Thread by @ryanjdq

Story time: FROM THE MARGINS TO THE CENTER

Yesterday, the Sumilao farmers were at the Gesú for Mass. In 2007, the Sumilao farmers marched from Sumilao to Malacañan to reclaim the land that is rightfully theirs. I was a 4th year law student then. (1/x)

I vividly recall us bibo @ahrctweets interns walking w/ them from the Senate to Guadalupe (we bravely attended class kahit may recit 😂) & visiting them at DAR during their hunger strike. Their struggle & eventual victory partly inspired me to go into alternative lawyering. (2/x)

Upon seeing my OG Lakaw Sumilao shirt (circa 2007 at kasya na sya ulit sa akin 😅), Nanay immediately hugged me to say thank you for not forgetting their fight for their land in Bukidnon. Had to fight back tears. 🥹 (3/x)

In 2016, they once again marched to Manila to help @lenirobredo, one of the lawyers who helped them in their case, when she ran for the Vice Presidency. She must have really made an impact in them for them to walk again, I thought. (4/x)

And now the Sumilao farmers are here again. They have been tirelessly campaigning the past weeks. For sure, they believe in VP @lenirobredo. For sure, they want to help her win. But as I talked with them yesterday, I realized that it goes beyond that. (5/x)

The farmers walked again because they believe that VP Leni’s candidacy goes beyond her. They walked again because much is at stake in this elections - our rights, our democracy, and the future of the Filipino nation. 🇵🇭 They marched again to help bring VP Leni to Malacañan. (6/x)

Much has been said about VP @lenirobredo’s work with the basic sectors of society, those in the margins — in the OVP & before she became a government official. That’s answering God’s call to serve the least, the lost, and the last. And that is, with no doubt, inspiring. (7/x)

Silang mga nasa basehang sektor ay dapat nating ipaglaban. Pero ngayon sila mismo ay ipinaglalaban tayo, ang ating bansa, ang ating kinabukasan. Sobra-sobrang nakaka-insipire. 💖 (8/x)

This is the empowerment & the people’s participation that VP @lenirobredo stand for. Let’s bring the people, esp those in the margins, to the center of governance. Kapag nangyari yan, lahat tayo, panalo.

#FromTheMarginsToTheCenter
#IpanaloNa10ParaSaLahat
#LeniKikoAllTheWay (9/9)