MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau). They’ve come by the hundreds, or thousands — depending on who’s counting. They’re the activists protesting the burial of the remains of the late Ferdinand E. Marcos in the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani (LNMB).
They’ve rallied at Luneta, on EDSA and in school campuses. Now, they’re running out of new venues and strategies to attract more participants in their protests.
Until now.
Today, the Movement for All-Around Protests (MAAP) announced that beginning on Monday, they will picket ukay-ukay stores throughout Metro Manila, and eventually across the country.
“Ukay-ukay” are considered to be the Filipino version of the flea market where used items ranging from clothing to kitchen and garden gadgets are sold at cheap prices
The term “ukay-ukay” is said to have originated from the Filipino verb “hukay” or “halukay” that means to dig.
The MAAP told The Adobo Chronicles that they found it appropriate and symbolic to picket the ukay-ukay stores because these outlets accurately reflect what the protesters are demanding: to dig or exhume (hukay) Marcos’ remains.
The group has even come up with their chants and battlecry: “Marcos, Hitler, Dictador, Tuta” and “What do we want? Ukay-ukay. When do we want it? Now!”
The protesters hope that their new strategy will attract more than the 3,000 or so participants they’ve had in previous rallies.
