Thousands of people rallied in Manila today calling for the resignation of Philippine President Gloria Arroyo over a corruption scandal.
Police said around 10,000 people, mainly left-wing activists, students and religious groups, had taken to the streets.
The protests, sparked by a Senate inquiry into government kickbacks in a telecom deal, were the biggest since tens of thousands of people demonstrated against Ms Arroyo in 2005 amid allegations she cheated in elections the previous year.
Religious leaders sang songs and read prayers from a stage set up at the front of the rally and people waved posters with the words "Out Gloria". Some wore badges that read, "Moderate Your Greed".
Office workers in high-rise buildings threw confetti on the crowds below.
Analysts said the absence of high profile politicians from the demonstration showed the political elite did not believe Ms Arroyo, who has survived three impeachment bids and at least three coup plots, could be pushed out.
"It appears it's only the activist left that came out in full force," said Benito Lim, a professor of political science at the University of the Philippines.
"If the opposition cannot even come together, how can they bring down Gloria?"
Earlier this week, Ms Arroyo said she would complete her final term and in a briefing today, she assured investors that the latest allegations were part of the typical political rough-and-tumble.
"These types of charges have regularly emerged even in previous administrations, as part of our less than impressive political culture," said the former economist, whose final term runs out in 2010.
The Senate inquiry has heard renewed allegations that the country's former election chief demanded $130 million to broker a $329 million deal with China's ZTE to build a broadband network for government agencies. The deal was scrapped last year.