'SAWA NA KAMI!': Hagonoeños Brave Floodwaters To Protest Corruption, Gov't Neglect

“Baha! Baha! Baha na naman! Sawa! Sawa! Sawa na kami!” These were the chants that echoed through the streets of Hagonoy on Saturday, September 20, as residents and various organizations waded through knee-deep floodwaters to denounce corruption and government neglect that have left their town submerged time and again. Dubbed ‘Tindig Hagonoy’ (Stand Hagonoy), the protest transformed the inundated streets into a sea of defiance as locals, clad in black as a sign of mourning and resistance, carried banners and placards condemning the alleged misuse of public funds that, they said, has worsened their community’s vulnerability to disasters. The day began with a Mass at the National Shrine and Parish of St. Anne at 6:00 a.m., officiated by Fr. Jose Rodel Ponce, who urged the youth to use their knowledge and fresh perspectives to help steer the nation toward change. Afterwards, participants held a ‘lusong’ march from the church patio through the flooded barangays of Sta. Monica, San Sebastian, and Sto. Nino, before culminating at the newly built Bangkusay Monument, where they held a program near the town’s plaza. A motorcade was held afterwards that passed through barangays San Pedro, Abulalas, Carillo, and Iba, before concluding at 12:30 in the afternoon. Local government officials, including Mayor Maria Rosario ‘Ate Charo’ Sy Alvarado-Mendoza and Councilor Juan Martin, joined the demonstration in a rare display of unity with civil society. The protest came in the wake of congressional investigations that revealed billions of pesos in flood control funds for Bulacan were either lost to ghost projects or wasted on substandard infrastructure. The demonstration gained support from youth groups, church organizations, and progressive movements throughout the province, all of which called for transparency and urgent action. Among their key demands was an independent audit of all flood control projects in the province, urging the government to prioritize the welfare of its citizens over such corrupt practices. Despite the hardships of wading through the deluge, protesters said the act symbolized the daily struggles they endure, with its organizers vowing to sustain their campaign until meaningful reforms and concrete solutions are delivered.