Festive was Friday’s interfaith rally, which was marked by prayer, poetry and presidential clout, with a warning of God’s wrath thrown in. Peaceful, too, with a strong youthful vein running through the rally site in Makati City, despite the fact that it was held to express outrage, demand truth and accountability. and call for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It was the largest crowd yet since Ms Arroyo’s latest crisis erupted. Ironically, “the President made this possible,” Reyes said. “She provided the urgency for everyone to set aside their differences and struggle together for truth and justice,” The rally gathered together two former presidents–Corazon Aquino and Joseph Estrada–as well as bishops and religious leaders of various faiths, businessmen and other professionals, activists, and large delegations of students. It made for an odd sight–Aquino in her trademark yellow dress and Estrada in red jacket, blue shirt and jeans and orange rubber shoes sharing space and stage as well as a cry for truth. Crowd estimates ranged from 15,000 to 80,000. The chief of the Makati police, Supt. Gilbert Cruz, declined to give a figure, saying he had not been authorized to do so. Director Geary Barias, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, told the Inquirer that the corner of Ayala and Paseo de Roxas measured half a hectare, or 5,000 square meters. (Inquirer.Net)

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