By Menchu Aquino Sarmiento
Not since millions were galvanized by Ninoy Aquino’s assassination nearly four decades ago, have we witnessed so many ordinary Filipinos moving determinedly to restore true democracy and to save our motherland. From August 1983 to February 1986, almost three years were spent trying to unite the moderate political Opposition, then on to the Snap Elections and the EDSA People Power Revolution. We have a much shorter timeline now and a more crowded electoral field. But the wave of volunteerism for V.P. Leni Robredo for President in 2022 is unstoppable and continues to grow. KakamPINK are printing their own tarps, T-shirts and leaflets, baking pink puto, and engaging personally with the undecided, against the paid trolls.
It has been said that in this millennium, women will show the way. 2021 has been a banner year so far, with Hidilyn Diaz’s Olympic Gold, Maria Ressa’s Nobel and Leni Robredo’s run. Thus, National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario wrote “MAY TATLONG BITUIN ANG AKING WATAWAT” which the actress Iza Calzado, one of MGA DYOSA FOR LENI, delivers beautifully on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORUpcJkTIO8
Boomers will find themselves singing along to adman Wincy Aquino Ong’s “SI LENI, LENI” set to the tune of the Beatles’ “Penny Lane:”
Si Leni, Leni ang pag-asa ng Pilipinas
Siya ang katangi-tangi mong kandidato
Muling lalaban ang Pilipino
Kapag si Robredo
Kung si Leni, Leni president ng Pilipinas
Matinong magsisilbi, di aatras
Si Leni, Leni an gating lunas
Wala siyang katumbas
Refrain~
Leni, Leni’s in our ears and in our hearts
Get the change we need, kung iboto si Leni Robredo
For many years, marami siyang naiambag
Kung pandemya, matulungin at matatag
Serbisyong tunay, siya ay super clean
Siya ay kween na kween!
Si Leni, Leni ang pag-asa ng Pilipinas
Siya ang katangi-tangi mong kandidato
Muling babangon ang Pilipino
Kapag si Robredo
Those with more continental tastes may prefer journalist Lolito Go’s “KULAY ROSAS” set to Edith Piaf’s “La Vie En Rose”:
‘Pag siya ang pinili nyo,
Bansa’y magbabago at magkukulay rosas
Ingat sa patalastas nilang mga Hudas
Piliin lang ang rosas
Ibalik na ang tino, itama ang liko
Gumising sa bangungot.
Rosas man ay may sariling tinik
Nguni’t ito’y simbolo ng pag-ibig
Darating din ang oras
Buong Pilipinas, kulay rosas
The 2022 elections will determine the survival of a truly independent and democratic Philippines. Melissa Cortes-Cumpio, a teacher and pastor’s wife, reminds us of what is at stake in “SA DARATING NA HALALAN”:
Heto na naman at papalapit ang halalan
Samu't sari ang debate at balitaktakan
Nagtatalo ang kamag-anakan, maging magkakaibigan
Huwag sanang mauwi sa inis at alitan
Ano nga ba'ng mahalaga sa pagpili ng isusulat?
Nais kong sana'y bawat Pinoy ay mamulat
Kaibigan, mata mong nakapiring ay idilat
Nais mo bang bukas ng bansa'y maging salat?
Di dapat kababata o kababayan ang dahilan
Di dapat dahil lang may pinagkakautangan
Lalong di dapat dahil lang nagaguwapuhan –
Iboboto'y marapat lamang na masusing pag-isipan
Huwag dahil may makinaryang maipagmamayabang
Kundi dahil may prinsipyo, may giting at tapang
Hindi dapat masilaw sa pamudmod na abang
Boto nati'y ingatan, ipaglaban bawat bilang
Piliin ang masipag at subok nang maaasahan
Nagserbisyo sa bayan nang dahan-dahan
Malinis ang pangalan at may pinag-aralan
Walang pangit na nakaraang pilit tinatakasan
Buo ang loob na makipagsagupaan
Kahit kabangga pa ang nakaluklok sa kapangyarihan
May puso at pangarap iahon tayo sa kahirapan
Ngunit di lang sa nguso ang mga pangako naiiwan
Aling kulay kaya ang papalaring magwagi?
Huwag sanang isang di maka-Dios na hari
Idalangin natin sa Ama palagi –
Mga pinunong dala ay pagbabagong mithi
Panahon na upang pukawin ang ating kamalayan
Lumingon at suriin ang ating kasaysayan
Talikuran ang kabuktutan, kasalana'y pagsisihan
Upang Dios ay malugod, pagpalain yaring bayan!
We are at a historic time with the coming election pitting a true servant leader against the legion of trapo serving their own corrupt and selfish interests. May we choose the right side, and may God be on our side.
Menchu Aquino Sarmiento is an award-winning writer and a social concerns advocate. IRL (In Real Life) are short verbal pagmumuni-muni, the essay equivalent of fast fiction--but in real life. She really wants more Filipinos to care, and to do something legal and non-violent about it, preferably together, so that we act more like a civilized country, a mature democracy.
