#pinkmovement

Written by: Kyna de Castro

Photo from VP Leni Robredo FB Page

Disheartened and mourning, our spirits are in the lows as we all heavily woke up this morning upon knowing that Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte continuously taking the lead in the presidential and vice presidential race. Not only that another tyranny awaits us but the Philippines is once again a laughing stock in other countries as an action star among with the thieves and criminals takes the lead in the senatorial race. To those who voted for these people, I would like to ask you a million times: Why?! Why vote the son of a dictator? Why vote the daughter of the person who tolerates extrajudicial killings? Why vote an action star, thieves and politicians with pending graft, plunder and corruption cases instead of competent civil servants and lawyers with moral principle and values as well as outstanding credentials in public service?

I do not know where we go wrong or was the misinformation, trolls and fake news peddlers were to blame or was it because COMELEC was paid to ensure that the Marcos-Duterte tandem will win no matter what happens. I am already dismayed with partial and unofficial result of this election. As much as possible I do not want to blame anyone for the probability of us losing our freedom once again as another Marcos will be put into power but no. Someone should be held accountable because this is no longer about our bets wining, it is about our country and its people’s future that we are talking about here. I cannot stay silent when I know that the COMELEC have been deceiving us with the election results. It is clear that we are being cheated. They have one job. What have they done for the past three years in preparation for the 2022 Elections? There were a lot of VCM machines that malfunctioned, ballots cannot be read and SD cards corrupted. There were also reports of violence in Lanao del Sur which resulted to failure of election and trauma among the people. There is this rage inside my heart that I cannot keep at bay. Staying silent is like we have already thrown away our chance in having a better future for our country by putting criminals and a dictator’s son in power. How can people easily forget their history? How can people forget about the blood that was shed to bring fear to the hearts of the people? How can people forget about lives we have lost and buried with unmarked graves for speaking up and standing up what was right and true?

With heavy hearts while watching the news at around 2am of May 10, 2022, Vice President Leni Robredo aired her message to address her supporters who she knows are also engrossed and very emotional while tuning in with the national election results. We all cannot sleep just yet as fear in our hearts won us over knowing that we might lose the democracy and freedom that we have taken granted for.  Knowing the gap between the votes and the public’s fear for the possibility of history repeating itself, she addressed us not to tell us that she will concede but more of giving us hope and words of comfort. With confidence and grace, she showed us that she is fine. She thanked us for helping her in the campaign as well as for standing up and continuously fighting her. “Wag kayo manghinayang sa inyong ambag.” This was her statement that made me tear up and finally lose it that night. I was trying to hold back my tears for too long.

We, Kakampinks who have been part of the Pink Movement did everything we could to make her win this fight. Being part of the Pink Movement, I realized that it had formed a stronger bond among people who are supporting her from all walks of life. It has formed greater camaraderie and inspired the spirit of volunteerism which is an integral aspect in nation building. All of these didn’t just start during the campaign, we saw it already in her 6 years as the Vice President of the Philippines. The Office of the Vice President was able to go beyond our expectations as they were able to serve us well especially during the times of calamities and the COVID-19 pandemic despite the lack of funds. Private sectors trusted her with donations and she was able to deliver them to those who need them the most.  If she can engage us to be part of the nation building through volunteerism, what more if she becomes the President? It is no doubt that she can give us the Philippines we aspired for, peaceful, progressive and democratic where there is people empowerment.

As we attended the thanksgiving mass at Naga Metropolitan Cathedral, I can see the sadness in the eyes and feel the mourning in the hearts of the people who were there standing with me. From there, I know that I am not alone. I am not the only one. Somehow, we knew that we found comfort among each other as we stand there to cry for justice because this deception of COMELEC is downright an abuse of power and has been taking away our right of suffrage. VP Leni was there with us. She is calm as she addressed us once again but this time in her native language to bring us hope and comfort in our grieving hearts through her wise words ensuring us that we will not be turning a blind eye to the anomalies of this election. The fight has just began.

The Pink Movement didn’t end with the grand rallies. It has lived on and will continue to live in the hearts especially of the youth because for once in our lifetime, we are the generation that stood up for what was right even though it was challenging and difficult. Many of us took risks to be part of the Pink Movement because we knew this is the beginning of the change that will inspire us to aspire and hope for a better future for our beloved country, Philippines. There are those whose parents, family or relatives and friends who would never understand our political stand and we ended up arguing with them every single day for supporting the wrong people. There those teachers and government employees who had to bear with being neutral but supports silently because no memo or employment status would stop them from helping and extending their support or volunteer in ways they can. There are those artists who continue to contribute their art even though there is a risk being criticized for your political stand. Isn’t the Pink Movement amazing?

Photos from NagaDrone_ FB Page 

During the One People’s March and Grand Rally in Naga City, a lot of people volunteered and offered free food and drinks, I can really attest that the spirit of volunteerism didn’t end there completely. After the mass, my friends and I went out to eat dinner and there are these group of people, also Kakampinks, who offered us free drinks saying that they are having a small victory party for Leni because we know that we never really lost. We fought a good fight. I would have to agree. Left and right, I can hear the sentiments about the election results but I know that we are in the right crowd as we all get engaged with political discussions.

On our way home after dinner, we took a jeep. As we waited for the jeep to be filled with passengers before departing, it turns out that the passengers were also Kakampinks who also attended the mass earlier at the cathedral. You can overhear the political discussions, sharing of sentiments and feelings about the outcome of this election. Then suddenly one of them said, “Kuya, mayo po ba diyan nin music? Mabublayon ngunyan.” (Trans in Filipino: Kuya, wala po bang music? Medyo matamlay kami ngayon.)  The driver did not answer and continued to collect payments for the fare. I opened my Spotify app and played the song Rosas of Nica del Rosario and Gab Pangilinan and right after put on queue Moira dela Torre’s Ipapanalo Natin To. Some of them sang along with it and some continued their discussions. I do not know what came to me to actually play those songs inside the jeep as we waited for more passengers to fill in the available spaces.

Not long after a senior passenger (not sure if senior citizen but I overheard his wife asking if there is a senior discount for the fare) carrying boxes and bundle of soft drinks loaded the jeep. Everyone helped in passing and pushing the boxes towards the end where he was seated. Also another youth loaded the jeep. As the conductor collected our fares, he was insisting that the fare should be P25 and not P40 just because it was already late. We also protested as our fare was being collected. But the conductor said that the fare is really P40 from 8pm onwards and we eventually gave in to it. The guy who first protested continued saying that things like this should be reported to LTO or LTFRB. One of us said jokingly, “Si kuya masabi ito abang riribok kan mga ini. Ini ngaya si mga nag boroto ki Leni. Well mga mulat tayo eh.” (trans in Filipino: Si kuya baka magsabi ang iingay ng mga ito. Ito siguro yung mga bumoto kay Leni. Well, mulat tayo eh.) It really makes me happy witnessing these little moments inside the jeep among fellow Kakampinks.

Before sleeping tonight, I recalled how I have been part of the Pink Movement. I may not be actively involved since Day 1 because I was a government employee but I know I did my part in my own little ways to extend my support in raising awareness to vote wisely this election and the most importantly, voting for someone who has moral principles, clean track record, outstanding credentials, values and competency. I will never regret that I fought for this country, supported and voted for the right people this election. I will never be ashamed that I am among the 14M who voted for Leni Robredo. I will never forget that I was among the 306,000 people who stood up at the One People’s March and Grand Rally at Magsaysay Avenue, Naga City last May 6, 2022. We also gave away fans that day too which I hope was able to help in some way since that was a very hot and sunny day. I also helped a teacher who asked for favor to distribute fans and give away some sweet snacks for her too that day.  Tonight, I was also at the cathedral grounds taking a stand to protest the deceptions and unfair outcome of this election. I will continue to take a stand and fight among fellow youth and million thousand other Filipinos whose cry is for justice, for an honest, clean and peaceful election. Lalabas. Titindig. Maninindigan. Lalaban.

Photo from VP Leni Robredo FB page

I kept thinking why this election has affected me so much. It was more than just being part of the Pink Movement, it was because I loved and invested in this too much. I have so much love for this country that I was willing to fight for it. I voted the Filipino people. This is the first time that I got really excited to be part of a political rally not because of fanaticism or idolatry but because I believed in these candidates’ capabilities in leading our country better than the last. If there is something to learn from all of this, it is never to stop fighting for what is right. Keep the fire burning and hope alive. I admit that I have my mistakes as well as I continue to grieve with the outcome of this election because I have been really angry, hateful and disgusted to those 31M people who voted for the dictator’s son which included some people I know. We never invalidate those feelings, we acknowledge them as we grieve as it is part of the process. However, I also realized that if we will continue to act like this towards those people, it will also continuously bring division amongst ourselves and it would actually disregard the radical love and hope that this campaign taught us. I will never truly move on. I believe that there is no such thing, there is just moving forward. I will try to move forward because we still have work to do. We can accept defeat but not by being cheated. We will continue to fight for truth and lecture the misinformed. We will not turn a blind eye to the irregularities that they continue to deny. We will continue to criticize and demand accountability from our newly elected officials.

As the Angat Buhay Program will now become an NGO by July 1, 2022 and with Leni Robredo exiting the Office of the Vice President, she will be launching a wide volunteer network through Angat Buhay Program and continue its advocacies because of the Pink Movement. She knew that it really does not have to end with the election. We can still help people from all walks of life, become volunteers and be part of nation building in ways we can. Maybe this election happened with Leni not winning because God has planned something better for her and she has other greater purpose to fulfill. She inspired the Pink Movement and our aspirations for good governance. Siya ang liwanag sa dilim. This is the Pink Movement that will live in the hearts and minds of the youth forever.

Photo from VP Leni Robredo FB page

Vice President Leni Robredo, Senator Kiko Pangilinan and to the entire Tropang Angat Senatorial Plate especially Chel Diokno and Neri Colminares, isang karangalan ang ipaglaban kayo at ang Pilipinas. Siguro hindi pa handa ang bansa natin para sainyo pero alam kong patuloy kayong maglilikod sa amin ng tapat at may prinispyo. Maraming salamat sainyo dahil may mga puso at isipang nabuksan. Nawa'y patuloy niyo kaming bigyang inspirasyon na hangarin ang mabuting pamamahala at ipaglaban ang ating demokrasya.