Following Saint Louis University’s (SLU) “Wear White Friday” (WWF) campaign, the University participated in the national Trillion Peso March through the “Baguio-Benguet Laban sa Korapsyon: Tama na, Sobra na BAGUIO-BENGUET KILOS NA!” protest march against corruption that concluded at the Malcolm Square, Baguio City, on 21 September 2025.
The protest gathered more than 120 organizations and about 5,000 individuals including Catholic communities from the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines Cordillera Administrative Region (CEAP-CAR), Roman Catholic Diocese of Baguio Immaculate Conception Parish, the youth, workers, and citizens.
The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) led a community prayer and delivered a message emphasizing solidarity and moral courage, urging a protest that serves as a living witness to these values. During the message, CBPCP’s Pastoral Letter on flood control corruption released last September 8, was cited and read by Carmen Bolinto, PhD. The speech was a call to the Filipino people to remain vigilant and critical in all aspects of government decision-making.
“Both the Senate and the House of Representatives are now investigating corruption in flood control projects yet we must ask how credible are these inquiries when the very institutions conducting them are themselves implicated,” the letter stated. Further expressing how corruption is fueled by patronage, dynasties, and disinformation, accountability should not only be directed to one party for shame is inclusive of all the parties involved. “This challenge is not only for government business or contractors, it is for all of us including the church,” the CBPCP further stressed.
The NCCP strongly condemned the deeply-entrenched evil that is corruption in government and laid bare the issue of flood control projects. “What should’ve protected the lives of the Filipino people from torrential rains having instead exposed the bitter historical reality of corruption and the unholy collusion between politicians, contractors, and government agencies, as Christians, we are filled with righteous indignation. Corruption will not happen without the cooperation and consent of those in power,” the NCCP said.
Gabriel Siscar, one of the convenors of Baguio-Benguet Laban sa Korapsyon from Kabataan PL Cordillera, began his speech expressing thanks for the successful protest march led by the Baguio-Benguet community. He stated the four main calls for protest include accountability on corruption, respect for the money of the Filipino people, enforcement of a pro-people budget, and political reform.
Youth leaders were also present during the program with speeches highlighting the presence of the young to push change and solidarity. People from various sectors such as the artists, transportation, healthcare workers ,and teachers then voiced out their concerns.
Moreover, in line with the commemoration of the 53rd Anniversary of Martial Law Declaration, a Martial Law survivor and IP woman leader, Joana Cariño, stressed the importance of not falling for historical revision and to remain true to what is right.
Representing SLU President, Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD, SLU Vice President for Administration, Atty. Shellah Yzanne P. Merced, delivered a solidarity message and said, “On behalf of Saint Louis University, I stand before you— and with all of you— not only in the name of our institution but also in the unfaltering spirit of moral courage, ethical service, and unfeigned integrity.”
Atty. Merced said, “Nonetheless, let us be clear. We should realize that today’s call for accountability transcends any and all religious, socioeconomic, and other apparent and even non-tangible differences. This call goes beyond all boundaries. We are here not only because there appears to be a flagrant violation of our God’s commandments or of our nation’s Constitution. We are here because this moral crisis is eroding the soul of our nation. Foremost, we are here because this call against corruption is one that we make not only for ourselves, or for our family, but for the liberation of everyone against all whose greed equated to their blindness or deafness or intentional defiance towards the needs of our nation, of all our people… With lives committed to action, we continue to pray for our dear Philippines. We continue to fight.”
The protest was a collective effort of all institutions and communities who fight for justice and integrity of service. SLU’s participation in the Trillion Peso March abides by the six pillars of CEAP’s JEEPGY under Justice and Peace, Engaged Citizenship, and Youth Empowerment, along with SLU’s Justice and Peace under the Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation, and Indigenous Peoples’ Advocacy (JPIC-IPA). (Article by: Catherine Rose Bondoc, UIO Intern | Photos by: Reijn Albert Vir Valdez, UIO Intern)
