“Rosas” by Nica del Rosario ft. Gab Pangilinan (2022)

A song to remember

One of the most beautiful things that came out of the election was the campaign jingle “Rosas” (“Roses), composed by singer-songwriter Gianina Camille del Rosario. The track is performed by the singer-songwriter herself and Gab Pangilinan, a niece of outgoing Senator Kiko Pangilinan. 

“Rosas” is a tribute to outgoing Vice President Leni Robredo. The lyrics were written from the imagined point of view of the Vice President. The writer imagined what she would like to say to the Filipinos and translated it into a powerful song. (Text is rephrased from YouTube.)

“Rosas” has become multilingual, multigenre, and international, thanks to many Kakampinks who uploaded versions in English, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, German, Mandarin, Hokkien, Cebuano, and Hiligaynon. It has been performed solo, duo, or group; in its original version, rock, choral, and flash mob; in malls, churches, cafes, and other public places. 

Nica del Rosario even added additional lyrics to “Rosas” after the defeat of the Leni-Kiko campaign to reflect how the supporters should not feel defeated.

Indeed, “Rosas” is a song that everyone could sing and adapt in many different versions. By the way I look at it, it’s a love song to a country that continues to suffer from social, economic, and political issues. 

Of course, a song like “Rosas” will never solve the Philippines’ woes, but it could do to motivate Filipinos to do their very best for the country and never stop trying to do everything they can for their fellow countrymen until the day comes when every Filipino will stand proud and exclaim they are proud to be Filipinos.

“Rosas” by Nica del Rosario ft. Gab Pangilinan

My most memorable election to date

I had voted in six national elections, three of them presidential. The 2022 presidential election has been so far my most memorable election. 

It is the first election that I believe and think that I voted for the good of my country. I voted not according to my political beliefs or culture. I did not stick to one political ideology; rather, I voted for a variety of conservative, liberal (progressive), and moderate personalities. 

I voted for the people that I believe could do a greater good for the Philippines, notwithstanding their political leanings. I voted for their track record in service delivery, expertise in their fields, commitment to service, and dedication to their beliefs.

In short, I voted for the people I believe that Filipinos truly and badly need to fix the problems that have long plagued (and ultimately did incalculable damage) to the country. 

Too bad, the people I voted for came up short in the election. 

Vice President Leni Robredo garnered 15 million votes, compared to the 31.6 million votes won by Bongbong Marcos. Bongbong Marcos is the son of a former president, who once held the Guinness World Record for the greatest robbery by a government. 

The Marcos family is synonymous with corruption. From 1965 to 1986, they and their cronies stole an estimated $10 billion from state coffers through graft and corruption, nepotism, crony capitalism, and human rights violations. Bongbong was supported by many politicians, including former presidents,  who had been implicated, charged, and convicted for graft and corruption and other crimes. 

In the Vice Presidential race, Senator Kiko Pangilinan lost to Sara Duterte, 9.3 million votes to 32.2 million votes. Sara Duterte is the outgoing mayor of Davao City and daughter of the outgoing president, who mishandled the country’s COVID-19 response, thus plunging the country into debt and socioeconomic and financial problems. 

None of the candidates I voted for senators managed to land in the top 12. Even the partylist I voted for failed to win a seat. 

Anyways, that’s how elections work. The winners get seats of power, while the losers languish in oblivion, unless they do something to stay relevant. 

I have been thirsty for good governance since I reached the voting age many years ago. It’s the same old faces from the same old political families (that also sideline as criminal syndicates in certain parts of the country) that get elected by the people who never get tired of the sociopolitical status quo. No wonder voting in the Philippines is an exercise in futility. 

Anyways…

Screen capture from the Instagram post of @monsolo_photography

The future is still color pink

Despite the defeat of the Leni-Kiko campaign, things will still come up roses for the 15 million-plus people and millions of others who were unable to vote pink in the recent elections. The future is still full of pink roses. 

Vice President Leni will transform her flagship Angat Buhay project into an NGO on July 1. This will become the largest volunteer network in the country. After all, many of Leni’s initiatives, especially the COVID-19 response and disaster relief operations, were supported by volunteers, most especially medical professionals, and monetary donations. 

(It’s ironic that most of the beneficiaries of Vice President Leni’s programs are the people who voted Bongbong-Sara and were the first ones to get furious when her volunteers ceased to continue their volunteer work. The Vice President lives rent-free in the minds of most Bongbong-Sara voters who seem not to be content with their landslide victory because they still pick on her. She has proven herself more useful to her countrymen after her defeat than how and what Bongbong did after his defeat in 2016.)

The future is bright (pink) for the people who will support Leni Robredo’s Angat Buhay NGO starting July 1. Volunteerism is still alive. She affirms that the Filipinos, no matter whom they voted for, are still worth fighting for. 

Looking back at May 9 and the days that followed, I realized I did not fight for myself or my beliefs (except for good governance). I believe I had voted for the good of the Philippines. The Marcos family, their cronies, and their supporters plundered and plunged the country into debt. So, in my opinion, Marcos Jr. may have won the election, but the entire country lost. 

I have no regrets supporting Leni Robredo and Kiko Pangilinan. In all my voting life, I have never heartily supported any candidate until the last election. And never have I been so fearful of the situation if they would lose. Thank you Vice President Leni and Senator Kiko for showing what the Filipinos are capable of becoming – and that the country is still worth saving. 

“It is better to be defeated, in principle, than win on lies.” Arthur Calwell, Australian politician