As darkness slowly settled over EDSA on Tuesday, one of the country’s busiest highways no longer looked like a traffic corridor but a sprawling temporary encampment.

Thousands of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) members — children, young professionals, parents, and senior citizens — had transformed the stretch of road into a place of waiting, resting, and quiet endurance as what began as a protest increasingly looked like an overnight occupation.

The long day had visibly taken its toll. Beneath makeshift tents hastily set up along the avenue, rallyists stretched out on flattened cardboard boxes, woven mats, and thin blankets laid directly on the pavement, stealing moments of rest after hours under the heat. Others sought refuge inside parked vehicles, leaning back in cramped seats for brief naps before stepping back into the crowd.

The humid evening air carried the lingering smell of sweat from thousands who had remained camped on the highway since morning. Nearby, long lines formed outside rows of portable toilets as volunteers weaved through the crowd, directing people and distributing supplies to those settling in for what appeared to be a long night.

Food arrived steadily. Trucks rolled into the gathering carrying loaves of bread for distribution. At the same time, buses linked to former a former politician became makeshift food stations, serving steaming cups of lugaw to hungry participants patiently waiting in line.

But exhaustion never completely slowed the energy of the gathering. On stage, speeches gave way to musical performances, turning sections of the demonstration into something resembling an open-air concert. Participants clapped, sang along, waved flags, then quietly returned to their tents and makeshift sleeping areas.

The gathering also drew political allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte, including Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and businessman Leandro Leviste, who joined the day’s program as the protest stretched into the evening.

Despite the growing crowd and heavy media presence, most participants politely declined interviews, saying only church officials were authorized to speak on behalf of the Iglesia ni Cristo.

As night deepened, volunteers continued moving through the crowd carrying food and supplies, while thousands remained settled on the pavement — preparing to spend more hours, perhaps even the night, on a highway usually defined by movement, but now occupied by stillness, conviction and collective waiting.