Humanity shines in pink
MANILA, Philippines—The weather app Living Earth showed a thermometer reading of 36 degrees Celsius and a heat index of 43 degrees Celsius, the second figure normally meaning the actual heat that the body feels.
It was 3 p.m. on a Saturday (May 7) at the intersection of Ayala and Makati Avenues, famous thoroughfares in what is considered to be the Philippines’ premiere business district Makati City.
Instead of cars and vehicles running at max 20 kph in bumper-to-bumper traffic common in these parts of the metropolis, men, women and children are filling the streets noticeably wearing pink shirts, pants or ribbons around their wrists.
Parents hold on tight to their children as they weave through the thick pile of bodies gathering in the area and starting to fill all empty spaces to as far as the eye can see.
“Kapit ka sa akin! (Hold on to me),” can be heard from a couple pulling their children along and through the maze of people that had taken over the streets, an assembly defined by the color they wore—pink.
Music fills the air coming from very loud speakers where, later, celebrities are to entertain the people and candidates are to plead for votes on May 9.
One song reverberated and brought back memories of a similar gathering of people in 1986—“Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo (The Filipinos’ Gift to the World)” which filled the air waves as millions of people gathered on Edsa to bring peaceful change that would serve as a model for the rest of the world.
A newer one also blared from the speakers—“Liwanag sa Dilim (Light in the Darkness)”, which had gained relevance in this year’s election season for serving as a theme for those who fear a return to martial law.
Groups of people—either friends or families—seek shelter from the scorching heat of the day under the shade of buildings or a sprinkling of trees.
They converse loudly about how they got to the site. “Kami, naglakad kami mula…(We walked from),” came one answer. “Kami nagpark sa…tapos naglakad (We parked in…then walked),” came another.
Questions continued to be loudly asked. “Kumain na ba kayo (Have you eaten)?”, May dala kayong tubig (Did you bring water)?”
“Saan tayo (Where do we position ourselves)?” came another question shouted from the direction of a group sheltering in the shadow of a building to another one walking past it, apparently from a larger group that coordinated for the event.
Around 5 p.m., the speakers would blare out one more question: “Handa na ba kayo (Are you ready)?” which you can’t really expect to receive a reply from the throngs still searching for their perfect spot, preferably near the stage to see celebrities and candidates up close.
In a 43 degree Celsius heat index, it would be normal to see people perspire, fan themselves, block the rays of the sun from hitting you directly or consuming plenty of liquids. The mass of people gathering on Ayala did that.
Except for the general complaint of “ang init grabe (the heat is intense),” no complaint had been aired, at least loudly, about having to bump into other people and rubbing perspiration on perspiration.
One common sight was of people laughing and smiling as they walk or take shelter from the sun as if they were there to party.
On McKinley Road, near two of the poshest villages in all of the Philippines and leading to Ayala, people were walking, most of them in pink. Many were groups of youngsters and some were elderly struggling with each step but not stopping.
Cars and vehicles that are barely moving were heading to Ayala, too, bearing stickers showing their pink choices—candidates Leni Robredo and Kiko Pangilinan. People in two SUVs that stopped beside each other can be heard asking “saan kayo magpapark (where will you park)?” The loud answer? “Kahit saan (Anywhere)!”
Loud music from speakers continue to reverberate in the air but one catches attention, a song composed for the campaign with some of its lyrics serving as reminder of the message that this massive gathering wanted to be heard—“Hangga’t may kabutihan, hangga’t may pag-ibig, liwanag ang mananaig (As long as there’s goodness, as long as there’s love, light will prevail).”
Some scenes give goosebumps. A man in crutches, apparently afflicted with polio, struggles with his every stride and is offered help by a stranger but he shouts “okay lang ako (I’m okay)” and trudges on. A man on a bicycle carrying plastics of crackers, which he apparently sells as a day job, offers those walking toward the rally site some of the products. One woman gets one plastic and was pulling out her wallet when the man on the bicycle shouts: “Libre po ito (This is free).”
Streams of people continue to walk along McKinley Road. Where they came from is uncertain. But where they are headed for is.
