‘One Piece’ Straw Hat pirate flag appears in Philippines after Indonesia and Nepal protests

The One Piece Straw Hat Jolly Roger has become the newest emblem of protest in the Philippines, following its appearances in Indonesia and Nepal. The anime’s skull-and-crossbones flag surfaced at mass rallies on September 21, a date that carries deep historical weight for Filipinos marking the anniversary of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s 1972 martial law declaration.

Tens of thousands filled Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Manila for what organisers called the “Trillion Peso March,” denouncing corruption linked to flood-control projects. Demonstrators wore white, carried ribbons, and braved heavy rain while chanting for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to step down. Alongside the national flag, many waved the Straw Hat Pirates’ Jolly Roger, a symbol of resistance that first went viral in Indonesia before spreading to Nepal and now the Philippines.

While the main demonstration remained largely peaceful, tensions escalated near the presidential palace. A youth-led march turned chaotic after a trailer truck was set ablaze, and masked protesters hurled stones at police. Authorities deployed water cannons to scatter the crowd.

September 21 is seared into Philippine history as the start of Marcos Sr.’s authoritarian rule, which saw mass arrests, torture, and thousands killed before his ouster in the 1986 People Power Revolution. Protest leaders deliberately chose the date to highlight what they say are echoes of that era in today’s governance.

The flag’s presence underscores a growing generational trend across Asia: Gen Z protesters adopting One Piece’s imagery as shorthand for rebellion and unity. In Indonesia, it became the banner for youth furious over elite privileges and military rule revisions. In Nepal, demonstrators angered by corruption, wealth flaunted by political dynasties, and a ban on social media platforms used it to topple a government.

At Manila’s Luneta Park, vendors sold straw hats in tribute to Monkey D. Luffy, the anime’s protagonist. “We relate to him because he keeps fighting for what’s right, even when the odds are against him,” a student protester Nico, told Manila Bulletin.

One Piece’s pirate flag is now a global protest icon. In France, it has appeared at rallies against budget cuts pushed by President Emmanuel Macron. Protest organisers say the symbol is especially resonant for younger crowds who grew up with One Piece and see it as a unifying call for “radical change.”