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Students and activists march outside the Commission on Elections in Manila on Tuesday to protest its unofficial tally that put Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on course to win the presidency. © Reuters

FRANCESCA REGALADO, Nikkei staff writer

May 13, 2022 13:34 JST

MANILA -- A sea of black filled the stands of the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday evening for a college basketball final between two of the Philippines' top universities.

Normally, fans would be dressed in maroon for the University of the Philippines and blue for Ateneo de Manila University. But this game came just two days after Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., son and namesake of the late dictator, was elected president, and spectators heeded a call to wear somber colors in protest.