Pink is in our DNA
Today marks a year since then-Vice President Leni Robredo announced her bid for the highest post in the land. We have come a long a way from that time last year — from happiness to heartbreak, it was certainly a rollercoaster ride. But the spirit of hope lives on.
“Tumindig kayo; tinitiyak ko, mayroon ding titindig sa tabi ninyo. Kumausap ng labas sa nakasanayan; palawakin pa ang hanay. Ihayag ang katotohanan sa kabila ng mga limitasyon, sa kabila ng panggigipit.” Three hundred and sixty-five days in, may this still be our mantra.
Translated, it says, “Take a stand, and I assure you, others will stand beside you. Reach out beyond your usual circles; expand our ranks. Tell the truth despite the limitations, despite the attacks.” These are the words that then-Vice President Robredo said when she announced her candidacy as President exactly one year ago today. She recognized the uphill battle that is in front of us, and we did too. We might have fallen short, and the result didn’t swing to our favor in a time where it needed it the most, that didn’t and shouldn’t bring us down, for we know that this movement is more than just to campaign for a certain candidate. This is a movement to campaign for true and radical change to our nation.
To say that the past year was the toughest year in the lives of many is an understatement. I’m sure many would agree with me that you have sacrificed a lot, whether it be your time, your energy, your financial resources, and for some, even their talents and skills, not because we support Robredo, but rather more on the values, the principles she champions, embodies and leads by example — truth, honesty, transparency, excellence, compassion, resourcefulness, fearlessness, and for sure a million more adjectives that we can add, the list would just go on and on. I want you to know that despite of everything that happened, may you be reminded that pink is no longer a color to support and to campaign for one candidate, it’s also not just the values and the principles we support, but the color pink is within us.
In our own little way, we can and we should continue what we have started during the campaign, and that is the spirit of selfless service — to the marginalized, the needy, the poor, the hungry, the sick, and the oppressed. That is our mission, and it didn’t end after the campaign period, it didn’t end when the winner of the election was proclaimed, it didn’t end when the new leader was inaugurated, it should never end — full stop. Sure, others might look at it in a lens that is political, and that is natural, it comes with it. But may we never become unfazed and continue on focusing in raising the lives of others.
To Atty. Leni, thank you for being a role model to us. For paving the way for simple, ordinary people like us shine not just for you, but to shine alongside you. In your message and platform of ‘gobyernong tapat, angat buhay lahat’, you have taught us to never settle for mediocrity, for the bare minimum, for we, the Filipino people deserve the best from our leaders. Thank you for welcoming us, our presence, our talents, skills, and every single inch of help that we can offer to assist you in amplifying your message. The result might not be the one that we wanted now, and it’s okay, but as we look at the bigger picture — you have unlocked a trait that was once gone in us: our spirit of pagtutulungan at totoong pagkakaisa towards a single goal, for a better Philippines.
Being in a number of your campaigns, every time I was in the middle of the sea of people, I felt that hope is alive and well. We might not be given now the green light for it, as the people have spoken, and it wasn’t us on top, maybe this is not the right time, and this is just the awakening of the true hope, maybe like you said, the best is yet to come. Whenever that may be, we hope that you will be here with us, as we have and always will be with you — fighting, believing, and hoping for the right and for the betterment of every single Filipino regardless of whatever might divide us.
I want to thank you as well for through you, your campaign, your message, and your goal — I got the opportunity to meet a lot of tremendous, selfless, kind, compassionate, driven, and overall amazing people. I realized that I was not and will never be alone. Like you said, tumindig kami, at may titindig sa tabi namin. We will continue on what you started, in our own little ways, from inside the comfort of our homes, to our families, friends, neighbors, to even our community, we’ll do our best to further embody the values and principles you advocated for us. Muli, maraming salamat po.
To the my fellow kakampinks, a big thank you for sharing that hope with me. I never knew that the future of this country would be as bright as when I saw you guys. Whether it would be through the means of social media, or through the campaigns and rallies itself, you have a big contribution in helping develop the perspectives of many. You helped a lot in our quest of opening as many eyes and standing up for them. Regardless of how much you did, and what you specifically did, this is a team effort, and your hard work, dedication, commitment and the never ending passion and love for this country is really appreciated and cherished by myself, and for sure by many as well.
Now that we’re in the new era of our lives, may we continue to never settle. VP Robredo has set the bar in such a height, and her excellence should be our standard moving forward. May we continue and never quit to make noise in our own ways, calling out the ones who rob us of a bright future ahead. Don’t give in to the fear that they might impose unto you, the pressure that they might put you in. Always remember that the truth will always prevail, and that you are never alone in your battle. The times might be hard now, and who knows, it might be harder soon, until we are still here, and the heart of hope is still alive, we should never give up, and should never give in.
Thank you as well, for the smallest of things you did. Whether it would be the high fives, the free hugs, the free water and cupcakes, and even the ride back home, as well as the friendship, the camaraderie, and the fun and good times we had together during the rallies, campaigns and even on the miting de avance itself in Makati, my heart is so full and my face just keeps on smiling, reminiscing all about now at the time of writing, may we continue to do that in our communities, to our friends, family, and loved ones. May the spirit of being a kakampink be with us always wherever we go, for again — it’s not about the color, it’s not about the candidate, it’s about the values and the hope that we are the future of this nation. The future might not be today, but may you be excited as I am whenever that day would finally and eventually come.
“May landas tungo sa kinabukasang ito. Pero hindi ito maaabot sa pagwawalang-kibo kapag may nangyayaring hindi tama. Hindi ito puwedeng iasa sa iba habang nanonood ka lang; hindi puwedeng pumikit na lang at umasang pagdilat natin nagbago na ang mundo. Ang kinabukasan, pinipili, pinagsisikapan, ipinaglalaban. Kailangan nating piliing humakbang.”
“There is a path towards this future. But it cannot be achieved by choosing silence in the midst of wrongdoing. It cannot be left to others while we simply watch on; we cannot close our eyes and hope the world is changed when we wake. The future is something we choose, something we work for, something we fight for. We have to choose to step forward.”
One year in, a lot of things has changed. But as change being the only constant in life, may we continue to not just step up, but also to stand up and to keep up. Many would do everything it takes just to take us and our cause down, but may we be reminded that the color pink and everything it stands for is no longer a campaign, but a lifestyle that we must all practice and apply, as we continue to walk through life in the midst of all of the struggles, difficulties, challenges and barriers that might come in front of us. The process won’t be easy, the road in front of us is rocky, and the spirit of the color pink be with us all, always.
As VP Leni said as she concluded her speech on this day last year, “Buong bansa tayong tumungo sa isang kinabukasang mas patas at mas makatao; kung saan ang bawat Pilipino ay may pagkakataong umasenso; kung saan ang lakas ng bawat isa ay nagiging nagkakaisang lakas ng lahat — lakas na dadaig sa anumang krisis, anumang hamon, lakas na magiging simula ng ating kolektibong pagbangon. Buong-buo ang tiwala ko, magtatagumpay tayo. Buong-buo pa rin ang pananalig ko sa Diyos at sambayanang Pilipino.”
“Let’s move as a country towards a future that is more just and humane; where every Filipino has the chance to succeed; where the strength of each one becomes the singular strength of all — a strength that shall overcome any crisis, any challenge, a strength that shall be the foundation of our collective re-awakening. I trust without any doubt: We will be victorious. I remain steadfast and fully faithful in God and in the Filipino people.”
