and defiance against what people believe is wrong. In essence, every demonstration is a protest, but not every protest becomes a demonstration.
But whether expressed through placards in the streets or hashtags on screens, the heart of protest remains the same: it is the peopleโs voice demanding to be heard.
The Power of Collective Outcry
Just recently, several youth and student groups walked out of their classes and marched toward Mendiola in protest against corruption in the national government. Their message was clear and resounding: they will not be silent in the face of plunder and deceit. These young people, unafraid to speak truth to power, remind us that democracy lives only when citizensโespecially the youthโrefuse to look the other way.
History shows that change has rarely come from silence. The EDSA People Power Revolution was not born out of quiet obedience but of citizens who dared to stand up. Students, workers, and ordinary people flooded the streets because they believed that dictatorship and corruption could not coexist with freedom.
Fast forward to todayโmany say the world has changed. Some argue that demonstrations are outdated, that digital campaigns are more effective. Yet, the essence of protest isnโt about where it happens but what it represents: moral courage, civic duty, and public accountability.
Protest remains not just relevant but necessary when corruption becomes normalizedโwhen officials steal and still smile for the cameras. It is societyโs way of saying: we will not be complicit.
Silence Is Surrender
Governments often see protest as a nuisance, a disruption of โpeace and order.โ
But peace without justice is merely submission. Democracy weakens not when people protest too much, but when they stop protesting altogether.
Apathy allows corruption to thrive. Fear keeps tyranny alive. Protestโpeaceful, principled, and persistentโis what keeps democracy breathing.
In the end, whether one holds a placard or writes a column, whether one marches or speaks online, the message must remain clear: the fight against corruption begins with the courage to say โNo more.โ
Lest we forget that the moment we stop protesting is the moment we lose our voiceโand our country with it.
About the Author:
Antonio Manaytay is the Editor and Publisher of Daily Sun Chronicle and a correspondent for Rappler covering the Zamboanga Peninsula. He is also a pastor and writer whose work blends faith, social justice, and public accountability.
About The Author
