For the First Time in Six Years

The Filipinos finally found a leader they can stand behind.

The feed on my social media exploded with the feminine color. Celebrations amidst the darkness bring whispers of excitement, knowing the future we are looking forward to, now stands a chance. A soft color, a hue thought of as fragile. But now, a color for hope, with the possibility of a woman leading the country.

Shouts of insults are erased as the youth, and even the not so young, change their profile pictures. Account after account shared solidarity in each post and story for who they’re casting their vote. The past years, the cries of the dying are being mourned. The shouts of the angry are echoed across the city. But for the first time, our voices are not tossed into the void. For the first time, someone listened.

For the first time in six years, the Filipinos are not just numbers of deaths recorded from extrajudicial killings. For the first time in six corrupt years, we are not seen as statistics meant to be beaten from the number of active cases we have from the pandemic. For the first time, we are not a dog obeying every word from what comes from a bullying country.

For the first time, someone sees us as who we are, and what we are worth. Filipinos. Fighting for our land. Claiming our country. Standing for what is right. We are known for resiliency. And we have resorted to resilience until now. But for the first time in a long time, we don’t have to be resilient for survival’s sake. We choose to be resilient, to stand strong, to cling to each other, because the future we long for can finally come to life.

We are Filipinos.
Filipinos who are angry about the stolen money.
Filipinos who are mourning for the loved ones we lost.
Filipinos who are tired from fighting the long battle against a government that doesn’t care for us.
Filipinos who are ready to stand against the corruption and injustices before us.
And for the first time, we found a leader who will lead us, who is listening to us, and who has spoken for us.

On Wednesdays, you can see me wearing pink.