MANILA, Philippines – Filipino Catholics celebrate the Flores de Mayo (Mayflower) festival every month of May.
The festival lasts the whole month, and is meant to praise and pay tribute to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It culminates with a ritual pageant called the Santacruzan, which honors the finding of the true cross by Helena of Constantinople (Reyna Elena) and Constantine the Great.
On Saturday, May 26, militant activists led by human rights group Karapatan gathered at the Sunken Garden of the University of the Philippines Diliman campus to hold their own version of the annual tradition called the Protesta de Mayo Laban sa Tiranya.
Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay said the event is their alternative form of protest – organized by women rights activists – and their contribution to the #BabaeAko and #LalabanAko campaign against President Rodrigo Duterte's sexism and misogyny.
"We will not stand and allow macho-fascists like Duterte to continue and infringe on women's and people's rights. We are fighting back," Palabay said in a statement.
Here are some of the highlights from the procession cum protest, in photos:
– Rappler.com
