by Maria Bratikova

Scour the dictionaries and you‘ll see that rally is both a verb and a noun. Interestingly, the first definitions in verb and noun are telling. The synonyms are listed in decrescendoing nuances of purpose and controversy.

The opposition massed-up in a prayer rally. The figure head in this is the appointed son of god, Quiboloy, aided by another figure head called the property administrator of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, none other than our FPRRD (cos it is a kingdom and it got property, except a territory!). Supporting characters are self-advertised v/bloggers and infuencers. Toll! (That‘s “Nice!” in Deutsch.)

Prayer is a human construct, as abstract as it can get. The Quiboloy church is advertised as non-trinitarian. God knows how confusing the Trinity already is – another human construct. So let‘s skip that.

Since Quiboloy scrapped the trinitarian impossibility, he rolled all three into one: Quiboloy. Forget Jesus Christ as the F, S and Holy Spirit. Quibo hugged all three supreme fictions in his person. So what does that make of FPRRD? Lackey? Dang, I forgot -they call him administrator.

So prayer. . . if Quibo is already there. . . who do they address in their prayers? Their god is already there! Remember also  that this kingdom is occupying the territoriality of the Philippines. If we don‘t cede Davao, occupy Liwasang Bonifacio!

Whenever one loses argument and traction in a political struggle in our country, that one reverts to religionism.

It was only over 6 years ago that the administrator of that phantom kingdom was spewing expletives left and right and cussing the God of your fathers. 

Don‘t buy Amnesia, dahlings!

The 7-day prayer rally orchestrated by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and Rodrigo Duterte’s supporters concluded without achieving its intended goal of inciting an EDSA people power movement reminiscent of the ousting of Ferdinand E. Marcos. 

Contrary to its spiritual guise, the rally primarily served as a platform to advocate for the protection of Quiboloy and Duterte while condemning constitutional amendments and promoting VP Sara Duterte’s ascendancy over Bongbong Marcos. However, the outcome starkly contrasts with their aspirations. 

Bongbong Marcos remains president, Sara Duterte is still the vice president, and the constitutional amendment to lift economic restrictions progresses in Congress. 

Meanwhile, Quiboloy faces legal troubles with the U.S government and Philippine Senate. Ultimately, the rally fizzled into insignificance, failing to mobilize significant support or evoke the transformative spirit of the original EDSA revolution, leaving Filipinos to continue their lives without significant upheaval.