Students stage nationwide protests vs Pax Silica, Trump’s expected PH visit

MANILA — Students from various universities staged protests and class walkouts in Manila and other parts of the country on Friday, opposing the United States (US)-led Pax Silica initiative and the expected visit of US President Donald Trump for the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

In Manila, student demonstrations took place in separate locations.

Students of Far Eastern University (FEU) Manila were joined by students from Arellano University and the National Teachers College for a planned march toward Mendiola.

Jham Evangelista, a student of FEU Manila and co-convenor of the One FEU Alliance, said their protest sought to condemn the proposed Pax Silica initiative over its potential impact on indigenous communities and the environment.

“Iyong pangunahing layunin po kung bakit tumungo sa lansangan iyong mga kabataang estudyante, partikular na dito sa FEU, para makiisa doon sa pagtutol o pagkondena sa Pax Silica — na magkakaroon ng malawakang displacement sa mga katutubo nating Aeta, iyong mga irreversible na epekto sa ating kalikasan,” Evangelista said.

The FEU-led mobilization also included younger participants, with some students from FEU High School joining the demonstration.

Evangelista said many students chose to miss their classes to participate in the protest.

“Karamihan ng mga estudyante ay may pasok, at mas pinili po na lumiban sa kanilang klase,” he said.

Arellano University students also participated in the Manila mobilization, with Kabataan Party-list National Capital Region chairperson Ivan Punzalan describing the demonstration as part of the National Youth Day of Action.

“Ngayon ay National Youth Day of Action, ang pangunahing panawagan talaga ay si Donald Trump, ang presidente ng US, ay hinding-hindi welcome sa bansa natin,” Punzalan said.

Punzalan said the protesters believe Trump’s expected visit is intended to facilitate the sealing and signing of the Pax Silica initiative. The Arellano University students were among those joining the FEU and National Teachers College contingent in its planned march toward Mendiola.

Meanwhile, students from universities along Taft Avenue held a separate demonstration, with participants from the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila, the Philippine Normal University (PNU), the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP), and De La Salle University (DLSU) joining the protest.

UP Manila University Student Council chairperson Jyca Santos said the demonstration brought together students from different universities in the area.

“Mula sa mga pamantasan dito sa Taft Avenue, ay nakikiisa po iyong mga mag-aaral…kaya po idinadaos po natin itong programa dito rin sa Taft Avenue,” Santos said.

She said UP Manila students also opted to leave their classrooms to express their opposition to Trump’s expected visit and what they described as US imperialist plunder.

“Iyong mga mag-aaral po namin dito, lumiban po muna ng klase, lumabas po sa apat na sulok ng aming silid-aralan ng aming pamantasan, upang ilabas ang aming hinaing laban kay Trump, laban sa imperyalistang pandarambong ng US,” she said.

Members of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman and Ateneo De Manila University communities staged walkouts on Friday and marched to a church along Katipunan to protest against U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the Philippines and Pax Silica. 

Organizers estimate participants at Sta. Maria Della Strada Parish reached around 600.

“Nakakatuwa na nakakabuhay ng loob. Nakakapanghina man ‘yung init pero nakakalakas sa loob ‘yung presensiya ng mga kasama natin mula sa iba’t ibang school,” UP Diliman University Student Council Vice Chairperson Fatima Mendoza said.

“‘Yung 1,600 plus na hectares of land na makakaapekto sa thousands of Filipinos na mga Ayta at mga iba’t ibang mga magsasaka at pambansang minorya ang maaapektuhan,” Mendoza added, referring to Pax Silica.

Among those who expect to be affected by Pax Silica is 97-year-old farmer Romulo David from Zambales who joined the protest action.

“Huwag sirain ‘yung bundok, ‘yung lupang ninuno… Ayaw namin dahil wala na kaming makain. Wala na kaming pagtaniman,” David said, expressing his opposition to Pax Silica.

Some of the same individuals who marched to Sta. Maria Della Strada Parish made their way back to UP Diliman to amplify their calls in a different way.

Meeting in front of Palma Hall with torches lit, members of the university community welcomed Ayta delegates from Tarlac said to be facing displacement due to Pax Silica.

“Bahagi po ito nung mga kilos protesta na gagawin doon sa pagdating ng presidente ng Estados Unidos na Donald Trump para ipaalam namin ‘yung pagkakasama ang katutubong mamamayan ng buong sambayan ng Filipino doon sa pagtutol sa Pax Silica at iba pang mga imperyalistang mga proyekto,” Katribu Coordinator Beverly Longid said, also confirming this was under the Lakbayan event.

Participants at the salubungan, estimated to have reached hundreds, carried signs that said “Trump out of ancestral lands!” and “No to Pax Silica,” among others.

“Kasama din natin ‘yung mga kapatid nilang mga Ayta sa Zambales, Bataan at Pampanga. Bukas darating din ‘yung contingent mula sa Cordillera. At mayroon din tayong darating mula sa Mindanao,” Longid added. 

However, the Southern Tagalog delegation of the Lakbayan ng Timog Katagalugan 2026 were prevented from continuing its protest march in Biñan on Friday, according to BAYAN-TK. 

They were allegedly blocked by police and other authorities over supposed safety concerns.

This delegation was supposed to set up at Liwasang Bonifacio, the other camp venue aside from UP Diliman.

The protests extended beyond the capital region, with students, teachers, and university personnel joining demonstrations in other parts of the country.

In Baguio City, thousands of participants from various universities in Baguio and Benguet joined a march calling for the proposed Pax Silica initiative to be stopped.

Students of Central Luzon State University also staged a walkout to oppose the initiative, as well as Trump’s scheduled attendance at the upcoming ASEAN Summit.

At the Philippine Normal University, students likewise led a walkout protest against Trump’s expected visit and the proposed initiative.

In Taguig City, meanwhile, tensions rose between protesting students and local police during a demonstration in West Rembo.

With the ASEAN Summit scheduled from November 15 to 17, student groups said their protest activities would continue in the coming days.

Evangelista said they were planning additional mobilizations, including a “Lakbayan” and an encampment at Liwasang Bonifacio, where protesters would establish a temporary camp ahead of the regional summit.