Friday saw various protest actions in two Metro Manila cities as both pro-government and anti-government rallyists took to the streets to call for various causes and express their dissent.
In front of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Manila, a handful parents from pro-government and anti-communist groups League of Parents of the Philippines, Hands Off Our Children, Liga Independencia Pilipinas, and Kabalikat ID gathered to protest against the supposed "exploitation of youths by leftist organizations."
During their program, they burned a tarpaulin of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and warned the group to be "hands off" to their children.
This was the second time that a few parents held a rally to denounce the Communist Party of the Philippines. On Thursday, they marched along the University Avenue inside the University of the Philippines - Diliman campus, where they were reportedly denied entry.
On the other hand, youth groups gathered in front of the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) in Quezon City to "hold" the "Duterte administration accountable" for allegedly "neglecting its responsibilities amid calamities."
"The Duterte administration has not acted swiftly before and after super typhoons have struck the country. He has left the people to suffer from the devastating effects of such calamities," Kabataan Partylist said in a statement.
"Also, he has subjected the youth to an educational system that continues to disregard our physical, mental, and emotional well-being, to the point that one student died of fatigue over heavy academic burden," it added.
In photos uploaded on social media, one activist posed as if he's sleeping inside a blanket, apparently mimicking the President, whose photo while sleeping inside his house once went viral on social media.
This was also the second time that progressive groups held a rally in front of ADMU campus since hundreds of Ateneans pledged to withhold the submission of any of their school requirements "until the national government heeds the people's demands for proper calamity aid and pandemic response."
In a statement, the ADMU management said that it was "aware of a protest assembly scheduled" at the gates of the Loyola Heights campus. However, it distanced itself from the protesters through saying that the "protest activity and the one held last 17 November are not in any way sanctioned by the University."