AS the chant ‘Mga Corrupt, Ikulong na yan!’ reverberated during the Luneta and Mendiola anti-corruption rallies, street vendor Alvin Karingal was catapulted to social media fame because of his ‘ibaba ang presyo ng fishballs, kikiam, calamares at kwek-kwek’ video.
I already noticed Karingal in the Luneta rally while I was video documenting the rallyists, as he was marching with the contingents of the University of the Philippines.
The mass actions are closely tied to the flood control corruption scandal that revolves around the diversion of billions of public funds to a network of favored contractors, lawmakers, and officials tied to flood control projects over the past three years.
Despite the reported completion of 5,500 flood control projects, many are either substandard or entirely non-existent.
The anti-corruption rallies coincided with the Martial Law anniversary.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. signed Proclamation No. 1081 on September 21, 1972, marking the beginning of a 14-year period of dictatorial rule, which effectively lasted until he was exiled from the country on February 25, 1986.
Corruption under the Marcos dictatorial regime ranged from theft of foreign and military aid to the domestic system of crony capitalism.
Political, economic, and social conditions coalesced to create a volatile political environment in the early 1980s. As the crony-run corporations collapsed and Marcos’s associates fled abroad with their assets, the financial situation deteriorated. Continuous mass actions led to his eventual downfall in 1986.
Five decades later, corruption issues also plague the administration of his son, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr.
The formal program in Mendiola ended at around 3:30 p.m. and organizers requested for a peaceful dispersal.
I was only a few meters away when violent clashes erupted as some masked individuals hurled stones, plastic bottles, sticks and Molotov cocktails at the police who stood as a barricade between the crowd and Malacañang.
The riots at Ayala Bridge, Recto, and Mendiola left scores of protesters and police injured, toppled steel posts, a motel ransacked and a trailer on fire at the foot of Ayala Bridge.
At least 216 were arrested following the riots, including 95 minors. Karingal was one of them.
The chant was simple, even absurd and funny to some as his call is just for cheaper street food. He was later identified as a person with mental health condition and a former mayoral candidate.
But for him, and others of similar economic status, it is not a joke. He has been an active rallyist, and a street vendor. He knows exactly how every peso is earned through sweat and struggle.
A post said: ‘This is how corruption shows itself in the daily lives of ordinary people. What others see as small change means survival for those who work tirelessly just to put food on the table. That money comes from long hours of work, tired bodies, and sacrifices.’
‘His call was not just about street food. It was about the everyday struggles of the poor, about dignity, and about justice. And I hope people realize that behind words like his is the truth about how deeply our system fails the poor.’
Kwek-kwek, fishball and kikiam are not exclusively ‘food of the poor,’ but rather a very affordable and popular Filipino street food, making them accessible to people from all economic backgrounds.
Their association with the poor might stem from their origins and widespread availability in the streets.
Filipino street food is the product of adversity. As a colonized country, expensive and high-quality meats were incredibly expensive and impossible to get, necessitating the usage of the animal’s less glamorous and less expensive components. These pieces have been converted into some of the most delicious and economical bites of food, demonstrating the adaptability and resourcefulness of Filipinos.
Corruption is not just a concept: it is felt in daily prices, in the cost of street food, in flooded streets that adversely affect small vendors’ sales, and in public funds diverted from basic services that keep communities afloat.
Karingal was pointing to inflation or the rising cost of basic goods. For his customers, who were ordinary people like him, even a one-peso increase has a big impact. He was asking for something simple, that street food should stay affordable for everyone.
Food itself is a political battlefield. Research group IBON said that involuntary hunger doubled under the Marcos Jr. administration due to its failure to ensure higher wages and low prices.
‘The rise in hunger is a wakeup call that many Filipinos are struggling on meager incomes and the high cost of living. This shows government’s rhetoric of economic gains and a robust jobs market is empty-just like the bellies of millions of hungry Filipinos.’
Peyups is the moniker of the University of the Philippines. Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0917-502580.