I AM a Cory Aquino guy.
I “met” Cory in my teens.
Her husband Ninoy was assassinated when I was just 14 years old.
Despite Martial Law, I tried to learn everything I could about the Marcoses and the Aquinos.
***
I have written a play about Imelda Marcos in my old age.
I have written a play about Cory Aquino.
I like how they are polar opposites—
Imelda, from garage-living poverty to billion dollars ill-gotten wealth that can drive anybody mad.
Cory, from old rich families to a national image of utter simplicity.
***
In the 1986 snap elections, the choices were simplified to Good (Aquino) versus Evil (Marcos).
And even when I couldn’t vote then, I campaigned hard for Cory and her yellow ticket.
My late father, a Social Studies teacher, was mostly pro-Marcos (even if he thought the Marcoses have ordered the Aquino assassination); but I pleaded for him to vote for Aquino.
That was the first time I asked my father for something bigger than a 50-peso bill.
***
One night, my father sat me down with my mother in our dining table.
And my parents promised me that they would vote for Aquino.
My father predicted that Marcos will cheat; but my parents kept their promise (or so they told me).
In fact, my father was so angry at Marcos when the canvassing walkouts at the election count happened.
My father predicted a civil war.
***
Then, the EDSA Revolution of 1986 happened.
And I remember I ran around town showing the newspaper headline that screamed, MARCOS FLEES.
Two words.
My young heart was so happy.
Feeling triumphant.
Like I won something big.
***
I didn’t really believe Aquino versus Marcos was the battle between Good and Evil; although it would have been easy to believe.
I just thought it was the Battle of Hope versus Corruption.
What Cory Aquino gave us was Hope.
And it is the hope that I continue to hold.
***
But God, what the tentacles of the dictatorship did to give Cory a hard time!
Those coup d’etat attempts, more than 10, were scary.
But Cory stood there, and held on for us.
When she died, the Filipino people mourned her.
They even called her “saint.”
And to me, she really was.
***
Cory was never power hungry.
She facilitated a peaceful transfer of power after her term.
If she erred, you can be sure it wasn’t her intention.
You can even imagine that she was just ill-advised by the people surrounding her.
***
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wasn’t anywhere like Cory Aquino.
Gloria knew what she was doing.
That Garci tape controversy about trying to rig the elections?
That made me so angry.
I even threatened to stage a nude protest back in 2005.
For veracity, dig up Internet records; Google “nude protest iloilo.”
My story should easily come up.
***
Comparisons are made between Leni Robredo and Cory Aquino.
I don’t trust that.
But Leni has been good and clean on my side… so far.
I appreciate the work of her office as Vice President.
And despite the limitations imposed by the President, or despite the criticisms hurled to her by the trolls, she just works, and works, and works.
***
Seeing Pacquiao file his candidacy, I prayed that Leni would run; and I held my breath as she delayed her decision.
But in the end, I celebrated her and her pink movement.
On social media, I launched my own campaign for Pink.
***
But I understand that the real battle is not fought on social media.
The undereducated are still a big portion of our voters.
We need to reach out to them.
***
For now, Leni is the only candidate that my intuitive and emotional intelligence can accept.
I do not believe the surveys about her leading or trailing behind in public opinion.
Here’s what I know: She needs our help.
She needs to know that we are getting votes for her.
***
And so I ask you, my dear readers.
If your heart beats like mine, win (at least) three votes for Leni.
Win them in your family, in your circle of friends, and even (maybe more importantly) in the familiar strangers that you meet on the way to the market.
Because your vote is not enough in our country’s crucial and historic elections next year.
***
I have been a patriot even as a child—Boy Scout, and all.
I have campaigned, and won votes, for Cory even when I myself couldn’t vote in 1986.
I was with the original Yellow Revolution.
I have protested the moral ascendancy of a President who wanted to cheat an election in 2005.
I have talked PNoy into running in 2010.
***
It’s time for your Pink Revolution.
I will be there for you, with you, fighting alongside you.
But you have to own this one fight.
This is your Pink Revolution!/PN
