“The second coming?”
This was what some Filipinos quipped after a male foreigner, described by many as resembling Jesus Christ, appeared at the anti-corruption rally at the EDSA Shrine on Sunday, September 21.
Clips of the foreign national in the sea of protesters circulated online, with one Threads user joking that the Messiah had “come down” from Heaven in response to the widespread corruption in the country.
“Mare, sa sobrang kurakot sa Pinas [Pilipinas], bumaba na si Hesus,” the Threads user quipped, sharing a video of the foreigner that drew attention from protesters, some of whom snapped photos and recorded videos of him.
View on Threads
A radio station also shared footage of the foreigner appearing lost and confused amid the protest. He was seen holding his mobile phone.
There is no information yet about his identity or how he ended up in the demonstration. Still, his presence intrigued Filipinos, prompting a wave of reactions on social media.
“The second coming,” an online user quipped, alluding to the Christian belief that Jesus Christ will return to Earth after his ascension to Heaven;
“Judgement day is coming, sabi ni Lord,” another commented.
“It’s gotten so bad that God sent down his Son FOR THE SECOND TIME,” a different Pinoy joked.
“You came to Philippines as a tourist, you left as a Messiah!” another online user commented in jest with a grinning-with-squinting emoji.
“Namamangha siya,” a different online user wrote.
Some online users speculated that the foreigner could be a journalist from abroad.
“Baka media din galing sa ibang bansa,” a Facebook user commented.
Foreign nationals are not allowed to participate in political activities in the country, including protests of a political nature.
Former Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco stated that visitors do not share the same rights and privileges as Filipino citizens.
“Joining political demonstrations is a blatant display of disrespect towards the country’s authorities and constitutes meddling in our internal affairs as a sovereign nation,” he previously said.
Thousands of Filipinos took to the streets on Sunday to denounce corruption in flood control projects and demand accountability from government officials and contractors involved.
The rally, dubbed the “Trillion Peso March,” coincided with the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law by the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
Organizers said the date was chosen deliberately to link past abuses of power with present-day corruption.
Protesters gathered at the EDSA Shrine, People Power Monument and Rizal Park to make their voices heard in a historic moment. Others also gathered in Bulacan, Baguio City, Cebu and Davao.
Reports said that the Department of Finance estimated that corruption in flood-control projects drained up to P118.5 billion ($2 billion) from the economy between 2023 and 2025, while environmental groups such as Greenpeace placed the figure much higher.
Protest leaders vowed to sustain street demonstrations until accountability measures are enforced.
— with reports from Philstar.com/Camille Diola and Jean Mangaluz
