Inside a Middle-Class Neighborhood’s Pink Campaign for Leni Robredo
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A group of volunteers in the Philam QC for Leni headquarters. Barangay Captain Plecy Hermogenes is shown on the right. (Photo by Coty Dy-Liacco)
With no time to move or change the venue, event organizers did the one thing they did best: They prayed. They stormed the heavens with deals and prayers and hallelujah, the clouds cleared up, and by Sunday morning, there wasn’t a drop of rain to be had.
Perhaps that was a premonition of things to come. Currently, if national polls and surveys are to be believed, Leni Robredo, the force of the Kakampink Campaign, falls a distant second to Bongbong Marcos in the run for the presidency. But Leni supporters vow that if the heavens can stop rain, they can likewise be moved by the storms of the growing pink movement.
It’s a different kind of presidential campaign because you see, the principal campaigner (Leni) has no money and what fool would launch a nationwide fight without a peso to his or her name?
Ha, ha, call Leni anything but a fool because she has supporters – millions of them strong – and they, too, are of a surprisingly different kind.
On this second month of the official campaign period, we are seeing volunteers not only putting their money where their mouth is, they are also spending all their waking hours planning, creating, producing, buying, and distributing campaign materials necessary to reach every breathing man and woman in this country and beyond. Songs have been written and sang. Slogans, memes, GIFs, logos – they are all out there proudly produced by volunteers.
In Philam Homes, Quezon City with over 600 homes, most of those who have shown support for Leni are homeowners and residents. That is suggested by the great number of pink parols (lanterns) hanging from trees and rafters and of campaign tarps hanging on gates and walls. It is equally easy to surmise by talking to kasambahays or house helps, drivers, and other service workers that a great number of the other side of the spectrum are yet to be convinced that Leni is the better or best choice for President.
These are the people whose minds should be changed, according to members of the Philam QC for Leni group of volunteers.
But how? Its 72 members were challenged to answer, “What event can we hold to get our target audience to join our movement?”
Barangay Captain Plecy Hermogenes scratched his head then hinted, “How about an event with free manicure, pedicure or haircut? Those are pleasures we all enjoy but our kasambahays may not be able to afford.”
Hmm. Volunteer coordinator Marite Damsani looked at him and said, “Why not?”
“And while we’re at it, why don’t we offer free hair color, new eyeglasses or maybe check their blood sugar count too?”
Today, you're the boss. What do you want? Haircut, hair color, manicure, pedicure, eyeglasses? (Photo by Ryan Fernandez)
The idea for an event was born and volunteers wasted no time greasing the skids.
There had to be food. With both the parish priest and the barangay captain having birthdays this month, it would be a good time to celebrate with lugaw (savory rice porridge) and champorado (chocolate porridge).
Lugaw with hard boiled egg for all! (Photo by Bella Bonner)
The plan was that while guests were being pampered with food and beautification (haha), an overhead screen would show films of Leni in action. Films would be alternated with talks about her accomplishments as a lawyer and vice president. There would be time for questions and answers. Volunteers would give out free face masks, sanitizers, cardboard fans.
Leni’s vice presidential running mate Kiko Pangilinan would also be put in the spotlight, as would some senatorial candidates in the Liberal Party.
The event was a hit.
Kasambahays, up early to buy meat and produce from the community’s Sunday market in the same venue took their goods home and returned for breakfast and personal grooming.
Forty-four men and women got haircuts. Nineteen had their hair colored. Twenty-seven had their nails done. Thirty-three had their eyes checked and many got new eyeglasses. In all, 132 community members were served.
She got a massage while waiting her turn for a new hair color. (Photo by Bella Bonner)
In a community were residents were usually served by paid workers, it was fun seeing the reverse in action. Today, workers were pampered while residents catered to their needs.
The kasambahays were thrilled; inebriated by the thought that today they could ask their amos (bosses) to go get their water or coffee or even just a chair to sit on.
Residents, on the other hand, were on equal high. Today they gained many new friends – neighbors who, like themselves, stepped out of their homes to volunteer for the cause. They saw young ones, old ones and those in between. Fathers and daughters worked together, as did mothers and sons. The Philam bikers arrived in full force, as pink as pink goes. Sunday churchgoers arrived after mass. It was a community united in action.
The daily bikers group of Philam came in full force - in pink! (Photo by Ryan Fernandez)
“Rolly!” a lawyer hailed the neighborhood sorbetero (ice cream cart vendor). “Let’s have free ice cream for everyone!”
Rolly, the neighborhood sorbetero, sold out today! (Photo by Bella Bonner)
Mari arrived with coffee and Tina came with pudding and biscotti.
Pink face masks, alcohol, sanitizers, and care packages.
Most importantly, everyone went home with “Bakit si Leni? (Why Leni?)” fans and leaflets.
Money poured in to pay for the event’s expenses and future projects.
There will be another event just before the May 9th election, and it promises to be bigger and better. It may be Philam QC for Leni’s last chance to swing votes. But if despite all efforts the number of Leni voters in the community does not soar, well, there is always the power of prayer.
Bella Bonner is a journalism graduate of the UP Institute of Mass Communications. Among others, she worked as a grant writer and hotelier in Texas where she lived for 30 years. She has retired, returned to Manila and spends her days in sports, traveling and writing a personal blog, "Chicharon Diaries."
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