August 24, 2008 in News

How Was the Truth Fest?

Church groups, activists, artists, students, and various other sectors will hold an overnight “Truth Festival” wherein pertinent issues will be tackled in a “colorful” way, a Church leader said Friday.

Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines national co-chair Sister Mary John Mananzan said the “Truth Festival,” which will begin with a mass at 3 p.m. Friday and end 5 a.m. Saturday at the Rajah Sulayman Park in Manila, will include speeches, musical acts, and food and educational booths.

“Marami po tayong hindi alam e. Gusto namin na masabi ang mga katotohan pero hindi sa usual way,” said Mananzan in an interview over radio dzBB.

Among the groups that will participate in the event are the National Concerned Artists of the Philippines, Jesus is Lord Movement, Bayan Muna, and Akbayan, said Mananzan.

“Iba-ibang kulay,” said Mananzan. “Ibang-iba po ito. Unique, one of its kind.”

Mananzan said they are expecting 50,000 people to attend the event.

Mananzan said rock bands will perform, while about 18-20 speakers will tackle several pertinent issues, including those concerning politics, the environment, and economics.

This was how the Truth Festival came out of the news the day before the event was held. Everything was realized according to the plan last August 22 until August 23 morning except the number of people that was expected to gather. The mobilization committee has fallen short of their expected number of warm bodies that would gather along Roxas Boulevard, the crowd estimate was 10,000 at its peak. One big big reason was the financial difficulty that big groups mobilizers had to face in subsidizing their transportation expense.

Nonetheless, the convenors and the organizers considered the event a great success—to their assessment, clear message regarding different truths on anomalous transactions and corrupt practices in the government that are supposed to be known by many Filipinos, was met. Second, the truth fest was generally peaceful not only due to the collaborative efforts with the authorities of Manila but more importantly due to the presence and unselfish cooperation of many religious, especially nuns who have volunteered to marshal the event up to wee hours. The success was attained as the weather was very nice. The convenors could not help but be grateful to God for the clear sky althroughout the occasion. They are at the same time thankful to those who took their time to be physically present in the occasion and to all the people who watched and listened to the program. With high hopes, they expect the impact be instilled in the hearts of the Filipino people to truly love and embrace value of truth in all its facets.