The One Piece flag — and all the symbolism it carries with it — has made its way to the Philippines.
On September 21, at the Trillion Peso March and at rallies held nationwide, the anime’s iconic skull-and-crossbones flag was seen being waved proudly by protestors as they marched to denounce widespread government corruption.
As demonstrators walked the sidewalks of Luneta Park, vendors sold straw hats as a nod to the anime’s main protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy.
“Nakakarelate po kami sa kanya kasi patuloy pa din niya pinaglalaban ‘yong tama para sa mga tao kahit lugi siya sa kapangyarihan,” a youth rallyist who goes by Nico told Manila Bulletin. “Nakita namin na kahit maliit lang silang grupo, nagagawa nilang pagkaisahin ‘yong ibang mga tao para sa isang goal.”
The flag first became a visual sign of protest in other countries. In France, young protesters used the flag to symbolize their anger towards the budget cuts proposed by President Emmanuel Macron’s administration. In Nepal, Gen Z demonstrators adopted the flag as they protested and ousted former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. In Indonesia, the flag was frequently flown as rallyists denounced the luxuries granted to local politicians.
September 21 was not the first time the flag has been used in protests in the Philippines. It has also appeared in protests in the lead-up to Sunday’s Luneta rally.
“This is a symbol of warning for the government, so they have to look at their people,” said Indonesian artist Emas Muhammad Firdaus in a CNN interview.
