British Filipinos Conquer Fear, Bare Support for Robredo's Prexy Bid

by Gene Alcantara, London

British Filipino supporters of VP Leni Robredo in front of Buckingham Palace

After a successful gathering of more than 100 Filipinos on Sunday in Green Park, Central London, it appears that Filipinos in the United Kingdom are no longer afraid to show their discontent with the shortcomings of the Duterte administration.

Since Vice President Leni Robredo has declared her decision to run for the presidency in May 2022, they now know that she is fighting for them and their children's future, that there is someone now to defend them from all negative aspects of the current government.

As a presidential candidate she promises change, an effective approach to the coronavirus pandemic, a halt to the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) and massive corruption, restoration of democracy and justice, rebuilding the economy, and addressing the concerns of the poor.

Suddenly the 350,000-strong Filipino community, except for remaining Diehard Duterte Supporters or DDS and now seemingly rabid Marcos supporters, are now hopeful.

In the past 5 years under Rodrigo Duterte's iron-fisted rule, Filipinos living and working in the United Kingdom were reluctant to come out into the open to protest against the wrongdoings of the present dispensation.

This was not surprising because under his failed and deadly "war on drugs", a total of 6,191 individuals were killed from July 1, 2016 when President Duterte assumed office up to August 31, 2021, according to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency or PDEA but human rights groups estimated 30,000+ Filipinos lost their lives to EJKs, many just plain innocent including children.

Those few who raised objections in the UK and elsewhere were drowned out by the Duterte Diehard Supporter trolls and became the target of attacks by troll swarms in Europe and elsewhere. Back home Duterte's cabal jailed Senator Leila de Lima on trumped-up drugs charges, removed former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno from office, and tried but failed to jail Senator Sonny Trillanes repeatedly on spurious grounds. They did that also with the now Nobel Peace Prize awardee, Maria Ressa of Rappler news and information portal, when they filed a string of cases. Duterte also shut down the powerful and the Philippines’ largest television company ABS CBN that affected 11,000 workers.

There was an almost palpable climate of fear of Duterte and his goons, who were also busy selling the country piece by piece to the People’s Republic of China thru Manchurian candidates or "business" agents. A fear that went back to his time as Mayor of Davao City, which is now also the subject of the International Criminal Court investigation into his "crimes against humanity" of mass murder.

But there was no fear this weekend, just positive vibes and belief that providence has brought VP Leni to the Philippines as saviour.

On Saturday some 90 Filipinos held a Lakwatsa for Leni in a few tourist sites in central London including the famous Trafalgar Square.

On Sunday over 100 Filipinos joined the PinkNic for Leni in Green Park organised by Filipino-Brits for Leni, Global Alliance for a Humane Democratic Society (GAHDS), UK Pinoys for Leni Robredo and Dampi (Gentle Touch). The activity was supported by Samahang Magdalo UK, various Bicolano groups such as Camsur, Pinoy Radio UK, Team Leni Robredo UK, and covered by Pinoy Portal Europe. Individuals and families came all the way from distant places such as Birmingham and Essex, aside from London.

Miriam Adayo Siquenza, native of Camarines Sur and 20 years in UK was relieved at the expression of unity, “Sa pag-stay ko po dito sa London, ngayon lang po nagkaisa ang mga Bikolano, at kahit hindi Bikolano, ngayon lang po nag-ipon-ipon."

Nelly Serran Famy from Pangasinan, 37 years in UK and a member of Cavitenos UK called on Filipinos to unite and work for the victory of Robredo, "Dapat tayo ay magising, mga kababayan, mag-kaisa, mag-unite, dahil sa nangyayari sa ating bansa. Hindi ba kayo nababahala, mga ganid sa kapangyarihan ang administrasyon ngayon, ngayon gumagawa na naman ng paraan para sila ang maghari sa bansa. Kaya sino pa ang pag-asa ng bayan natin kundi si Leni siya ang disenteng tao, maka-Diyos, makakahinga sa kahirapan, sa pagnanakaw. Pag si VP Leni ang manalo, liliwanag ang ating bansang Pilipinas."

Nelly Serran Famy of Cavitenos UK

Romulo Palma from Samar, who came from Birmingham from his night shift and took 3 hours to travel to the PinkNic, showed his desire for Leni win, "Well dahil gusto ko pong suportahan ang ating Vice President Leni Robredo kasi alam ko na siya lang po ang makakapag-ayos at siya po ang may konkretong pandemic response sa Pilipinas. Bilang isang nurse po naiintindihan ko ang kanyang mga plataforma about sa pandemic response at sa lahat ng mga kandidato sa presidente, siya lang po talaga ang may puso."

Tess Campos and Art Sta Maria, siblings, both came "Para makijoin sa mga kapink. Basta Leni 2022, hashtag Leni. Basta para kay Leni. Dapat ipaglaban natin ang magiging administrasyon na Leni/Kiko. Para sa bayan. Sakripisyo po ito, wala po itong bayad. Leni, Leni."

Lydia Bacchus, here since 1987, a Cebuana from Pasig, was adamant in saying "Leni/Kiko, pati kay Senador Trillanes, sana manalo kayo. Wala nang BBM at DDS..".

A few leaders of different Filcom groups addressed the crowd.

In his remarks Giovanni Pallan, Samahang Magdalo UK, former Marine 2nd Lieutenant, and prisonmate of Sen Trillanes for four 4 years stressed Magdalo group’s genuine desire for change,, "So makikita ninyo naman po hindi po nagbabago ang ipinaglalaban ng Magdalo na mapaayos ang ating bayan. Kung mali po ang sinasabi ni Senator Trillanes bakit hindi siya napapakulong. Iyon lang po ang nagiisang katunayan na ang ipinaglalaban po natin ay tama. Nandito po kami na 100% sumusuporta kay Vice President Leni Robredo para sa kanyang candidacy bilang presidente, Suportahan po natin sila kasama ang kanyang senatorial slate as well at the same time ang Magdalo Party List. Mabuhay po tayong lahat."

Genevieve Aquino of Team Leni Robredo UK and organiser of Lakwatsa for Leni spoke about the previous day's gathering, "Sa mga Kakampink, ang kwento po ng Team Leni Robredo UK ay nagsimula lang po sa 9 at kagabi umabot po ng mahigit 90, kasama po ang ilan dito. Ramdam po namin na hindi kami nag-iisa at ramdam na din po ni VP Leni na hindi rin siya nag-iisa. So masaya po kami kahapon na kasama po namin ang mga kapwa Pilipino, mabait, matulungin, mapagkawanggawa at malaya. Maraming salamat po. Umpisa pa lang po ng laban natin, ang kailangan po natin ay continuous effort, magrecruit upang paliwanagan. Doon po tayo sa tama at magandang ehemplo sa inyong anak."

Regie Gadayan, vice chair of GAHDS from Birmingham on whether we have a chance to win -- "Oo naman. Lumalabas na e yung damdamin ng tao, Makikita mo sa Pilipinas kung saan napupunta si Leni, organic e alam mo yung hindi nila inoorganise, kusa yung mga naniniwala sa kanya nag-oorganise. Tulad sa UK, dito sa London lahat ito volunteers wala naman ditong pinipilit; lahat, sila ang nagpupush na maumpisahan ang pagtitipon-tipon natin. So this is the first event lang Pinknic na tinatawag natin. So darating na panahon marami pa tayong activities para maipakita ang support natin kay Leni."

Almost all who came to the PinkNic for Leni wore something pink. A couple of people brought two combinations of lugaw (rice porridge), with boiled eggs, and puto (dumpling).

An enterprising individual brought pink flowers which she sold for £1 each, and another offered suman and pan de coco at affordable price. Some brought rice, water and other softdrinks, and there was even red and white wine for those who wanted to fight the cold.

After eating lugaw, hearing and cheering the speeches by community leaders, and chanting of Leni and Sen Kiko Pangilinan's names, everyone went in an orderly queue to Buckingham Palace to take pictures by the fountain (Queen Victoria Memorial) with the Philippine flag. They also cheered Robredo’s senate slate comprising of Sen Sonny Trillanes, Sen Leila de Lima, Sen Risa Hontiveros, Atty Chel Diokno, Cong Ted Baguilat, Atty Alex Lacson and guest candidates.

Lugaw for Leni

The weather, although a little cold, was tolerable and many stayed behind until dark. Everyone was spirited because it was the first gathering of its kind in the UK and was one of the largest where they were able freely to express themselves.

Many of them expect a regular series of events in the run-up to May 2022 polls to keep up the momentum and hopefully increase the numbers of the silent majority that now chooses to raise its voice.

[Photos by Gene Alcantara]