In the Philippines, peace is a slippery little creature, always darting between rallies and shrines, dodging placards and sermons. 

On one side, the INC faithful stood shoulder to shoulder, proclaiming “Peace!” as they defended VP Sara Duterte from impeachment. Their version of peace seemed to involve a lot of chanting and suspiciously choreographed waving of posters. Just days later, at the EDSA Shrine, another group held a mass for peace, but their prayers came with a caveat: “Peace, but impeach her first!”

The irony? Both sides were dead serious about their peaceful intentions.

Where lies the peace? Probably stuck in gridlock, along with the rest of us, wondering how it all came to this.

In true Philippine fashion, the Iglesia ni Cristo’s rally for peace quickly morphed into a live-action telenovela featuring a colorful cast of political gatecrashers. 

Despite the INC’s clear instructions to leave politics at the door, it seems no one read the memo—or, more likely, they read it and laughed. Some tried to hijack the event by asking followers to arrive decked out in VP Sara Duterte’s signature green, which would have made the rally look less like a call for peace and more like a campaign rally flashback.

The pièce de résistance? Congressman Marcoleta, who apparently mistook the stage for a congressional podium. His off-script rant turned what was supposed to be a solemn event into an unmissable comedy sketch, dragging his House colleagues in the process. It was a masterclass in missing the point, as well as proof that in Philippine politics, the only thing off-limits is subtlety. Peace rally? More like a “peace out” on apolitical pretenses!

Oh did we already mention the glaring presence of senators and politicians closely identified with the Dutertes? Praying for peace or fishing for votes?

Congressman Rodante Marcoleta must have mistaken the peace rally for an audition for “Philippines Got Politics.”

Armed with his signature bluster, he hijacked the non-political stage to launch an anti-Quadcomm tirade, defend the Dutertes like a loyal telenovela sidekick, and trumpet his congressional proposals as if anyone asked. Meanwhile, his mention of President Bongbong Marcos was so fleeting it could’ve been a TikTok clip—blink and you’d miss it.

The irony of turning a peace rally into a political soapbox wasn’t lost on anyone, except maybe Marcoleta himself. But will this theatrical stunt endear him to his Iglesia Ni Cristo brethren, or will it backfire like a bad karaoke performance?

With 2025 fast approaching, Marcoleta’s antics might not secure him the senatorial votes he’s banking on. After all, the INC values unity, and hogging the microphone isn’t exactly the best way to rally the faithful—or the electorate.