Alvin Avecilla Karingal was born on December 5, 1993[a] to Meanne Karingal, and hails from Pandacan, Manila.[1][3] He studied at Celedonio Salvador Elementary School in Paco and attended secondary school at Erda Technical and Vocational School in Pandacan. He later earned an Alternative Learning System certificate and subsequently enrolled in a computer science course at Informatics on Recto Avenue.[2]
In 2024, Karingal ran as an independent candidate for mayor of Manila, joining a crowded field of contenders.[4] He was the first to file his certificate of candidacy on October 1, 2024, bringing with him a platform that emphasized improved disaster response and stronger climate change action, citing his own experiences as an affected individual during the onslaught of Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) in 2009. While his political bid failed to gain traction, he placed tenth in the race, receiving roughly 500 votes. Karingal remained politically active and continued to express awareness of social issues.[5][6]
On September 21, 2025, Karingal participated in protests in Manila commemorating the anniversary of Martial Law under Ferdinand Marcos.[7] He went viral for being known not for campaigning against corruption but for advocating the lowering of prices of common Filipino street foods such as fish ball, tokneneng, kikiam, and calamares.[8] He was later arrested without a warrant, which prompted public outcry from human rights groups, supporters, and even his mother, who appealed for his release.[9] According to his mother, Karingal was not a fishball [street food] vendor but was simply fond of eating street food. She stated that without his medication, he could experience episodes that might provoke violent reactions from others, and appealed to authorities not to harm him, citing his condition as a person with disability (PWD).[10]
The Manila Police District confirmed that he was in custody, noting that his case was linked to the unrest during the protest.[11] On September 29, Karingal was released after about one week of detention.[12]
↑ According to reports, there are conflicting accounts of Karingal's birth year, with some sources stating he was born in 1992,[2] while others indicate 1993.[1]
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