Sunday lunches in Manila are usually long, leisurely family affairs. But yesterday thousands of families from all income groups and political stripes forgot about lunch or ate hurriedly while walking.
They poured into Manila's largest park on foot, in buses, jeeps and cars. The lines snaked along all the avenues leading to the rally site, with priests and nuns acting as marshals.
Many brought their children, despite warnings from the armed forces chief about violence breaking out, and despite the admonition of Philippine Star publisher Max Soliven that children should be left to enjoy childhood without politics.
Guillermo Luz, Makati Business Club president, had daughter Margarita, 11, in tow. It was her choice, he said, to experience this 'big civic exercise to promote democracy'.
Bea Atienza, nine, broiled in the sun with 2,000 other students of St Scholastica 'because I'm against charter change, I think it's the start of martial law'.
Perlita Acol, 35, cradled one-year-old Ging-Ging in her arms because 'Cory [Aquino] said she wanted the children in the rally'.
