MANILA — Students across multiple universities in Manila staged campus-wide protests and walkouts on Friday, November 13, to condemn U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit for the 49th ASEAN Summit and to urge the government to reject the proposed Pax Silica hub.
Demonstrators marched out of campuses carrying banners featuring slogans such as “Ibagsak at Biguin ang US Imperyalismo,” “Reject, Oppose, Trump,” “Lupa sa Magsasaka, Hindi sa Pax Silica,” and “Death to Imperialism.” Participating institutions included the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), University of the Philippines – Manila (UP Manila), Far Eastern University (FEU), and De La Salle University (DLSU).
In solidarity, students from Adamson University (AdU) joined “Black Shirt Friday” by wearing black attire against the proposed hub. The National University Central Student Government also backed the National Youth Day of Action vs. Pax Silica.
“Makiisa sa mga pagkilos at palakasin ang boses ng taumbayan. Sama-sama nating paigtingin ang panawagan para sa tunay na reporma sa lupa at makabuluchang mga polisiyang tunay na magsisilbi sa interes ng bawat Pilipino, hindi ng mga dayuhan,” the statement read.
The University of Santo Tomas Central Student Council (UST CSC) joined the demonstrations as well, organizing a campus walkout at 4:30 p.m. within university grounds.
“The UST Central Student Council stands with our people and strongly emphasizes that our solidarity must go beyond statements—it must translate into action. Hindi tunay na kaunlaran ang kaunlarang may kapalit na lupang ninuno, kabuhayan, at karapatan ng ating mga kababayan,” the UST CSC said in a statement.
Ahead of Trump’s arrival on November 17, student groups scheduled further protests for November 14 and 15 at Liwasang Bonifacio and UP Diliman, culminating in a nationwide “Trump Out!” protest on November 16 and 17.