Life goes on and so must the Filipinos.
Picking up the pieces after Halalan 2022 was hard for a lot of people. Some are still struggling to process what happened on May 9. FreebieMNL talked to Kakampinks who attended the Leni-Kiko thanksgiving event. We asked them how they coped.
Here’s what they said.
Coping mechanisms
Kakampinks are doing everything they can to heal. Some drowned their sorrows in alcohol. They said VP Leni’s loss was their biggest heartbreak, even worse than a break-up. Others took to Spotify, playing “Kay Leni Tayo” and “Rosas” on loop.
Friendships formed at VP Leni’s campaign sorties remained strong. Friends consoled each other in group chats. Some cried together in person. A Kakampink named Brian* said that he ranted a lot on Twitter. Many did the same, declaring May 10 to be the start of their “barda” era.
READ Today I Stood On The Right Side Of History
Pat* said that going to the event was her way of coping. Facebook groups like Main Pop Girls Stanposting also helped people get through the day. Abigail* said she spent most of the morning and afternoon scrolling through that page. Jillian and Tricia Robredo joined it too. They also joined one called Memes Out For Duterte. Many believe that was the sisters’ way of commiserating with their mother’s supporters.
Others did their part to create safe spaces for fellow Kakampinks. Many mental health professionals volunteered to serve as sounding boards for people. Bayanihan groups like Jobs For Kakampinks popped up on Facebook. Such spaces gave people opportunities to vent.
Post-Halalan 2022
But VP Leni herself provided her supporters with the best coping mechanism. During the thanksgiving event, she announced plans to form the Angat Buhay NGO on July 1, 2022.
“Iniimbita ko kayong lahat. Ang mga nagtrabaho, mga nag-alay ng oras at pawis sa ating kampanya. Ang mga kumpanya at private partners na bumunot sa sariling bulsa. Itutuloy natin ito. Itutuloy natin ang ating pagsasama-sama. Bubuoin natin ang pinakamalawak na volunteer network sa kasaysayan ng ating bansa. Tuloy tayo sa pagtungo sa mga nasa laylayan, at sa pag-ambagan para umangat sila. Pero hindi tayo mamimili ng tutulungan; wala tayong tatalikuran. Ipapakita natin ang buong puwersa ng radikal na pagmamahal,” she said in her speech.
She also reminded Kakampinks everywhere to keep hope alive.
“Ang paghilom, hindi darating habang nagkukulong o nagmumukmok. Darating ang paghilom kapag sinimulan na muling ituon ang sarili sa ating kapwa. Kapag inilatag ang mga layunin. Kapag itinutok ang mata sa abot-tanaw. Kaya payagan ang sariling lumuha. Pero ‘pag handa nang pahiran ang luha, pagpagin ang sarili. Tibayan ang puso. Dahil may trabaho pa tayo,” she said.
As VP Leni said, the key to healing is acknowledging the validity of one’s feelings. It’s OK to be sad because of the Halalan 2022 results. But at some point, we need to dust ourselves off and move forward.
After all, papunta pa lang tayo sa exciting part.
*Names have been changed.
Featured Image Daniella Sison
