Mendiola, Manila, September 21, 2025
It all began with a peaceful demonstration… until Politics came into play.
At least that is the theory—let the photos speak for themselves.
Protesters gather peacefully at the start of the Mendiola demonstration
View "from above"
Assembly of the police before the storm--both rain and otherwise
Helmets and shields
Proof that dialogue can still happen in the toughest situations
Rioters burn property, inciting anger
A small group of policemen get cornered. Some rioters harass them, but others jumped in front to prevent any physical harm
Police reassemble after being attacked by the rioters
The formation before the march
The police march in formation against the rioters
The entire forms assembles
Photographers don their protective gear
Inevitably arrests start
Police are deployed to keep the peace
Riot gear is distributed
I heard the police chief call out for maximum tolerance
A "view from above"
The demonstration starts peacefully
Various groups fly their flags
Chants call for an end to corruption and the resignation of corrupt government officials
As the organized demonstrators leave, rioters start attacking the police
Rioters leave a path of destruction that the police go into
The police reassemble after the attack
Police leaders assess the situation
Arrests abound, often met with resistance
The police react to the destruction of property
The aftermath... even the sign was struck by the rocks thrown by both sides
A light moment reflecting the Filipinos' true culture, where we smile in the face of adversity
Exx M., yours truly, now a certified embattled photo journalist (or so I'd like to say!)
Neil Daza and Roland L., enjoying the peace before the chaos. Sir Neil is a veteran photojournalist and an award-winning cinematographer.
Luis Liwanag, strategizing his next shot. Sir Luis is a legend of Philippine Photography and Photojournalism and is one of my mentors in street photography. Learn more about him by clicking on his photo
Roland L. in action. Roland is my fellow enthusiast who inspires me to dive into the action, be it on a regular photowalk or at a rally such as this
Che V., testing her gear. Che is a talented film production professional who also dabbles in photography
