Various national democratic organizations and groups in Manila launched the “Poorest de Mayo” parade on May 23, a creative depiction of the poverty that the people endure in the city and across the country. The parade mimics the lavish “Flores de Mayo” festival the country commonly holds to honor the Catholic Church’s Virgin Mary.

Instead of glittering gowns, the “queens” in the procession protest wore outfits made from recycled materials that show their respective local struggles and sectoral demands. Each arch symbolizes the issues and grievances of poor residents in Manila under the US-Marcos regime such as lack of livelihood, cheap wages, widespread community demolitions, the education crisis, environmental destruction, and condemnation of the continuing war of aggression by US-Israel against Iran and other countries in the Middle East.

The protest also highlighted the Manila residents’ opposition to the construction of the destructive Waste-to-Energy Incinerator Project by R-II Builder Inc in Smokey Mountain, Barangay 128. The company is also responsible for dismissing more than 300 workers at the Manila Harbour Centre.

Barangay 105 residents also raised the issue of the open-pit coal stockpile/storage of Rock Energy International Corporation in the area. Residents said the stockpile emits high levels of carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide that pollute the air and water, causing lung and skin diseases and affecting residents’ livelihoods.

The groups condemned the community fire at Gate 46, Parola, which faces looming demolition for the planned 2-kilometer Baseco-Parola Bridge or North-South Harbor Bridge. Up to 1,292 families in the Parola and Baseco areas will be displaced.

A ₱8.03 billion loan by the Philippine government from the Chinese government funds the North-South Harbor Bridge project. The US-Duterte regime formed the plan under its Build, Build, Build program.

“As long as the system serves only the few and the powerful, women in poor urban communities will continue to rise and advance to fight for their rights and a just livelihood,” Gabriela-Manila said.