Hope and Love In 130k Leni Kiko Pasig Rally

VP Leni Robredo; Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Emerald Ave. Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

Written and photographed

By Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

The 130,000 estimate at the March 20, 2022, Pasiglaban rally for the Leni Kiko tandem was quite conservative. The number could be much higher. From CNN Philippines: In front of record-breaking crowd, Robredo extends invitation to non-supporters to attend her rallies

VP Leni with ROSAS singers from left: Gab Pangilinan and Songwriter / singer Nica Del Rosario; Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Emerald Ave. Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

Even from as far as Taft Ave. Manila, I could already see people in pink walking. By the time I got to MRT EDSA TAFT station, there were throngs of supporters in pink falling in line to get on the train. I ended up getting to the Ortigas Center about 3pm. Which was a complete disaster (for me as photographer). By then Emerald Ave. was filled with tens of thousands of people. I should have been there about lunchtime or earlier to get to the stage a little less hassle free.

Kakampinks could be seen converging from as far as EDSA TAFT MRT station On their way to Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

There was an atrium where you could hear the stage speakers blaring. BUT there was a phalanx of security guards preventing people from getting in as it was visibly full. There was a large LED screen and outdoor benches. If you wanted to you could just stay there and NOT dive into the scary crowds of Emerald.

Even the side streets were full of people at Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

Everyone was diverted to Julia Vargas, the entrance to the ‘venue’. Like an idiot I followed them. Barely a few minutes into it, I saw the crowd just wasn’t moving. And there was no way I could shoot anything from there other than the crowds.

Noel Cabangon performed a stirring Lupang Hinirang; Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Emerald Ave. Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

So I went back to that atrium because obviously it was a shortcut. Since there was a 7-11 with crates and crates of bottled drinks for sale outside the store, I decided to hydrate, I was dying of thirst. That was when the security guard saw my Photographer’s ID and camera and let me in.

130,000 strong crowd at Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Emerald Ave. Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo from official Kiko Pangilinan fb:
https://www.facebook.com/officialkikopangilinan

Trapped in Emerald

When I got to Emerald there was a sea of humanity. Somehow the sidewalk was moving. So I kept on moving, until I couldn’t. There was literally nowhere else to go. There was no way I could go in any direction.

BUT I could finally see the platform where there were cameras in front of the stage. I waited for about five-ten minutes. I may have told a guy in front of me, out of desperation, Kailangan ko lang umabot doon. Doon sa may mga camera, showed him my ID and camera. I don’t know what I wanted him to do.

Leila De Lima for Senator; Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Emerald Ave. Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

Because there was nowhere else to go, no space. I was just thinking what if I had to just stand here for the next 6 or 7 hours, not be able to shoot? And not be able to leave either? Inisip ko masaya naman yung atmosphere. Just make the best out of it by not panicking inside, which I was.

From left: Matty Filart, Min Ortiz (Minty Fresh), Kio Priest and Paulo Castro at Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

What We Could Be

Then the guy said gusto mo pa bang umabante? He asked me to get in front of him and then another guy said to the people in front to let me pass. And they DID! And then another voice was saying let him pass, a man in blonde hair and make-up (no less) did the same thing, UNTIL I actually got to photographer’s row. The whole way I was saying sorry and thank you.

I couldn’t believe how I got there. IBA yung crowd ni Leni. Nagtutulungan talaga. IF anything’s lost, there’s a LOST AND FOUND tent. Nagbabayanihan IN ACTION.

Double Decker Jeep by Mark Bautista at Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

I was just walking back home. After the event, all the Malls from Robinsons Galleria, The PODIUM to Shang Rila Plaza Mall were filled with supporters having dinner or getting drinks. Leni herself said, “Na kita ko din lahat ng mall sa paligid. Pinuno ng mga kakampink!”

There was another bottleneck to the MRT sidewalk of SM Megamall / ADB. Everyone was in pink, from the rally. A girl beside me picked up a Vaccination ID from the sidewalk. And there was a cellphone number on it. She called him right then and there, hoping he was nearby. Grabe. This is what we could be. This is what the whole Philippines, could be.

Collectively, alam ng tao kung anung tama at mali.

Pateros supporters gift VP Leni with Itlog Na Maalat (Salted Eggs); Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Emerald Ave. Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

Tunay Na Pagmamahal

I saw three treys of itlog na maalat (salted eggs) being handed over on the stage to Leni with an artwork for a note from Pateros. I was thinking to myself HOW THE HELL were they able to get that through this crowd without breaking it? OR the effort of having to DO something like THAT????? Insane.

VP Leni hugs ROSAS singer songwriter Nica Del Rosario while Gab Pangilinan looks on. Photo from official Kiko Pangilinan fb:
https://www.facebook.com/officialkikopangilinan

Tunay yung pagmamahal kay Leni. Totoo. She said, “Galing sa Pateros, itlog na pula. Maraming Salamat. Pambihira talaga kayo. Kami na po nireregaluhan ngayon. Nandito na po request lang natin bigyan sila ng daan. Pa punta na po. Ayan.” She also made sure medics arrived for the ones who passed out in the heat of the crowd. Later on, they were handing their toddlers and babies so they could have pics with her.

Atty Alex Lacson for Senator; Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Emerald Ave. Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

Indefatigable

I was standing for 6 or 7 hours but because of the energy of the crowd, you’re not going to feel it. Immediately after, I felt so physically and emotionally drained. I don’t know how she does it. 3-4 towns with mini rallies and then one major rally in the city in ONE DAY! She does that in each province. Kiko and the senators can’t keep up with her. The schedule is brutal.

Kaya baliwala yung 18 hours. She’s almost 24/7. She’s running rings around every candidate, Presidential or otherwise.

Fans rush the stage to touch VP Leni; Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Emerald Ave. Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

LGBTQAI+ Celebrated Not Just Accepted

By the time I got back to Taft LRT I saw two guys in pink t-shirts holding hands. In my mind I was congratulating them: for their relationship, for having attended the rally. Then I wondered, would they even do that if they didn’t attend the rally? Where our LGBTQAI+ sisters and brethren feel more accepted, even celebrated by our leaders? Not just Leni but Risa too, both of them fought for the Anti-Discrimination Bill.

GAMEBOYS for Leni Kiko From left: Kokoy De Santos and Elijah Canlas. Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Emerald Ave. Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

Leni in Congress, Risa in the Senate. That’s the kind of cooperation Leni will need as President in the Legislative branch. That’s why we have to vote for their whole senate slate:

Senators Leila De Lima and Risa Hontiveros, former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, lawyer Alex Lacson and labor leader Sonny Matula of the Federation of Free Workers.

Risa Hontiveros for Senator; Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Emerald Ave. Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

Also on their slate are Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senators Richard Gordon and Joel Villanueva, Sorsogon Gov. Francis “Chiz” Escudero and former Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Cheerdancers at Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Emerald Ave. Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

Dick In Crowd

Several times people would ask for a medic because someone passed out from the heat or exhaustion. One of them was when Sen. Dick Gordon was in the middle of his speech. He said, “Paraanin niyo rito yan. We should make sure there are no casualties in our rally.” Immediately after speaking, Dick went into the crowd to make sure the person who needed medical attention was revived.

Dick Gordon for Senator; Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Emerald Ave. Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

Hope, Unity and Love

Until you actually see it and experience it for yourself in the rallies, people will always criticize the visible goodwill as mere candidate’s rhetoric. Although how else are you able to explain, the bayanihan in all the rallies of Leni Kiko?

Ben&Ben vocalists from left: Paolo and Miguel Guico; Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Emerald Ave. Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

There really is a palpable, heartfelt sense of hope especially because you know, she’s the right candidate at the right time. This is far from the promise of murder by the previous administration, that became so popular. Filipinos found out the hard way ‘killing all the bad guys’ was not a real platform of government. It never was.

VP Leni described that sense of hope, unity and love in her speech:

“Noong pong nakaraang Huwebes, nandoon po ako sa Zamboanga. Bago po ako nagsalita, inabutan ako ng isang symbolic na sagwan. Di ko alam kung na kita niyo yon sa litrato. Yung sagwan may naka sulat: ‘Bagong Pag-asa’.

Ebe Dancel; Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Emerald Ave. Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

Malinaw na malinaw sa aking ngayon, PAG-ASA ang puso ng ating People’s Campaign. Pag-asang dala, hindi ng kandidatong nakatungtong sa entablado. Pero pag-asa ng bawat Pilipinong nakikilakad, paghinaharang sa kalsada.

Nakikipintura ng mural na binura. Nakiki-repack ng ayuda para sa mg ana salanta. Dito po sa Pasig ngayon tignan niyo ang inyong katabi. Damhin ang pag-asang batid ninyo sa isa’t isa.

Pag-asa ang ugat ng tunay na Pagkaka-isa.

Pagkaka isang matatakbuhan mo, kapag na gipit ka. Sasagot kapag tumawag ka. Titindig sa tabi mo kapag katabi ka!

Pagkaka-isa hindi lang sa pulitiko sa pulitiko, para sa pang sariling interes. Kung di sa Bawat Pilipinong lumalaban dahil iisa lang ipinagkalaban. Isipin na lang natin ang Pilipinas, na kaya nating harapin kung ang pinuno ay ka-isa sa bawat laban ng bawat Pilipino.

Pinunong hindi kuntento umutos lang galing sa malayo. Sa halip na kikita ang problema at naghahanap ng solusyon sa antas ng karaniwang tao. Pinunong nakikikayod, nakikipila, nakikisuot sa eskinita. Sumusugod sa bagyo. Tumatapak sa ground zero. Umaangkas ng motorsiklo pa tungo sa inyo.

VP with daughters from left Aika and Trish; Photo from official Kiko Pangilinan fb:
https://www.facebook.com/officialkikopangilinan

Ito po ang klase ng gubyernong isinusulong natin. Gubyernong tapat na hahanapin ka, pupuntahan ka para ma itayo ka. Hindi kailangan ang transaksyon. Hindi kailangan ang palakasan.Hindi na kailangan magmaka-awa ang tao sa padrino.

Dahil bawat isa sa inyo malakas sa sistema. 50 days to go. 50 days Pasig at NCR! Kaya pa ba natin i-doble ang pagsisikap? Kaya ba natin lakihan pa ang ating mga puso?

Photo from official Kiko Pangilinan fb:
https://www.facebook.com/officialkikopangilinan

Nagsimula tayo sa halos wala. Nandito na tayo ngayon. May 50 days pa. Ibuhos na natin ang lahat. Kung kailangan kaya pa natin more than 18 hours! Na magtrabaho para maipanalo natin ito! Kaya ba natin kumatok sa mga pintuan?

Sa mga zoom meetings natin o sa mga chat rooms, sa jeepney o sa grab, sa tambayan o sa palengke, ibahagi natin ang ating mensahe.

Chel Diokno for Senator; Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Emerald Ave. Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

Isadiwa ang pag-asa. pagkaka-isa at pagmamahal na pundasyon ng ating laban. Paki-usap ko po ngumiti habang nakikipag kwentuhan. Kaya niyo ba yon? Di naman mahirap diba?

Unawain po natin ang pinanggagalingan ng ating mga kausap. Magpakumbaba po tayo. Maging mahinahon sa pagdidiin ng katotohanan.

Jolina Magdangal sang a touching version of ANAK NG PASIG, (originally by Geneva Cruz) with RIVERMAYA. Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Emerald Ave. Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

Ipaliwanag po natin ang mga motibo, intindihin ang motibo din sa likod ng mga kasinungalingan. Na kaya may fake news, para watakin tayong lahat. Dapat di natin yon payagan. Dahil ang pinaka mahalagang katotohanan. Magkarugtong po ang bawat Pilipino.

Iisa ang pangarap at kinabukasan ng bawat isa sa atin.

Teddy Bagulat for Senator; Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Emerald Ave. Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

Imbitahin po natin ang wala po dito! Kahit napaka rami na natin ngayon gabi. Marami pa din ang di natin kasama. Welcome na welcome po kayo dito. Sana makita niyo na. Masaya dito. Punong puno ng pag-asa dito.

Wala po akong duda, nakaka hatak ng pag-asa ang pag-asa. At tiyak na tiyak ko, may pag-asa sa puso ng bawat Pilipino. Kasam ninyo ako. Dito sa Pasig, dito sa NCR at sa buong Pilipinas. Kaya po tara na. Ipanalo na natin ito!

Chel Diokno for Senator; Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Emerald Ave. Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

Ang pakiusap po natin hindi lang si Leni Robredo. Lalong lalo na po Kiko Pangilinan! Ang ating pong Senatorial candidates. Senator Sonny Trillanes! Atty. Sonny Matula! Atty. Alex Lacson! Senator Risa Hontiveros! Senator Dick Gordon! Dean Chel Diokno! Senator Leila De Lima! And Congressman Teddy Baguilat!

Sonny Matula for Senator; Leni Kiko’s Pasiglaban Rally, Emerald Ave. Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, March 20, 2022. Photo by Jude Bautista

Mabuhay po kayo maraming maraming Salamat sa lahat ng sumama sa atin. Nanggaling pa sa iba’t ibang lugar. Maraming maraming Salamat Pasig! Looking forward kaming bisitahin ang kanya kanya niyong lugar.”

VP Leni with ROSAS singer Gab Pangilinan and singer songwriter Nica Del Rosario.
Photo from official Kiko Pangilinan fb:
https://www.facebook.com/officialkikopangilinan

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