By Viggo Sarmago

MANILA — A movement of cultural workers against demolition and police brutality expressed political dissent through a cultural event on September 26 at Vinzon’s Hall, University of the Philippines Diliman. 

Dubbed “Gobyerno Sindikato, Panagutin,” Defend the Hood called for an end to fascist measures of the Philippine National Police, including the demolition of their communities. 

Skaters, B-boy dancers, graffiti artists, and other performers got together to showcase their talents.

Youth skaters used the occasion to denounce the Marcos Jr. administration’s use of force in repressing and illegally arresting activists, including minors. They also condemned police brutality, citing the violent arrest at the last state of the nation address (SONA) in July where the police illegally arrested 51 protesters. 

Among them was Dupa, a member of Defend the Hood and a skater from Pook Malantic in barangay UP Campus.

Read: ‘Overkill; | Groups slam police arrests of activists during SONA 2026 protest

Dupa and their community are no strangers to being labeled as deviant or dangerous by authorities even within campus premises. Nevertheless, skateboarding has become essential for their community as a means to express themselves and their way of activism. 

For Dupa, they skated to “raise people’s awareness of what is happening in our communities, because of plans of demolition and harassment from authorities.”

Dupa’s community is threatened with displacement due to the construction of the UP SDG Park, a 24-hectare project that covers Area 17, Pook Aguinaldo, and Pook Malantic in barangay UP Campus. As early as July, the community began setting up barricades to prevent the construction of the project and to resist police surveillance. 

“Why do they not care about the youth’s livelihoods? Our education?” Dupa asked during the program.

B-boy dancers like ElloRisco joined in solidarity with the community. “B-boying is just something you do, it’s like fliptop but you instead converse through movement.” (AMU, DAA)

Real names are withheld for security reasons.

Photos by Viggo Sarmago/Bulatlat