NOW: In an interview with Rappler, Noreen Capili, a former Philippine Commission on Women commissioner, explains what led her to back Robredo and shares tips on how people can get out of their echo chambers.
Capili: I grew up in Davao City, and witness ako sa good governance niya noong mayor siya. Na-experience ko ’yun, ’yung 911, tsaka peaceful talaga ang Davao since naging mayor siya.
Capili: Kaya I actively campaigned for him [in 2016], kasi I wanted the whole Philippines to experience what we Davaoeños experienced under his leadership.
Capili: Pero, two to three years sa admin niya, nakikita ko naman – noong una, dinedefend ko pa siya, kasi totoo ’yun eh, we see him as our ‘tatay,’ father namin siya.
Capili: Nakita namin kung paano nga niya kami inalagaan. So first two years niya, na ang dami nang namba-bash, dinedefend ko pa siya kasi alam ko, ang core niya talaga, mabuting tao.
Capili: Nasa third or fourth year niya, parang may iba na…. Nagko-call out [ako], hindi ka na blinded. Sinasabi mo na hindi dapat ganito ’yung ginawa niya, dapat ganito, ganyan.
Capili: And then finally, ngayon, parang nakikita ko kasi, sa lahat ng mga kandidato ngayon, si Leni ’yung best choice. Kaya openly, sinasabi ko na I’m for Leni Robredo, for president next year.
Capili: Ang hirap, grabe. Nagsimula akong nag-post kasi [noong] 2018, ang nag-trigger talaga is ’yung fishermen sa West Philippine Sea, ta’s wala siyang ginawa, [kahit] nabu-bully na [ang Filipino fishermen].
Capili: Noon pa lang, ang dami nang nambash sa akin sa mga kaibigan and relatives…. Sa 200 ng batchmates ko noong high school, dalawa lang ’yung bumoto kay [Mar] Roxas noong 2016.
Capili: Ang hirap for me, you have friends who are really supportive of him hanggang ngayon. Nasisira na rin ’yung friendship and relationship because of that.
Capili: Tanggap nila kung from the start, dilawan ka, or anti ka, pero kung kasama ka namin sa journey, ta’s bigla mo kami iniwan, parang ang sakit ’yun for them. Hindi siya naging madali.
Capili: Pati family members, I have immediate family na hanggang ngayon, maka-Duterte pa rin. It’s a struggle talaga ’pag ganun, pero wala eh. Kailangan mong manindigan, eh.
Capili: Kailangan mong maging vocal about it. Kailangan mong maging outspoken. Na-realize ko kasi noong 2016, may mga hindi pa nila alam kung sino iboboto nila, pero dahil sa mga post ko, na-convince sila mag-Duterte.
Capili: Ewan ko kung bakit ang mindset ng mga Pinoy ngayon, kapag nag-criticize ka sa President, iisipin nila na dilawan ka. Hindi ito about political color eh…. You are choosing Filipinos, iniisip ko ’yung future ng bansa, ’yung kapakanan ng tao.
Capili: Gets ko kung bakit ’yung iba, natatakot pa, or tahimik pa lang sila, kasi you’ll be surprised, ang dami pa ring supporters ni Duterte na akala namin mga troll lang. Hindi. Ang daming educated na tao, may mga doctor, mga lawyer.
Capili: Hindi mo sila masisisi kung mananatili silang ganoon, pero sana, kung hindi sila maging vocal about it sa social media, puwede naman nilang sabihin personally sa mga tao, ikumbinsi lang nila or explain lang nila.
Capili: To be honest, sa first two years ni Duterte, isa rin ako sa nag-isip ng, “Ah, si Leni, kaya siya tinanggal sa Cabinet ni Duterte because she’s like this,” parang ganoon. Kung ano ’yung nakikita mo lagi, ’yun ’yung pumapasok sa ’yo.
Capili: Kailangan mo lang din mag-analyze, ’wag maging sarado ang utak mo. Kaya ngayon, natatawa ako o naiinis kapag nakikita ko ’yung mga post na, “Ano ba nagawa ni Leni?” Hindi ka ba nagbabasa? Hindi mo ba alam kung ano ’yung nagawa niya diyan?
Capili: Nakaka-frustrate ’pag nakikita mo ang daming nagsasabing, “Wala namang masama noong Martial Law,” diba? Kasi ’yun ’yung nababasa nila, kaya ’yun ’yung iniisip nila.
Capili’s tip for Duterte supporters: Subukan lang nilang makinig sa kabilang panig at magbasa. I-open lang nila ’yung circle nila…. ’Wag nila agad isipin na divisive ito. Kailangan [nila maging] open-minded.
Capili: Last week, I had lunch with dalawang DDS na Marcos apologist dito sa Davao. They were saying, “BBM kami." So I asked, “Sige nga, convince me. Ano nagawa ni Marcos?” ’Wag ka maging aggressive.
Capili: Minsan kasi, ’pag masyado ka nang pasugod, magiging defensive sila. Pero kung magsimula kang, “Sige nga, explain mo sa akin,” baka magkaroon tayo ng healthy na discussion about our candidates.
Capili: ’Yung mga dedma, ’yung masyadong sarado na, it’s a waste of time and energy na makipagdebate ka sa kanila. Mafi-filter mo naman ’yun eh... “Ah, ito, puwede ko pang i-save. Ito, wala na talaga.”
Capili: Na-witness ko kasi firsthand, days before the election in 2016…. Kasabay ko si Leni sa eroplano. I was expecting na business class siya ng PAL, pero hindi, economy siya.
Capili: Tapos may staff siya, nakita ko how she talks to her staff, na hindi pautos, parang friends, ang genuine ng ngiti niya, ’yung eyes, may kind [look].... You can’t fake that kindness, eh.
Capili: Kailangan hindi lang ’yung nagjo-join ka na, “Ah, maraming Leni [supporters], kaya maka-Leni ako.” Hindi eh, iche-check mo rin para sa sarili mo, para ’pag may magtanong, may maisagot ka.
NOW: Singer-songwriter Zsaris returns to Rappler #LiveJam, this time with music from her latest EP, 'Pakilala.'
Tune in here:
Made over the course of the pandemic, Pakilala was Zsaris’ way of reintroducing herself to herself – something she was able to do in the stillness of lockdown.
KMU chairperson Ka Elmer Labog on his inclusion in Sen Pacquiao's slate: Nagpapasalamat ako kay Sen. Manny Pacquiao sa pagsama sa akin sa kanyang senatorial line up. Nagpapasalamat ako sa pagpapahalaga niya sa pangangailangan na magkaroon ng tinig at boses ng anakpawis sa Senado.
Labog: Hindi lang ito tungkol sa akin, tungkol ito sa progresibo at makabayang platapormang bitbit namin. #PHVote#WeDecide | via @reyaika
@reyaika Labog: Nagpapasalamat ako sa pagkilala niya sa mga pinagsamahan naming laban para sa dagdag sahod, pagwawakas sa kontraktwalisasyon, at iba pang suporta para sa mga manggagawa at masang anakpawis. #PHVote#WeDecide | via @reyaika
NEWS UPDATE: Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez explains why overseas voter registration (OVR) ended earlier than the October 30 deadline, as the difference in extension periods is "necessary and due to the unique circumstances of overseas voting." | via @michelleabad_
@michelleabad_ Comelec explains the preparations for OVR have "a much tighter timetable, considering that voting overseas starts thirty days before the local elections do."
The month-long voting period for overseas Filipinos in the 2022 polls will be from April 10 to May 9. | @michelleabad_
@michelleabad_ This, despite the law Duterte signed that says "The last day of registration of voters for the 2022 National and Local Elections shall be 30 days after the effectivity of this Act." Original deadline was Sept 30. RA 11591 makes no distinction between local & overseas registration
Ex-Bayan Muna congressman Neri Colmenares says his non-inclusion in VP Leni Robredo’s Senate slate at this time is “based on what she thinks is best for the interest of her candidacy.” #PHVote#WeDecide | via @maracepeda
@maracepeda Colmenares: Vice President Leni Robredo’s decision on who to include in her senatorial slate is her prerogative as the presidential candidate. My non-inclusion in her slate at this time is based on what she thinks is best for the interest of her candidacy. #PHVote#WeDecide
@maracepeda Colmenares: I would like to express my gratitude to Justice Antonio Carpio and 1Sambayan for including me in their senatorial slate.
My resolve to run for the Senate is based on the need to give the poor and marginalized a strong voice in the legislature. #PHVote#WeDecide
HAPPENING NOW: Rappler, in partnership with the USAID Fish Right Program, holds a roundtable discussion on the implications of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in the West Philippine Sea for Philippine food security.
De La Salle University's Carmel Ablan-Lagman: [The West Philippine Sea is a] very important area because 180 M people in coastal areas depend on these fish. #OurFishOurLife#ThisIsdaLife | via @maralmendras
Ex-VP Jejomar Binay is thankful to be included in the respective Senate slates of presidential contenders VP Leni Robredo, Senator Manny Pacquiao, and Senator Ping Lacson. #PHVote#WeDecide | via @maracepeda
@maracepeda Binay: Our task is to rebuild our country and restore the dignity of every Filipino. The pandemic has made responding to this challenge even more urgent, and unity more compelling. #PHVote#WeDecide | via @maracepeda
@maracepeda Binay: We need to build the broadest unity possible for the sake of our children, grandchildren, and future generations. #PHVote#WeDecide | via @maracepeda