Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

alab

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — A new documentary from ABS-CBN News takes viewers to the frontlines of the massive anti-corruption protests on September 21, 2025, and the violence that later engulfed the streets of Manila.</p><div> </div><p>Titled “Alab sa Lansangan: The September 21 Protests Against Corruption in the Philippines”, the documentary by journalist Karen De Guzman, offers an unfiltered look at the people, the pain, and the anger that flooded the streets on a day already heavy with historical and political significance.</p><p>On the day marking the 53rd year since the declaration Martial Law, thousands of Filipinos marched through the streets of Metro Manila and other parts of the country, denouncing alleged systemic corruption in government projects.</p><div> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/25/protesters-demand-release-of-minors-arrested-after-manila-rally-1628"><strong>Protesters demand release of minors arrested after Manila rally</strong></a></div><div> <strong>“WALANG KULAY — BANDILA LANG”</strong></div><p> At the heart of the documentary are the voices of ABS-CBN journalists — field reporters and cameramen — who witnessed the protests firsthand.</p><div> </div><p>Their accounts paint a picture of a movement that began with hope.</p><div> </div><p>In Luneta Park, crowds from different walks of life gathered in what reporter Izzy Lee described as a powerful mix of first-time protesters and seasoned activists.</p><p> “Nakita namin iba-ibang sektor. May manggagawa, may mga guro, maraming kabataan. Karamihan first time nilang sumama,” said Lee.</p><p> At the People Power Monument, reporter Lyza Aquino observed a rare moment of unity where the crowd set aside politics.</p><p> “Wala pong pula, walang berde, walang dilaw, walang rosas that time. Everyone was just waving the Philippine flag.”</p><p> One of the most emotional moments came at the EDSA Shrine, where families — some spanning three generations — marched together.</p><p> “Tinanong ko bakit po buong pamilya ay nandito? Ang sagot niya, kailangan kasing mamulat eh. So talagang it cuts across multi-generations,” said journalist Raphael Bosano, recalling an elderly woman clutching her granddaughter in the crowd.</p><div><strong> TENSION IGNITES AT AYALA BRIDGE</strong></div><p> By mid-afternoon, chaos ignited at Ayala Bridge when a group of people in black clothes and masks began hurling rocks at police, and later on, setting a container van ablaze.</p><div> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/21/thousands-take-to-streets-as-filipinos-protest-flood-control-fraud-2307"><strong>Thousands take to streets as Filipinos protest flood control fraud </strong></a></div><p> Cameraman Ryan Evangelista vividly recounted how fast the situation turned.</p><p> “Pagbaba ko pa lang, may bato na kaagad na tumilapon. Akala nila ‘yung sasakyan natin is parang mobile ng pulis,” he said.</p><p> “Wala kang makikitang iba kundi mga kabataan, may mga flag, talagang pakalat-kalat. Alam mo ‘yung hindi sila mapakali.”</p><p> Walls were spray-painted with angry messages like “Bulok ang sistema” and “Mga Korap.”</p><p> The group also smashed streetlights, dismantled railings, and traffic signals.</p><p> “Masasabi ko na ‘yung tao talaga ay galit — ‘yung taumbayan dito sa gobyerno. Mafi-feel mo ‘yun sa rage nila,” Lee added.</p><div><strong> ‘WAR ZONE’ IN MENDIOLA AND RECTO</strong></div><p> By late afternoon, the unrest had spread to Mendiola and Recto, where protests turned into street battles.</p><p> Rubbish were set on fire filling the air with plumes of smoke, motorcycles were torched, glass panes were shattered, and streets were littered with rubble and debris. turning the scene into what cameraman Nestor Conato can only described as a “war zone.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/7/wrap-anger-over-ghost-flood-control-projects-overflows-onto-the-streets-2222"><strong>WRAP: Anger over &#x27;ghost&#x27; flood control projects overflows onto the streets</strong></a></div><p> “Ang naobserbahan ko roon, kapag umatake sila, tapos pulasan, takbo, may umatake ulit. Kaya nahirapan ‘yung mga pulis. Parang war zone na e — magulo na talaga,” he said.</p><p> Reporter Jessie Cruzat described the chaos in stark terms: “‘Pag dating ko doon, may nakita akong makapal na usok, may nagsusunog na sa gitna ng Recto, may nagbabatuhan ng bote. Doon ko lang naisip na, ‘Iba na ‘to. Grabe.’ ‘Yun lang nasa isip ko — ‘Grabe, iba na ‘to.’”</p><p> Cruzat said police initially showed restraint, but began to retaliate as the violence intensified.</p><p> “Habang lumalala ‘yung aggression ng mga raliyista, lalo na nung mga nanggulo, may pagkakataon na mapapatanong ka kung maximum tolerance pa ba ‘yun? Kasi pipitik at pipitik ‘yung mga pulis,” Cruzat noted.</p><p> By 4:00 p.m., Recto Avenue had become a battlefield.</p><p> Senior reporter Dennis Datu reported on an ultimatum set by protesters: “Binibigyan nila ng deadline ang pangulo na kapag hindi bumaba, kakaladkarin nila.”</p><p> Video journalist Evart Villar captured the darker shift in tone and the confusion in the air.</p><p> “Grabe ‘yung galit nila kasi nakakasira sila ng gamit e, nakakasira sila ng establishment, nakakasunog sila ng motorcycle ng pulis. So ‘yung galit nandun — pero hindi ko alam kung ano ‘yung tunay nilang pinaglalaban.”</p><div> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/5/youth-groups-hold-ghost-hunting-protest-vs-flood-control-corruption-1309"><strong>Youth groups hold &#x27;ghost hunting&#x27; protest vs flood control corruption</strong></a></div><p> The events of September 21 also exposed the stark difference between legitimate grievance and lawless destruction.</p><div><strong> BEYOND THE HEADLINES</strong></div><p> Alab sa Lansangan is more than just a documentary — it’s a historical record, a wake-up call.</p><p> Through searing visuals and first-person accounts, it confronts the pain, courage, and consequences of civil unrest — and the political rot that fueled it.</p><p> It challenges us to examine our democracy, to reflect on the cost of silence, and to ask: How did we get here? To where are we going?</p><p> As the documentary sums up: 216 were arrested on the day of the protest. Zero corrupt officials were arrested.</p><div> <em><strong>“Alab sa Lansangan: The September 21 Protests Against Corruption in the Philippines” is now streaming on the ABS-CBN News YouTube Channel and iWantTFC.</strong></em></div><div> </div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/btpX-v-3-aQ??si=I1URWM7BVK3E6aWI&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>A new documentary from ABS-CBN News takes viewers to the frontlines of the massive anti-corruption protests on September 21, 2025, and the violence that later engulfed the streets of Manila.</p>

A new documentary from ABS-CBN News takes viewers to the frontlines of the massive anti-corruption protests on September 21, 2025, and the violence that later engulfed the streets of Manila.

'Alab sa Lansangan': ABS-CBN documentary revisits Sept. 21 anti-corruption protests

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'Alab sa Lansangan': ABS-CBN documentary revisits Sept. 21 anti-corruption protests

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 27, 2025 08:11 PM PHT

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Alab sa Lansangan

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