Protest at UP. Students and teachers of the University of the Philippines (UP) in its various campuses welcomed the second semester in January with weekly protests. The protests highlighted budget cuts, threats to security and academic freedom, along with the call “Hold Duterte Accountable, Charge Marcos!”

The largest rally was at UP Los Baños where over 800 participated in the “First Day Rage” on January 27. Rallies were also held at UP Tacloban on January 13; UP Manila and UP Visayas, on January 20; UP Baguio, UP Diliman, UP DEPPO in Pampanga, and UP Cebu on January 21; and UP Mindanao on January 28.

Mendiola Massacre Commemoration. The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and democratic sectors commemorated the 38th anniversary of the bloody Mendiola Massacre on January 22. They held a forum at Bantayog ng mga Bayani to remember the 13 individuals who died after then-president Corazon Aquino’s personnel violently attacked thousands of protesting farmers. This was followed by a march to Mendiola in Manila where the heinous crime took place.

Protest against expensive fines in Cebu. Jeepney drivers under Piston Cebu launched a protest on January 25 to condemn the LTO Region 7 for targeting them with excessive fines. Drivers objected to the agency’s Joint Administrative Order 2014-01 which set fines of up to ₱27,000 for minor and fabricated traffic law violations.

Batangueños demand support and compensation. Batangas sugarcane farm-workers and farmers picketed at the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Agriculture and Sugar Regulatory Administration-Main Office in Metro Manila on January 22. Led by Sugar-Batangas and Alyansa ng mga Magsasaka para sa Kumpensasyon, they demanded financial support and compensation from the Marcos regime for those affected by severe calamities and the closure of CADPI in the province.

UE and BCP students protest. Students from the University of the East (UE) and Bestlink College of the Philippines (BCP) took action in January to denounce the planned tuition increase and imposition of burdensome policies in their schools. At UE, they picketed the Caloocan and Manila campuses on January 27-28 concurrent with the UE’s “consultation” regarding the university’s push for a 5% tuition and other fees increase (TOFI). Earlier, they lit candles along with a short program at UE-Caloocan on January 24.

At BCP, students again staged a protest in Quezon City on January 30 to condemn the administration for its major incompetence in the school anniversary celebration held on January 26 in Bataan. Anakbayan-BCP and its students dubbed the said celebration day as #BCPTortureDay due to the numerous incidents and high expenses.