In marking Holy Week this year, the urban poor led by Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap or Kadamay marched to Mendiola in what they dubbed as “the people’s calvary” on April 16. Families of victims of the previous Duterte administration’s extrajudicial killings and the urban poor who suffered the demolition of their homes, as well as youth and workers, joined the activity.

The protest featured images of Christ carrying his cross, symbolizing the extreme suffering inflicted by Ferdinand Marcos Jr on the people. Written across the cross were calls for land distribution to farmers, the abolition of the National Task Force-Elcac, and the scrapping of the Public Transportation Modernization Program (PTMP).

According to Kadamay, the “Holy Week always reminds Filipinos of the immense sacrifice and suffering, not only of Christ, but also of the people who continue to bear the cross of poverty.”

Kadamay-Negros, urban poor groups, fisherfolk, and farmers in Bacolod City held a similar action on the same day. At the six stations of the march, participants highlighted issues oppressing the people such as demolition and reclamation in fisherfolk communities, lack of livelihood and slave-like wages, layoffs at BACIWA and CENECO due to privatization, rising prices of goods, and the continuing militarization in rural and urban centers.

On April 14, national-democratic groups led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-National Capital Regiona also held a protest in Tondo, Manila. Before this, they marched in Divisoria.

Health workers, led by the Alliance of Health Workers, also protested in front of the Department of Health on April 14 for higher wages, benefits, and labor rights. They called the protest the “calvary of health workers and the people” to highlight their hardships under the worsening health and economic crisis.