Voices in a sea of pink

Crowd swelling at the Robredo-Pangilinan miting de avance in Makati City on Saturday (May 7). PHOTO FROM VP LENI MEDIA BUREAU

MANILA, Philippines—Throughout the campaign period, supporters of different candidates—especially those running for president—have gathered in different parts of the country to attend campaign sorties to cheer and listen to candidates’ platforms and promises.

One presidential candidate, Vice President Leni Robredo, was able to gather huge crowds in each of her campaign sortie across the country—crowds which had been described as a “pink tsunami”, referring to the color that Robredo chose as her brand.

On May 7, the last day of campaigning, Robredo and her running mate Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and their Senate slate drew an estimated 780,000 (based on organizers’ count) in Makati for their final hurrah.

READ: Mammoth 700,000 crowd in Makati at last Leni-Kiko rally

INQUIRER.net was able to talk with some of those at the miting de avance and here’s what they said.

Supporters rise up

Among the hundreds of thousands who wore shades of pink that day, Jon Jon Lidao and Melissa Capili caught the attention of many supporters alike as they marched with the crowd wearing the iconic costumes from the hit Netflix series “Money Heist.”

GRAPHIC: Ed Lustan

Lidao and Capili, who cosplayed as series characters Tokyo and Rio and sported the familiar red jumpsuits and Dali masks, carried a tarpaulin which read “Tokyo and Rio for Leni-Kiko.”

Lidao said he and Capili are residents of Makati. They decided to take a break from work to show their support for the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem.

“We decided not to sell mami and pares today because I want to support Leni [and] Kiko,” he said in Filipino.

“I am not connected or affiliated to any social media groups of Leni-Kiko volunteers but my heart belongs to Leni and Kiko because I want to have an honest government. I want to place the future of the Philippines at [their] hands,” he added.

Another supporter, not to remain anonymous, said it was her first time last Saturday to join a campaign rally for the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem.

“I wasn’t able to join in volunteer works, I cannot do house-to-house [during the past months]. So I really pushed myself to attend this last campaign and I saw that I really am in the right direction,” Bella, not her real name, told INQUIRER.net.

The 64-year-old Nor Antonio, who was seen by many waving a huge plain pink flag while sitting atop a parked tricycle surrounded by huge crowds of supporters, beat the heavy traffic that day just to support Robredo on her last campaign sortie.

Antonio, who currently resides in Malabon, travelled for over two hours to reach Makati.

But his predicament did not end during the long travel. Upon reaching Makati, he had a hard time finding a parking spot and spent another two hours circling the area for a space to leave his car.

Still, despite the tiring travel, Antonio was full of spirit and energy.

Support that transcends time

When asked what pushed him to join the last campaign rally for the Roberdo-Pangilinan tandem, Antonio shared a bit of his and his late mother’s past and experience during martial law.

He recalled that when the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law, he and his mom found it tough to sustain their only source of livelihood—selling vegetables in the market.

“Around 2 a.m. in the morning, my mother and I will deliver vegetables in the market. During that time, because no one was an exempted, we were always chased by the Metrocom,” Antonio recalled. He was referring to the curfew during martial law and a unit of the then Philippine Constabulary

“With that, I can say that the so-called ‘golden years of martial law’ is a hoax. That’s fake. We had a very hard life. We had to rely on selling vegetables to survive during that time,” he added.

Antonio said his and his mother’s memories and experiences during the martial law era inspired him to rise up and support Robredo’s presidential bid.

PHOTO: Nor Antonio waving a pink flag along Salcedo Street in Makati during the Robredo-Pangilinan miting de advance held last May 7.

“I hope that what happened before will not happen again,” he said.

Safe in a sea of pinks

When asked about what she felt while mingling with the thick crowd during the miting de avance, Bella said she felt safe and comfortable despite being in close contact with thousands of strangers.

“I felt safe, even though at times I get startled by the chants,” she said in Filipino.

“Even though it was crowded and we all felt hot, tired, and thirsty, the people were still comfortable to rise up because no one felt harassed, no one got robbed or hurt,” she continued.

“It’s something I’m proud to be a part of and I can proudly tell my daughter that her mom was among those who stood up for her future,” she said.

Bella added that it was worth it to join the event, despite the still lingering risk of COVID-19.

“I saw old people on wheelchairs who are being led by their children. I saw someone carrying a suwero connected to their father who is excited to join the rally,” Bella said.

“I know for a fact that Leni had an excellent COVID-19 response that’s why I am supporting her so she can continue [what she started] if elected as the next president.”

Antonio, who recently lost a loved one due to COVID-19, said he still decided to attend Robredo’s campaign sorties.

“Frankly, this is my fifth time to attend. The first one is in Quezon Circle, then in Bulacan, third one is in Camanava, next in Pasig, and today [in Makati],” he said.

Antonio is the chairman of the group Vicars for Leni, Malabon chapter. He is also the founder of the group Malabon Citizens for Leni. As a certified public accountant (CPA), he also joined the group Accountants for Leni as a member.

Top concerns

The three supporters said among the top issues that should be addressed by the next administration is corruption.

Other issues cited by the three were:

• proper education
• justice
• extrajudicial killings
• and government transparency.

For the next administration

Capili said she hopes that a God-fearing candidate will win the elections.

PHOTO: Jon Jon Lidao and Melissa Capili wearing ‘Money Heist’ costume during the Robredo-Pangilinan miting de advance in Makati last May 7.

As for her message for the next administration, she said she hopes that corruption will end and that real change will happen.

Bella vowed to keep watchful eyes on the government, regardless of who wins as president.

“I will applaud what needs when the [next administration] do something right and I will call out any wrongdoing,” she said.

Antonio, who decided to address his message to Robredo, said he has a request if she gets elected as president.

“I request that she continue what she started and how she performed [as a public servant] and [maintain] the qualifications she has,” he said.

“I hope that she will continue the good work she has done and improve it further, of course for the benefit and welfare of the Filipino people,” Antonio added.

TSB