Metro Manila, Philippines - The “Trillion Peso March” has drawn tens of thousands to take a stand at the historic EDSA People Power Monument against corruption, and for many, to fight for their family's future.

Caleb Cosico brought his son, Bughaw, to the afternoon rally on Sunday, Sept. 21, which coincided with the 53rd anniversary of the martial law declaration by the president’s father and namesake, the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos.

Bughaw held a plackard that read, “Para sa amin” [For us] - the reason Cosico chose to spend the family’s Sunday afternoon to call out anomalies in flood control deals.

“Iyong ginagawa natin ngayon, nandoon siya sa point na we don’t really think na aabot siya sa generation namin. But what we want to do is mag-make kami ng stand tapos mag-start siya then by the time na iyong generation na nila, hopefully mas maayos na by then,” Cosico told NewsWatch Plus.

[Translation: What we're doing now is at a point where we don’t really think it will reach our generation. But what we want to do is to make a stand and get it started, so that by the time it’s their generation, hopefully things will be better by then.]

Cosico said he fears that systemic corruption could be a way of life in Bughaw’s generation.

He added that the controversy surrounding flood control projects should be a constant reminder to make a change for the better.

“Hindi lang itong flood control problem, madami pa…all these things na mga nakalimutan na, sana mapanagot. Tapos sana sana if may makukulong, hindi siya parang scapegoat na isa o dalawang tao lang. Hopefully ang pinaka-goal at hope namin is may systematic change,” he said.

[Translation: This isn’t just about the flood control problem - there’s a lot more… all these things that have been neglected, we hope that there will be accountability. And if ever someone gets imprisoned, we hope it’s not just a scapegoat or just one or two people. Hopefully, our main goal and hope is for there to be a systematic change.]

Actress Iza Calzado, who spoke at the rally, shared the same dreams for her two-year old daughter, Deia Amihan.

“Nais ko lang lumaki ang anak ko nang masaya, malusog, ligtas, at may pangarap. Posible lamang ito kung lalaki siya sa isang lipunang makatao…at higit sa lahat kung saan pantay ang batas para sa lahat, kung saan walang pwedeng magnakaw at lumabag sa patakaran, at lahat, maliit man o malaki ay may pananagutan,” an emotional Calzado said.

[Translation: I just want my child to grow up happy, healthy, safe, and full of dreams. This is only possible if they grow up in a humane society…and above all, where the law is equal for everyone, where no one can steal or break the rules without consequence, and where everyone, whether powerful or ordinary, is held accountable.]

‘Hindi kabataan lang’

For senior high school student Kristine Gallardo, she was at the rally to prove that the youth can drive change.

“Ito po ang first time namin maki-rally. Kailangan na sumama ng kabataan sa ganitong event…kasi kabataan po kami, hindi kabataan lang. May mga boses kaming mabubuga at may salita kaming dapat pakinggan nila,” she said.

[Translation: This is our first time joining a rally. It’s important for the youth to take part in events like this… because we are the youth, not just the youth. We have voices worth hearing, and we have something to say that they need to hear.]

With her classmates, she held up the statement: “We study hard. You steal harder” - a jibe at those involved in the flood control mess.

Gallardo said she is worried that unbridled corruption may force the next generation to find better opportunities elsewhere.

“Possible na umalis po tayo ng bansa dahil wala po tayong napapadala dito. Wala po tayong ikakaunlad sa bansa natin. Kung ipagpapatuloy pa rin natin iyong ganitong sistema sa bansa natin, wala tayong ikakaunlad at pare-parehas lang tayong maghihirap,” she said.

[Translation: It’s possible that we might leave the country because we’re not gaining anything here. There’s nothing that will help us progress in our own country. If we continue with this kind of system, we won’t make any progress, and we’ll all just continue to suffer.]

Gallardo said corruption will persist as long as the decades-old political dynasties exist – something that the church has also challenged.

In his speech, Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines president Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David strongly denounced the culture of dynasties and patronage politics.

“Mag-demand po tayo ng integridad sa mga namumuno sa ating pamahalaan,” he told the crowd of protesters.

[Translation: Let us demand integrity from our government leaders.]

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. repeatedly said he will spare no one, his family and political allies included, in the crackdown against the pocketing of hundreds of millions in public funds.

The Palace said on Monday, Sept. 22, that Marcos himself is ready to be investigated should the anti-corruption probe reach him.