Artista Para Sa Bayan: Voices of the Stars Amplify the Filipinos' Call for Justice
- September 22, 2025
On September 21, 2025, exactly 53 years since the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines, thousands of Filipinos took to the streets at the Baha sa Luneta protest and the Trillion Peso March along EDSA, to unite their voices against corruption. The demonstrations became not just acts of political defiance, but also cultural moments, with celebrities, artists, and public figures lending their platforms to amplify the call for justice and accountability.
This was a moment when artists channeled their influence to echo the frustration and anger that so many Filipinos carry. Corruption in flood control and infrastructure has left homes destroyed, classrooms unusable, and families bracing for disaster. At the protests, these failures were tied directly to the daily struggles of ordinary people—every house that floods, every peso stolen from public services, and every dream delayed by broken systems is a reminder of why accountability can no longer wait. Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, Donny Pangilinan, Julia Barretto, Darren Espanto, Ion Perez, Angel Aquino, Maris Racal, Iza Calzado, Catriona Gray, Alex Medina, Ogie Alcasid, Jodi Sta. Maria, Nadine Lustre, Mika Salamanca, Gabbi Garcia, and Khalil Ramos were among those spotted on the ground at Luneta and EDSA.
Andrea Brillantes, Elijah Canlas, Rhian Ramos, Raheel Bhyria, David Licauco, Dustin Yu, and Kaila Estrada were also seen marching alongside the people. Their presence showed that the calls of the youth were not isolated to activists and organizations, but were being echoed by figures who hold influence in popular culture.
Dingdong Dantes, Kim Atienza, Benjamin Alves, Faith Da Silva, Jerald Napoles, and Kim Molina joined an allied anti-corruption run that same day, linking sport, civic grit, and a call for clean governance. Later in the day, those images flowed into the same feeds carrying rally coverage from Luneta and EDSA, tightening the cultural moment into a single refrain: Filipinos want their money back and their institutions to work.
Onstage at EDSA, Vice Ganda delivered one of today’s most powerful speeches, condemning corrupt officials and calling for justice with a raw emotional plea that moved the crowd. They urged, “Takutin natin ang gobyerno dahil ang kapangyarihan nasa sa atin, wala sa kanila,” a sharp reversal of the learned fear many young people grew up with around power. They also dared President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to put corrupt government officials behind bars while calling for the return of the death penalty for those allegedly linked to anomalous flood-control projects. Meanwhile, Maris Racal took the lead with a megaphone at Luneta, chanting, “Serbisyo sa tao, huwag gawing negosyo!” which reverberated across the park. Elijah Canlas also bravely used his voice onstage, saying, “Tama na, sobra na. Ikulong na. Lahat ng kasangkot dapat managot.”
Some artists spoke out digitally. KATSEYE member Sophia Laforteza added her voice online, posting solidarity with the protests and amplifying the call to end corruption, a reminder that influence travels fast when artists decide to use it. Angel Locsin also surfaced to support the rallies and demand accountability. Their posts helped widen the frame for young readers who follow culture first and politics second.
For Gen Z, who live in an age where misinformation spreads as quickly as floodwaters and where political apathy is often expected, these rallies became proof of their collective power. They are fluent in hashtags and social media language, but they are also unafraid to take their voices offline and into the streets. Seeing these stars marching with them validated that they are not alone and that the fight for a corrupt free Philippines is worth claiming as their own.
Whether it was Maris Racal leading chants, Vice Ganda electrifying the crowd, or creators like Sassa Gurl and Stella Salle turning virality into visibility, their presence pushed for a future where public funds truly serve the public. What stood out was not just the number of people but the range of influence—public figures standing shoulder to shoulder with students, workers, and families, proving that the struggle for justice and accountability is not bound by age or status.
The events of September 21 underscored one truth: silence is no longer an option.
PHOTOS: VICE GANDA, ANNE CURTIS, JILSON TIU, ANDREA BRILLANTES, HALEY DIZON (via Instagram)
