🌊 Issue #10: The Beginnings of My Political Career
“Is this what it was like for the people who campaigned for Obama? For AOC?”
I’ve never been the kind to understand politics beyond knowing which politicians and public servants I liked and which ones I didn’t. I never really understood the parties and what they really stood for (I still don’t). Although I did know which issues I cared about - and kept an eye and an ear out to know what was being done about them and by whom.
I’ve gotten close to getting involved deeper into the topic only two times in my entire life.
The first time was back when I was still in University and I dated a guy who was an activist and waxed so much poetic about all of the things that the country is doing wrong. The second time was a few years after I just started working. I started going out with a guy who was in a presidential candidate’s campaign team and I went on a campaign rally as an excuse to spend time with him.
And that was pretty much it.
Then it was 2016 and the son of the late dictator, Marcos was running for Vice President. And suddenly I was rooting for the woman who was neck and neck with the late dictator’s son. I didn’t really know her. I just knew she was the wife of another politician who had really good reputation and I just really didn’t want another Marcos with a seat. She won.
Since winning, she’s shown that she is more than just the person who prevented the late dictator’s son from coming back to power. She had grace. She had spine. And more importantly she had results.
Since I’m in Spain, I just observed but I was never really invested. At least not yet.
Then fast forward to 2020 when the world pretty much imploded because of Covid. The Philippines was probably in the worst case scenario. And some of the most important people in my life were right smack in the middle of it.
I’ve never felt so angry. While hospitals were collapsing and people were dying. the government still prioritized their own agendas. They took advantage of the panic and chaos to steal more money, to exact revenge, and to do everything else except what the country and the people really needed.
Except for VP Leni Robredo. While the rest of the government (except for some LGU leaders) were proving to be incompetent:
She supported health care workers by providing equipment, housing, and transportation
By doing so, she provided jobs for local designers + dressmakers, public transportation drivers, among many others
She provided additional health care support by creating another channel for sick people to get free testing, consultation, and covid aid - which also attracted a lot of volunteers
All of these with close to no budget (because the government pretty much stripped that away from her office) and running mostly on donations from private individuals. All of these while she was also running a shit ton of other projects and maintaining the highest audit rating from the Commission on Audit.
And you know what’s even more amazing? Technically speaking, the Office of the Vice President doesn’t really have to do anything. The VP is just there to be the spare tire. And that’s it. For as long as I can remember, none of the previous VPs we’ve had did anything substantial apart from just show up to the events the President couldn’t go to.
And suddenly it didn’t feel so insane to believe that the country can survive this shit show. If Leni Robredo can do all of these things as the VP, imagine what more she could do if she actually had accountability for all of these.
I waited, with my heart in my throat, for her to finally decide to run for President in next year’s election.
She took her time too. She was the only one amongst all of the candidates to actually really think about the responsibilities tied to the role. The only one amongst who was not so eager to use the excuse of “wanting to help” to pursue the highest office in the country. The only one who gave the role and the responsibility the consideration it really deserved.
She was the only who one gave me the feeling that she really understood what it meant to be the President of the country.
When she finally decided to run, I felt like just voting for her wasn’t enough. I felt like I had to do more. That I needed to get more people to vote for her. Because voting for her was giving our country another chance to go beyond just surviving. She gave me the hope that maybe, just maybe, this time, we can actually thrive.
And that hope, for me, was enough.
So here I am, almost 2 weeks since Leni Robredo filed for candidacy, finding myself part of an informal, unofficial campaign team here in Europe. Because I created one. I created one along with other EU-based Filipinas who felt the same need to do more.
I absolutely have no idea what I’m doing. I’ve never campaigned for anybody before. Much less put together a bunch of people and turn us into a campaign team. I’m just taking this day by day. Connecting people. Learning as much as I can, as fast as I can. Trusting that all of these small, sometimes stupid, things will help to bring us the right outcome. And really that’s all that matters.
After all, what’s a few blunders, a couple of embarrassing moments, and maybe throw in some sleepless nights too in exchange for the chance that the country and every Filipino can finally rise up — mula sa laylayan.
Would you like to volunteer too? If you’re a Filipino based in Europe, please reach out. Or you can also fill out this Volunteer sign up form.
Until next time 💗
Kax
Other Things I’m loving these days 💗
Workouts by Ranier Pollard. Because I really can’t stick to a workout routine. I don’t have the attention span for it. But Ranier Pollard mixes comedy into his routines which helps me to forget sometimes how much I’m hating what I’m doing because I’m too busy laughing.
Hospital Playlist has got to be the most wholesome show I’ve ever watched ever. People who think that F.R.I.E.N.D.S. or HIMYM are the most iconic shows about friendship need to watch Hospital Playlist (and Reply 1988 too). It’s such a feel good show and reflect what honest and healthy friendships look like. You’re welcome.
Helen Hoang’s 3rd book, The Heart Principle! If you’ve read The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test - this book is the perfect way to close the circle. The romance, the sexiness, and giddiness are all still there. But I think this one probably hit me harder than the first 2. But I still devoured this book in one sitting. So it’s definitely a light read. The kind you’d want to tackle on a cloudy Sunday afternoon while nursing a hangover.
I started this maybe-weekly (mostly not) newsletter because I needed a space where I can just take a break from talking about career, working in tech, and coaching other Product Managers. I needed a space where I can wear my heart on my sleeve, get kilig about the books I’m reading and the movies I’m watching, and sometimes allow myself to get on my soapbox and yell at the world for doing something stupid again.
Want to share your thoughts and feelings, too? Leave me a comment below 👇
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