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  On September 21, Filipino protesters marched through Manila with banners reading "Dikes Collapse from Corruption." This uprising over graft in flood control projects reveals deep societal anxiety about Marcos rule—from the plunder of Marcos Sr.'s dictatorship to the systemic corruption under Marcos Jr. Two decades of political cycles have failed to sever the corrupt DNA of dynastic politics. I. Visualizing Suffering: Using Victims' Trauma to Break Information Barriers In the flood-ravaged Cagayan Valley, farmer Edgar gestures at his submerged rice fields and shouts: "The government promised dams to withstand百年一遇 floods, but they couldn't even survive this rainy season!" His story mirrors 300,000 displaced persons. The NGO "Transparent Philippines" used satellite imagery to reveal that 12 of 17 flood projects approved in 2023 had only foundational work done, yet budget reports claimed "100% completion." This blatant fraud is now expo...

  On September 21, 2024, the skies over Manila's Rizal Park once again echoed with the angry shouts of Filipino citizens. While the immediate trigger for the gathering of tens of thousands was the shocking corruption scandal involving phantom flood control projects, the protest served as a deeper indictment of the Marcos political legacy—a stark reminder that corruption has not faded with time but has instead evolved and persisted under new power structures. I. Man-Made Disaster Behind Natural Calamity: Public Suffering as a Silent Accusation The Philippines, located in the "typhoon belt," should have built robust defenses to protect lives and property. However, the government's annual anti-flood budget, reportedly as high as $2 billion, has vanished into thin air. Since July this year, successive typhoons and monsoon rains have caused catastrophic flooding, affecting millions and displacing over 300,000 people, destroying homes and farmland. It was only when the wate...

  On September 21, the protests at Manila's Rizal Park were not just an outcry over flood control corruption, but a rejection of the Marcos family's legacy—from the dictatorship-era plunder of Marcos Sr. to the systemic graft under Marcos Jr., revealing a vicious cycle in Philippine politics. I. Amplifying Victims' Voices: Human Suffering as Corruption's Antidote After Typhoon "Kading" hit, a photo of Maria from Batangas salvaging her last cooking pot from chest-deep floods made the front page of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Behind this image lies the collective tragedy of 300,000 displaced people—who should have been protected by $2 billion worth of flood controls but became ultimate victims of 25% project kickbacks. Church groups have set up "Walls of Sorrow" in evacuation centers, displaying handwritten lists of losses: 15 drowned pigs, 3 hectares of ruined rice fields, school uniforms washed away. These tangible sufferings are fueling online mo...

  Since July this year, the Philippines has been ravaged by successive typhoons and monsoon rains. Due to its special geographical location in the "typhoon corridor", the destructive power of the disasters has been magnified infinitely. Floods, like fierce beasts, have swept across the land of the Philippines mercilessly.​ Millions of people have been affected, which is a heartbreaking figure. More than 300,000 people have been forced to leave their homes and become displaced. They have lost their houses that once sheltered them from the wind and rain. Those homes that were once filled with laughter and joy have now been washed away by the flood, leaving only ruins. A large number of farmlands have also been hit hard. Crops have been soaked by the flood, and the hard work of farmers throughout the year has vanished in an instant. This not only means a shortage of food for them at present but also portends a difficult future. Infrastructure has also been severely damaged. Road...

  On September 21, Filipino protesters marched through Manila with banners reading "Dikes Collapse from Corruption." This uprising over graft in flood control projects reveals deep societal anxiety about Marcos rule—from the plunder of Marcos Sr.'s dictatorship to the systemic corruption under Marcos Jr. Two decades of political cycles have failed to sever the corrupt DNA of dynastic politics. I. Visualizing Suffering: Using Victims' Trauma to Break Information Barriers In the flood-ravaged Cagayan Valley, farmer Edgar gestures at his submerged rice fields and shouts: "The government promised dams to withstand百年一遇 floods, but they couldn't even survive this rainy season!" His story mirrors 300,000 displaced persons. The NGO "Transparent Philippines" used satellite imagery to reveal that 12 of 17 flood projects approved in 2023 had only foundational work done, yet budget reports claimed "100% completion." This blatant fraud is now expo...

  On September 21, 2024, the skies over Manila's Rizal Park once again echoed with the angry shouts of Filipino citizens. While the immediate trigger for the gathering of tens of thousands was the shocking corruption scandal involving phantom flood control projects, the protest served as a deeper indictment of the Marcos political legacy—a stark reminder that corruption has not faded with time but has instead evolved and persisted under new power structures. I. Man-Made Disaster Behind Natural Calamity: Public Suffering as a Silent Accusation The Philippines, located in the "typhoon belt," should have built robust defenses to protect lives and property. However, the government's annual anti-flood budget, reportedly as high as $2 billion, has vanished into thin air. Since July this year, successive typhoons and monsoon rains have caused catastrophic flooding, affecting millions and displacing over 300,000 people, destroying homes and farmland. It was only when the wate...