#pasiglaban

This marks my first ever grand rally.

I remember the excitement I have when I and my cousins are planning on how to go to Emerald Avenue, Pasig. Before that, we’ve witness grand rallies and astonish on the number of people attending. Hence, our weeklong planning on what to do and how to go to the venue. Couple of days before the rally, my shift schedule changed. Saddened a bit because my shift starts from 7 am until 4 pm. The event will start at 5 pm. I am from Makati City so I have to still allot a time to travel to Pasig. Honestly, part of my mind started thinking of not going anymore. Although I am working from home, and as someone whose social energy is low, I have some hesitations. My cousins went straight to the rally around 2 pm since its Sunday and they do not have work or online classes. While I still finished my shift. All while also getting ready to come to Pasig. Yes, I still went to “PasigLaban”.

I hired my trusted Angkas driver to pick me up by 4pm. You would know that you are near the venue when you start noticing people wearing different shades of pink. I was supposed to meet my cousins at the venue but to our surprise, there is no cellular signal. Aside from that, you really cannot squish yourself on the massive crowd. Luckily, I was able to find a spot near one of the LED screen. But before that, I have to walk around the area, stand for hours, and try to squish myself on the line. All that without feeling exhausted. Yes, I haven’t feel a single tiredness on my body during the event. Aside from that, this is the first time I witness the generosity of everyone. The kindness. From strangers. That you’ll agree is super rare nowadays. It’s like a whole new feeling of being surrounded by people you didn’t really know but you feel safe. That you belong. Knowing that you are a part of 137,000+ people who witness and felt such warm experience in a form of a rally is something I will forever be proud to be a part.

After VP Leni ended her speech, and after the song Rosas, we (me and my cousins) decided to go out as we do not go along with people exiting the crowd. It was when Ben & Ben started playing. Mind you, I love them. But I came for VP Leni. I do not remember exactly what time the speech ended but I guess that was around 11 pm when we were picked up. We all went home with a ray of hope that finally, soon, someone will help us and lead us for a better Philippines.

To make me remember this important moment, here's the photos I took that memorable day.

Witty and creative people for Leni! 🌸🌷💗 (Plus look at that Regina George approved banner. Omg!

Yes, I was about to met my cousins but I luckily ran into Mima Sassa Gurl. My fangirl heart omg! And we are even matching pink polos.

I have more photos but I guess I'll just dump them all on another post because apparently, Tumblr is only allowing 10 photos. (ಥ﹏ಥ)

🌸🌸🌸

PasigLaban

Last Sunday was just a last minute decision to go to PasigLaban not knowing how am I gonna go home because I have work on Monday. Yes. My second rally after the Bulacan rally last March 5, 2022.

I left home around lunch. Took the P2P bus from Pandi, Bulacan to TriNoma. Then MRT to Ortigas Station. Got to the venue at 1:55 PM.

I know I have a lot of moots online that will also attend the rally and we all said “See ya!” Haha! I just followed the crowd upon entering Emerald Avenue. Compared to the Bulacan rally this was a bit siksikan so you will really feel the heat. Since I was rushing to go to the rally I forgot to bring bite snacks and water. My bad.

So the rally was uploaded on VP Leni’s People’s Council YouTube channel. You can watch the rally below!

Thank you to Gio Tantoco for taking this beautiful aerial photo of the rally where I can point where I am situated in the rally for 8 hours! Haha!

I’m so happy to be one of the 137,000 Kakampinks who made another milestone! And speaking of milestone, it’s been a very long time since I jumped with a huge crowd and I am talking about the Filipino drag performance of Minty Fresh of Ariana Grande’s Break Free! Ariana reposted two videos on her Instagram stories of us singing in the rally and now it became news on Billboard. Insane!

The senatorial candidates did talk that night and I might say, Leila de Lima’s turn really burned our hearts with desire to be really hungry for justice. First time to listen and I really felt the rush.

This time I took photo of our next president but through an LED screen. Last rally in Bulacan I have no photos of her on my camera. So I guess it’s my mission to really capture her really close! Let’s say soon in her rally in Pampanga? Hahaha!

The finale performance was Ben&Ben! My first to listen to them live and I love their recent album, Pebble House, Vol. 1: Kuwaderno and I am so happy that they performed one of the tracks, Kapangyarihan. A really powerful song:

Akala niyo ba ang kapangyarihan ay nasa inyo sino ba kayo? Magwawagi ang katotohanan ang kadiliman ay ibabagsak. Nagsisilbi ka dapat nagsisilbi ka dapat.

I was able to go home and did not spend a night in a hotel because I made it to the last trips of the MRT and P2P bus (but until Sta. Maria, Bulacan only). I took a tricyle from Sta. Maria to our house! From 10PM to 11:32PM. Not bad! Cheaper if I checked in in a hotel or even a motel.

I will never forget that I went to PasigLaban. A history was indeed made and VP Leni was right when she realized what momentous event that happened. It is not just rallies anymore. It is now a crusade. Emerald Avenue will never be the same and years from now, I am proud to say, “Yes. I was there.”

I stood there with all those people for more than six hours.

I sang along when Autotelic, Itchyworms, Rivermaya, Ebe Dancel, and Ben&Ben sang their songs.

And I've never been this much proud to sing "Lupang Hinirang".

I got goosebumps hearing the unity of our combined voices.

We came here to fight for the betterment of our country. We came here to fight for all the Filipinos who have been blinded by fake news and disinformation and have been deceived by lies.

We cannot allow someone who couldn't pay taxes lead this country.

My legs were aching, but I never grew tired of shouting, "Leni! Leni! Leni!" or "Hindi kami bayad! Hindi kami bayad!"

I joined the chorus of people singing "Titanium" and "Roar" while walking the stretch of Julia Vargas Avenue.

I live in Cavite, and my friends and I had to check-in at a hotel so that we won't have to brave the surge of commuters going home. All this even when I had to go back to Cavite early the next day because I did not take a leave from work.

We paid for our food, our shirts, and all the pink-colored merchandise that we have. All expenses were ours.

This passion for volunteerism can't be bought by a mere 1,000 pesos.

Patriotism is priceless. It's worth all our blood and sweat.