I am 1 out of 137K.

Grabe this experience sobrang eye-opening? If my younger self sees me right now, she’d probably cringe kasi sineryoso ko talagang pumunta ng isang political event. She’s just too snob and privileged. Studying in UP really humbled me, I guess. Pero back to my chika. Sobrang dami ng tao. On our way to Emerald Street nasa unahan namin naglalakad is lolo at lola naka Leni-Kiko shirt. Pagtapak ng Emerald kaliwa’t kanan free water, free cookies, at free snacks. WALANG NAG-AGAWAN. Get one and pass ang siste.

Pumunta kaming Strata 2000 kasi doon dapat kami magkikita ng mga barkada kong kpop fans kaso sa sobrang siksikan na at 12:30 PM di na nagkakitaan. Katabi namin sa pwesto isa buong mag-anak. Single mother si tita sobrang bait halos pati yung lunch nila inalok sa amin. May apat syang anak lahat kasama nya sa rally. Dalawa sa kanila ay first time voters at sobrang nakakatuwa kasi the eldest is a graduating student in UPLB too, my alma mater.

Everyone’s kind to everyone. Walang mainit ulo kahit mainit sa pwesto. May nagpa-pizza free for all. Para kaming magkakabarkada lang din dun kahit first time lang magkakilala. Sa likod namin ay student councils ng isang school sa Makati. Mga first time voters din. Sa left namin is a group named Brothers, mga magkakabarkadang LGBTQ.

May nakita ako sa twitter nagsabi na middle class lang yung natouch nung rally na yun. No. If you were there, you’ll see all demographics and all walks of life and that’s what hope looks like.

May bikers, may kasabay nga ako lola sa linya ng CR sa army navy. Dalawa silang lola galing pang Manggahan, may buong pamilya si baby may Leni sticker sa jumper, may drivers for leni, at mga kabataan. Mainit at siksikan pero walang tulakan at walang mainit ang ulo. The place was bursting with energy and everyone is just happy to be there. I’ve always thought that people are inherently bad/violent but yesterday was just good people, generous people and united people. Tama nga ako, good people influence other people to do good.

Give up ko na sana bansang to sa totoo lang pero now I’m hopeful. Tama kasi yung sinabi ni Fr Nongnong, this election is where the choice is easiest. Yet the hardest to win.

TLDR; I won’t harass you to vote for VP Leni. I just want to say that I am proud with my vote. I hope you are too.