Jose Torres Jr.
MANILA (LiCAS): Manila’s urban poor dwellers marched in the Philippine capital on Wednesday, December 15, reenacting the Holy Family’s search for lodging in a traditional Christmas Eve street play called Panunuluyan [in search of lodging].
This year’s event, however, turned political as the marchers trooped to the office of the country’s vice president, Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, to show support for her candidacy in next year’s presidential elections.
The marchers carried pink Christmas stars—parol—symbolising the star of Bethlehem that appears in the nativity story of the gospel. Pink is Robredo’s campaign colour.
In the gospel, the star inspired the wise men, or the three kings, to travel to Jerusalem in search of the Child Jesus.
“Like the wise men, we are choosing a leader that will help the Philippines restore genuine democracy and participation,” said Jeorgie Tenolete, head of the urban poor group, Kabalikat sa Kaunlaran ng Baseco [Striving for Progress of Baseco].
She said urban poor dwellers were hit the hardest by the Covid-19 pandemic, “not just by the virus itself but by the underlying results of the lockdown.”
Tenolete said the strict health restrictions “brought about losses of income and jobs, health, education insecurity, and vulnerability to human rights abuses.”
“Filipinos were asked to stay home, but the government continued to evict poor families while in lockdown,” she said, adding that this year’s Panunuluyan “[symbolised] people’s voice that we can make change happen through unity and participation in the May 2022 elections.”
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She said that despite the challenges being encountered by poor communities, the event provides them with “inspiration and hope that we can make it through just like the birth of Baby Jesus.”
The dramatisation is a Philippine adaptation of a Mexican Christmas tradition that dates back to the 16th century.
The urban poor’s version dramatised their own search for homes, peace, and a decent life.
The street play has become a platform for the poor to express their concerns over the “normalisation of violence, disruption of community harmony, and the growing culture of fear” amidst the Philippine government’s war against illegal drugs.
Father Robert Reyes, known for his advocacy for the urban poor, said, “Many people are still homeless or have no permanent homes or security in their homes, like the couple Mary and Joseph,” adding, “This Christmas, some poor people have no roofs over their heads, so we continue to advocate for it because we know that housing rights are human rights.”
Alice Murphy, executive director of the non-government organisation, Urban Poor Associates, said the Panunuluyan is the poor people’s “way of showing that the Covid-19 [pandemic] or the restrictions will never stop the voices of the poor.”
Murphy said, “We are all here to defend human rights and call for decent housing for the poor. We believe we must now speak out on behalf of the many who are suffering in our communities.”
Data from the World Bank shows that at least two million more Filipinos became poor in 2020 due to reduced household income and disrupted business activities due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
