Major universities, youth groups unite vs Cha-Cha
Say goodbye to reelection bid, pro-Cha-Cha solons told
Despite its weekend schedule and the suspension of classes for the Christmas break, roughly 40,000 students and youth led by the Kabataan Party, the National Union of Students of the Philippines and Youth Against Charter Change and Tyranny (Y-CHAT) joined the inter-faith prayer rally in Luneta against Cha-Cha.
Present were student councils and organizations from the University of Santo Tomas, University of the East, San Beda College, Far Eastern University, La Consolacion College, University of the Philippines in Diliman and Manila, Ateneo de Manila University, Miriam College, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Mapua Institute of Technology, Adamson University, Normal University, Philippine Christian University, De La Salle University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines and St. Scholastica’s College, among others.
Participating schools from the three main university consortiums in Metro Manila – Taft, University belt and Katipunan - earlier converged in front of De La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas and Miriam College respectively before heading to Liwasang Bonifacio at noontime and finally marching to Luneta in the afternoon.
Joining the students were out-of-school youth from different communities in Metro Manila, church-based youth organizations and local Sangguniang Kabataan officers. Delegations from schools in Southern Tagalog, Central Luzon, Baguio City and Ilocos region were also present.
“This huge gathering of major universities and various youth organizations only shows that the Filipino youth are one in condemning and opposing conspiratorial moves of the Arroyo administration and its cohorts in Congress to change the Constitution,” Kabataan Party Vice President and Y-CHAT spokesman Carl Marc Ramota said.
“Not even the Christmas break or malicious and fabricated threats of disorder can prevent the youth and the people from voicing out our dissent and grievances.
“Instead, we are bringing our Christmas parties here. What better way to celebrate Christmas than to share it with fellow Filipinos and compatriots.”
“A Cha-Cha-free Christmas is the best holiday gift a Filipino could ask for,” he added.
Ramota said the sizeable number of youth and students who participated in today’s anti-Cha-Cha action signifies a strong and alive democracy and presents positive prospects for the country’s future.
“Today’s anti-Cha-Cha rally reaffirms the youth’s important role in social transformation and our generation’s unwavering commitment in defending democracy and national sovereignty against power wielders who value personal interests over public welfare.”
Meanwhile, Ramota said pro-Cha-Cha legislators should bid farewell to their reelection plans next year.
“Their days are numbered. Similar to Cha-Cha’s fate, the youth electorate will make sure that these opportunists will also be junked in the coming polls.”