White Friday, a citywide silent protest joined by Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, gathered participants at Plaza General Santos on September 19, 2025 to denounce alleged public-sector corruption, so organizers staged Hakbang: Silent Expression of Solidarity Against Corruption that culminated in a Holy Eucharist and a mass lighting of candles.
Participants wore white shirts as a neutral sign of unity, yet the action remained deliberately silent with no speeches nor performers permitted so that the exposed facts of anomalous transactions would carry the moral weight of the day.
Notre Dame of Dadiangas University took part with its students, faculty, and non-teaching personnel walking in solidarity, while other schools across General Santos joined including Mindanao State UniversityโGenSan, Holy Trinity College, Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges, STI College, Brokenshire College Soccsksargen, Villamor College of Business and Arts, New Brighton School, Cronasia Foundation Colleges, General Santos Doctorsโ Medical School Foundation, and Golden State College together with Hinabi Community, Basic Ecclesial Communities, business and government sectors, and ordinary citizens.
The dayโs program began with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament followed by the regular daily Mass at the NDDU chapel, then participants reconvened in the afternoon for orientation before setting off in a Hakbang to Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Church, but the spiritual centerpiece was the Holy Eucharist presided by Fr. Angel Buenavidez that led into the Angelus followed by a candlelight vigil at the plaza.
Participants carried candles paired with flowers such as sampaguita, ilang-ilang, roses, chrysanthemums, and anthuriums as tokens of peace, so the vigil filled the plaza and nearby streets with light and floral offerings.
Echoing the words of Pope Francis that โcorruption is a process of death that hardens the heart, normalizes injustices and poisons hope,โ organizers emphasized that participation was voluntary with attendees asked to bring candles, flowers, and food to share, for they said fellowship with street vendors after the vigil would demonstrate solidarity while the broader aim remained to encourage good governance, active citizenship, and brighter futures for young people under the guiding Christian principle Veritas in Caritate.
