TO LIVE FOR THE HOPE OF IT ALL
It will probably make sense someday --- sooner or later. The torment of just trying to deny how exactly I am feeling right now, I hope it will make me understand when the time is right.
There’s just a lot of things happened lately, you could certainly help me where to begin.
May 9, 2022
I would like to begin with the idea there is still hope even a part of me lost it. With just the amount of time, effort, commitment of people I met during the campaign period of our country’s election days was unexplainable. From ten group of people doing house to house, to hundreds of volunteers who would heartedly share their service, and to create and start something that is worth fighting for, it absolutely taught me to love selflessly. It was never easy. It was a very bold and brave step to even act upon it. I think this has gotten through me when Covid-19 pandemic happened, especially when my previous media company where I used to work was shut down primarily because of the ex-president, Duterte, along with some of his cabinet members. There were actually 11,000 employees who were laid off, feeling devastated and hopeless. And they just couldn’t do anything about it.
I remember one time, my former boss was calling me wanting to help the victims of the typhoon Ulysses, in which by the way affected our region, only was able to reach limited areas because there was no more network to report about it. This was one of the most frustrating things that you’ll ever get to realize that government and its authority has the power to control your life. With the kind of people who gets to lead us like this, even if you want to succeed at its best and ideal situation, I think it’s only possible when “good luck” allows you to be.
Maybe it wasn’t an accident after all – to be given a huge opportunity to lead a community that hopes for a brighter future. I was blessed enough to spend time with students who even make absences for their classes, just to go around rural areas to let VP Leni be known.
I’ve been with mothers, who would either prepare snacks for younger volunteers or produce personalized items, front liners who would set up tarpaulins in front of their houses – basically to support the “Leni-Kiko” tandem. I think my most favorite part was to actually sail a boat to get to another town to talk to the people. It had me the fire to keep going – to let people somehow listen.
One of the most exciting experiences I had was also to organize people’s rally, the sleepless nights of going around towns to deliver what was needed for the production. The courage of just standing up in front of more or less 10,000 people, hosting and leading the people with so much passion and grace, this is what you call bravery. It was one of the best and greatest production moments I’ve had in my life – considering I work in an events industry.
And then VP Leni entered the stage – it was emotional. The brave north once stood up for what is right and moral. It wasn’t even about the numbers anymore, the fact that people from the North came and listened on what Leni – Kiko has to offer, this only explains that people could actually be collective. That love could be received from and to the people.
One of the humbling learnings from this experience I will forever cherish is acceptance. The moment we watched the news and knew the results, our hearts were literally broken. It was even more painful than breaking up with a partner. I honestly didn’t want to believe at first but I was just in denial. You know that’s part of the grieving process – in denial.
Maybe there are things that are just out of our control. There are things that we could only give ourselves so much, but it’s always worth the risk. My dad once said to me, “How will you know if you never try?”
He’s right. We can always hope for the best things to happen and that is still unseen yet. Maybe this isn’t our time yet. As long as there is at least one willing to stand and fight for good, we will try until we get there.
