The Attack of the Geng-Geng Gang in Mendiola: Protest or Destruction?

Sigaw ng mamamayan: "Rage Against these Jologs!, Trying hard to be Nepalese and Indonesians wannabe

Yesterday, the streets of Mendiola once again became the center of attention, as protesters gathered for a rally against corruption. Sa isang bansa na ilang dekada nang pinapahirapan ng kurapsyon, hindi na bago ang mga ganitong eksena. But this time, the so-called “pa-cool kids”, "geng-geng gang", "tambay", "squammy", and other groups who joined the protest seemed less interested in making their voices heard and more eager to bring chaos.

Let’s be honest: rallies in Nepal and Indonesia have inspired many Filipinos. Their people bravely went against oppressive leaders, and yes, sometimes through force. Pero ang tanong—kung tayo ba ang gagaya, kailangan ba laging may kasama ring pagiging jologs? Alam niyo yung isang foreign movies na kapag ginaya sa pelikulang Pilipino ay less interest at parang nagiging jologs ang resulta.

Every protest starts with a noble intention: to demand accountability, to fight injustice, to stand up against corruption. Walang mali doon. In fact, we should support that. But yesterday, what we saw was not just a protest—it was destruction.

• A truck container, a motorcycle was smashed and burned down—property ng isang simpleng driver na kasing-hirap din ng mga nagra-rally.

• A traffic light was destroyed—something na gamit din ng ordinaryong tao araw-araw.

• May attempt pa na mang-loot—na wala talagang kinalaman sa laban against corruption.

Sources: https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/22/-hiphop-gangsters-involved-in-manila-riot-police-0959

So sino ang kalaban nila kahapon? Was it the corrupt politicians, or was it the same everyday Filipinos na gaya rin nila, naghahanapbuhay para mabuhay?

Let’s make it clear: when people in Nepal or Indonesia rose, it was because of massive oppression. And when they fought back, their anger was focused—directly at the system, at the corrupt officials, at the structures of power. Hindi nila ginawang punching bag ang mga kababayan nilang walang kasalanan.

But here, the imitation looks cheap. Para bang pelikula na kapag ginaya ng Pinoy, biglang nagiging “low budget” at “jologs” ang dating. Hindi cool, hindi revolutionary—parang street riot lang na walang direksyon.

Morobeats prod by DJ Medmessiah - Anak ka ng PU

Another thing: the police yesterday became the center of a clash. Yes, may mga kaso ng police brutality, and yes, they are part of the system. Pero sa sitwasyong ito, the police were merely peacekeepers. Ang tunay na kalaban—the corrupt leaders, the greedy politicians, the people robbing our country dry—were sitting comfortably in their offices, watching the chaos unfold.

So who benefited from yesterday’s destruction? Definitely not the Filipino people.

Revolutions are not just about noise, fire, and broken glass. They’re about clarity, discipline, and purpose. Hindi natin pwedeng iromanticize ang vandalism at looting bilang “radical expression.” Because at the end of the day, sino ang talo? Tayo ring ordinaryong tao.

We need protests, yes. We need passion, yes. But we also need strategy. We need maturity. We need a movement na alam kung sino ang kalaban, at hindi nauubos ang enerhiya sa maling direksyon.

The fight against corruption in the Philippines is real. Pero kung ang paraan natin ay sisira lang tayo ng truck ng isang mahirap na driver, or bubutasin ang traffic light na kailangan din ng jeepney driver para makauwi, then we’re not fighting corruption—we’re just creating more of it in the streets.

We need our own style—one that is brave, clear, and dignified. Anything less than that will always look jologs.