The Pink Phenomenon, a Joyous Movement
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For Leni Robredo supporters, the pink campaign drew unity among artists, vendors, and community folk who donate time and effort to the movement (Artwork by May Tobias Papa)
For a presidential election campaign, it will be unprecedented. The million-signatures drive initiated by Chino Roces in late 1985 to convince Cory Aquino to run against Ferdinand Marcos in the Snap Election of February 1986 started out as a hopeful one. While it achieved its purpose, a sense of desperation always accompanied the cautious optimism that a majority of Filipinos would go along with the battle cry of Tama Na! Sobra Na! Palitan Na!
There was very little time to organize. Much as the centrist forces that mostly characterized urban opposition started to draw support from elitist funders, there was always serious doubt that the far more numerous voters in the countryside would share the sentiments that our nation needed rescue from a longtime dictator, and that Ninoy’s assassination was the final trigger for an upheaval.
History’s jury is still out on who actually won that snap election in terms of actual votes cast, but the computer tallyists’ walkout from PICC, the botched post-election RAM coup attempt, and the consequential People Power Revolution put an end to Marcos’ 21-year rule.
Now his son seeks to cancel culture and all things sane, buoyed by some success in initial capitalization for gaming social media and manipulating early polls. That he wound up in cahoots with other questionable dynasties has drawn the battle lines tighter. And made the cause of Leni Robredo even more heroic.
Oh, she’s beaten him before. But now he comes fully tanked up, apparently even with the blessings of a powerful rapacious neighbor. Early supporters of VP Leni feared that it would take such gumption to hope that she could challenge a Duterte juggernaut that would have the Daughterte vying for the next presidency. Much as She without an H has displayed nothing but pugilistic tendencies, the prevailing expectation was that her father’s perceived influence, and wherewithal, would be enough.
Still, growing numbers of rational Filipinos, while still a minority and mostly in the NCR and a few cities, have rallied behind Leni. We are the progressives, academics, the better educated, the creatives, writers, artists, musicians, entertainers, LGBTQ — the antennae of people that are not beholden to personal agendas other than restoring pride for the Filipino for the sake of our children and grandchildren.
“Let Leni lead,” we have memed. “Leni Be,” we have quipped, echoing one another in our social media chamber that is said to be dwarfed by a heavily capitalized troll army shared by the DDS and the BBM morlochs from Mordor.
Still, we persist and vow to challenge the Goliath-Darth-Saruman-Thanos tag teams because we love our country and want to save the next generations from yet another cycle of shameful horror.
In my own little corner that isn’t even part of any soc-med chamber, since we’re in our late 70s, there has emerged a steady accretion of consensus that we couldn’t just stay retired and quiet. We fellow (San) Bedans had long despaired of our Alma Mater’s support for Duterte. But now that he seems to be paving the way for a marriage of criminal minds with the Marcoses, it has become easier for us to recall that we had been part of the triumphant side of the EDSA Uno challenge. And that, heck, if it’s a repeat punch-out they want, well then, consider that four-day struggle in 1986 a playbook exercise. They should be the ones running scared. We are still alive, and we have had good practice.
The Philippine Star article regarding President Rodrigo Duterte’s alma mater San Beda supporting political rival Vice President Leni Robredo.
Besides, at our age of certainty, we know that quite often, history eventually skews the bad guys.
Thank fate that Duterte’s hubris has cursed him with an intemperate mouth to complement his erratic judgment. He figured he’d first have his Mayora agree to pair off with his sidekick. When that didn’t pan out, thanks to the consequences of failed first marriages, why then, it wouldn’t be too bad to have his daughter pair off with his idol’s son, as long as she was the dominatrix. But She without an H has foiled his hopes time and again, despite his tactical calisthenics involving his two loyal vassals Go and Bato. At some point he even threatened the world of sane men with the prospect of him running for VP. And that’s when the daughter without an H finally trumped him, by claiming that prospect herself. She knew that for all his H for hubris, her father would turn tail.
And fume, as was his Fentanyl-muted wont. He railed out against the weak boy who had a coke habit, quickly causing confusion among the DDS-BBM ranks. He held his peace soon after, when he realized the growing damage. Still, it had been done.
Meanwhile, on the Leni front, the color pink has drawn a phenomenal line of unity, and a surge in the ranks from strength to Spartan strength. On a personal scale, Kakampinks have included all the blood relations I know, all the poets and painters and musicians I respected and liked (but for one or two), all the kindred spirits among creatives and progressives (but for two or three). And all the ones left to abide by the dark side have appeared uniformly dense or pathetically execrable.
The pink caravans began. And have taken city after city. Expatriate Filipinos have joined the merry revelry, in city after foreign city whether or not it has a Jollibee. Then the National Lugaw Day was instituted. It seems that every dirty trick in the book used against VP Leni for the past six years has been turned on its head with masterful jujitsu. “Lugaw is life. Lugaw is love. Lugaw is wow!”
“Libreng Lugaw” campaign (Free rice porridge) (Photo and artwork by Robert Alejandro)
Every supposed weakness ascribed to Leni has become a source of further strength. Her evident intellect, EQ and AQ, government experience, and continuing record of accomplishments have stood out in glaring contrast against the spoiled, lazy man-boy who even lied about his college education.
Voluntarism has become contagious. We who had no cash like Pacquiao or credit line like Moreno, who was loaned private jets, have had to show our real strength as faithful Filipinos. Why, we are even told to go to battle with “radikal na pagmamahal” (radical love), to take the high road while advancing our authentic motorcades, donating our time, energy, and spirit in the creation of tarp designs, murals, music, Tiktok content, and pink parols.
“Mas Radikal ang Magmahal” (It’s more radical to love) (Artwork by May Tobias Papa)
It’s become a joyous movement, well beyond a political campaign. Songs are composed for free, pink face masks and shirts distributed with inspirational contagion. Schools have shown their true colors (all shades of pink!). Lawyers for Leni, Doctors for Leni, Engineers for Leni, Farmers for Leni, Priests for Leni, Goddesses for Leni, et al.
Free blood pressure monitoring (Photo and artwork by Robert Alejandro)
Application of Leni-Kiko 2022 artwork on campaign material: t-shirts, mugs, masks and social media (Artwork by May Tobias Papa)
“Mga Diyosa Para Kay Leni” (Goddesses for Leni) (Artwork by Jon Villasper)
“K-Drama Addicts for Leni” (Artwork by Jon Villasper)
Now my own Alma Mater has turned its back on a prodigal despot, as it should have from the first proven instance of an EJK. In our trans-Pacific Bedan class with a Viber group of over 30 greeters on birthdays, the majority have become Kakampinks, while a few stay silent and only one, a former military official, has expressed his loyalty to Marcos Jr. The rest of us have purchased pink tees with Leni memes, Leni komiks in the vernacular, and pink parols. And we’ve shared these goodies in the spirit of joy that defines the Pink Phenomenon. All that we still have to do is find and taste pink taho. And pink pomelo juice. Meanwhile, a Pink Pasko will do.
“Maligayang Pasko” (Merry Christmas) (Artwork by Robert Alejandro)
Libreng Lugaw. LugawOne. TRoPA vs TRAPO. The battle cries are non-stop. #GawaingLeni activities are expanding all over the barangays.
In Pagadian, a barber offers free haircuts for the first 20 pax every Wednesday, with a group chat thrown in.
In Paris, joyful Pinoys wave pink scarves and tarps for Leni while foregrounding the Eiffel Tower. Indeed, la vie en rose!
Leni-Kiko supporters in Paris
Rosas ang kulay ng bukas.
And after this Pink Pasko, there’ll still be Kris Aquino. Why, these four political dynasties that linked arms for self-preservation won’t know what hit them, and will be stunned in utter disbelief. They’ll be hit by a single blow of joy!
Leni Robredo herself has been key to this selection and appropriation of a color of prettiness and peace, one kind to the eyes.
While it used to be derided as a code solely for femininity and the effeminate, it’s since been accepted as part of the gently-fication of the millennium and erstwhile macho brute mindset, until it began to be said that real men wear pink.
“The pink caravans began. And have taken city after city. Expatriate Filipinos have joined the merry revelry, in city after foreign city whether or not it has a Jollibee.”
It’s become a universal color of courage as much as passion in all its grades, from soft pink to sexy pink all the way to blood-curdling fuchsia.
It can only befit Leni Robredo of the pacific mien and smarts, the remarkable poise, and the presidential grace.
As it is, she already exemplifies the toughness of the widow, the mother who survives the traumatic loss of a husband and steels herself to keep head and heart high for the sake of the growing children. In Leni’s case, she moved on to support three daughters, while also fulfilling her responsibilities as a public servant who may be predestined to lead us all.
Once again, a brave resolute widow like her, like Tita Cory, will have to take over the ragged child that is her country after it has again been ravaged by self-indulgent men.
And a great many of us will join in the rejoicing over this singular opportunity.
Praise be the pink phenomenon that is a joyous movement!
Reposted with permission from the author’s Facebook page.
Alfred “Krip” Yuson is one of the Philippines’ premier writers.
