Wednesday, May 02, 2007

MANILA'S LABOR DAY RALLY














"We need higher wages!" cried thousands of demonstrators comprised of overworked, underpaid and disgruntled workers and government employees. Along with activists, they marched on Claro M. Recto Avenue but were prevented from proceeding to Malacanang Palace by law enforcement officers.

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posted by Señor Enrique at 5:46 AM


25 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

The Aliwan Festival then the Labor Day rally... portrays images of how Pinoys can celebrate and have courage to voice out their needs. Work hard, party harder!

Sana nga po ay maibigay na ang hiling ng mga mangagawang Pilipino. Pagpalain nawa.

May 02, 2007 6:37 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Photo journalism in action! I know this is kinda exhausting, going from one place to another, while trying to find a good shot and dodging people along the way. Whew! But you have nice captures. Sa edsa ba ito?

May 02, 2007 7:14 AM  

Blogger Amadeo said...

Having just ended a two-month trip to the old homeland, your pictures graphically reminded me of my "over-exposure" to banners, streamers, buntings, and what have you, which litter our little city.

Because of the upcoming election, of course. But we do have quite a predilection toward protest marches, parades, motorcades, complete with oversized banners and streamers in very visible quantities.

The black and white motif gives the captured event some surreal qualities.

May 02, 2007 8:39 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nice captures!

Really showed what the whole rally was about.

[:

May 02, 2007 11:39 AM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Right you are, Daisy! Back to reality after a weekend of partying. Oo nga, sana matupad na mga hiling nila.

May 02, 2007 12:28 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

No, Ferdz, it was on Recto. They were on their way to Mendiola towards Malacanang.

Thanks! Tough shoot but at the same time exhilirating. Many demonstrators, I noticed, didn't want their pictures taken; much to my suprise.

May 02, 2007 12:30 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Goodness, Amadeo. They are now in full force pasting, hanging, and nailing all those banners and streamers now that there is only just two weeks to go before the election.

Makes me think who will clean after this mess right after the election.

May 02, 2007 12:32 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Thanks, Kyels! You really have to be quick on your feet whenever doing rallies because of the massive amount of people.

May 02, 2007 12:33 PM  

Blogger U.T.O.Y said...

sad that there's no wage hike this year...also no exemptions for min wage workers...but fortunately there are non-wage benefits (e,g, guapo hotel for P25 a day)

May 02, 2007 1:51 PM  

Blogger Sidney said...

Nice coverage! You really earned your media card!
I guess people don't like having their pictures taken in rallies. In many countries (I don't know in the Philippines) undercover police are taking pictures and they end in their files...

May 02, 2007 1:58 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

That is sad, Utoy, especially that prices seem to go up nonetheless. Perhaps, these non-wage benefits would assuage their low-paying resources.

May 02, 2007 2:17 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

You're right, Sidney. Same in NYC during Nixon's era, especially. Actually, it was worse while J. Edgar Hoover was in power (the now dead chief of the FBI). This guy had a file on practically anyone and used the resources of the bureau to politically blackmail those who might oppose him.

May 02, 2007 2:19 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Feds even tried to deport John Lennon and Yoko Ono back to the UK because of their Anti vietnam war views.

May 02, 2007 4:35 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

That is correct, Leo. I think Lennon got on the bad side of many of Nixon's close allies, John Mitchell among them who was at that time the Attorney General. The FBI resources were used unsparingly against the Lennons.

May 02, 2007 4:45 PM  

Blogger sheilamarie said...

to walk endlessly under the glare of the sun the whole day. i hope the rally was worth it. as you said, prices of commodities keep rising, but not the salary. i hope their voices gets heard.

great shot, eric =)

May 02, 2007 7:44 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

In an ideal world, wages of our suffering labor force should have increased by now. But with the present rapturous condition in our country, and political malevolence--that seems to be an empty dream.

May 02, 2007 7:50 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

I'm not that well-versed with their political cause, Sheilamarie, but I do hope that they do get something to help defray the costs of their daily needs.

May 02, 2007 8:14 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Sad but true, Major Tom. I really am hoping for a much brighter tomorrow for us all.

May 02, 2007 8:15 PM  

Blogger -= dave =- said...

Ah yes the popular cry of higher wages. For a different view, here's the thoughts of the "unpopular" columnist Alex Magno.

Most don't want their pictures taken, eh. Then they won't have proof of participation in a historic moment!

May 02, 2007 9:36 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

aw, you missed me in your photos. I was standing in the 7th row from the front lines.

Well, I didn't noticed you were there taking pictures. I really need my glasses rechecked.

Beautiful shots though, and in black and white, awesome!

May 03, 2007 6:54 AM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

A very interesting perspective, it is, Dave. I, too, would be inclined to celebrate work not labor. I remember when Reagan was at the White House and eradicated the unions' grip on certain US industries. Thanks for sharing the site with us.

As Sidney had mentioned, some of these folks might be wary of those collecting information about them and to be used only for ill intentions.

May 03, 2007 7:10 AM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

I was actually wondering on that day if you were somehow somewhere amongst the crowd, Jhay.

BTW, with your future events in the Manila area, please email me the details. I'd be interested to cover it. As aforementioned, I may lack in-depth insight about the nature of certain demonstrations, but I could at least help document the event with my camera.

Thanks, Jhay!

May 03, 2007 7:16 AM  

Blogger Francesca said...

i dont know if hindi alam ng ating govt na ang mga manggagawa is the life blood of economy ng bansa. if theres work theres salary, there's consumers and there will business.

Pag wala, wala na taxes, gutom pa mamamayan.
Kaya tama lng yang mag rally sila. Kung pareho sana ang sss ng france sa pinas, wala ng ganyan pa every may 1
Baka nasa holidays na mga kababayan natin with thier family enjoying life.
Haayy, kelan kaya mabago buhay ni JUan?

May 04, 2007 6:21 AM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Kaya nga dami mga kababayan natin, Francesca, nag-iibang bansa na lamang para makaranas ng kahit kauinting kaginhawahan.

Kanya lang, mga kamag-anak sa Pinas gastos agad ang mga padala, walang tinatabi sa tag-ulan :(

May 04, 2007 9:08 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

oh, Labor Day in black and white. i wonder--where are the reds? amazing how in photography, one could suit in his/her preference.

May 06, 2007 9:15 AM  

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Life in Manila as observed by a former New Yorker who with a laptop and camera has reinvented himself as a storyteller. Winner of the PHILIPPINE BLOG AWARDS: Best Photo Blog in 2007 and three Best Single Post awards in 2008.

 
 

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