Point of View

Memi, Pepi, Hanna (and baby)

So lucky that my parents support Gibo, too - I would never go to all those sorties in this condition.

I think we have different VPs tho.

I have been so caught up in the "Green Fever" the past few months. The passion and the drive of all the Green Team (and its other variations all over the country, the G-Force, G-Squad, and a whole lot more...) volunteers are very infectious. I am amazed at the creativity, dedication and sacrifice they lent to the campaign. I would specially like to recognize the dynamism of Green Team Cebu for coming up with non-conventional campaigns such as the Flashmob (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXrkl3yCcGU) and the Freeze (http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1302075601170) . I liked how the volunteer coordinators sincerely followed the campaign promise of positivity and how the volunteers (well, most of them) gently reminded each other to steer clear of mudslinging. It was great to see the crowd of supporters thickening from the "Takbo Para Kay Gibo" event in early January , to the increasing Facebook fans, up to the fun "Gibo Rocks" and the 135,000+ people who joined the final Miting de Avance. As my mom and dad said (EDSA I veterans), it was just like the EDSA crowd (I don't know exactly what they meant, they said it was that feeling of unity and doing something for the country) . We actually ran into a few of their friends who were part of EDSA I!

We stayed in the bleachers to avoid getting crushed by this crowd

We eventually mingled :-) I didn't know this girl but I just had to have

a picture with that head dress!

People came to hear the president speak, and not for the free games or entertainment. It was like a huge concert where the rockstar was Gibo. Kulang na lang ang pag-sigaw ng "More! More!" Might sound OA, but it was sort of like magic. Win or lose, we have made our statement that we are definitely not 7%. People came wearing shirts they bought or made themselves, and waving makeshift banners and other paraphernalia. People came even if they were not promised jobs or heaven and earth or P20.00 each. People came because they believe - that he can be the change that we have been wishing for.

Note: Thanks also to GT Taguig who "adopted" us and shared dinner! The coordinato

r even called me and asked if we were coming because some volunteers sponsored food "Sayang naman kasi" The celebrities who were there stayed out of the limelight - but it followed them anyway. Who would miss Ruffa G's and Miriam Q's towering heights over average-sized Pinoys?

Maybe I am sort of biased, but do you feel the same kind of magic and "ownership" towards your candidate's vision? Are your volunteers as passionate? I really want to know. I've been searching the web and news for evidence of such collective action (led by the people and not by the party) for other candidates but have so far come up with nothing.. please send me links! I am also looking for "crowd" photos from your miting de avance. All I see are closeup shots of the candidates. I am sure the "others" have their share of the tech-savvy followers! I want to see the Filipinos becoming involved - even if it is just this one time because that is good enough (for now.) I am sure you have felt the Noynoy/ Manny/ Gordon/ Nick/ Jamby (??) / JC Magic if there is such a thing.

Tomorrow, we all vote. We make our own silent statement. Whoever you are picking for whatever post, I hope you are picking them for all the right reasons. Don't forget that change comes from you, your family, your barangay, your town/ your city, your province - before you start blaming the national government.

Praying for everyone to make the right choice (emphasizing that mine MIGHT not be the right one, so I am praying for all of us) , praying for all winners to be real winners - and praying for all losers to be man (or woman) enough to accept their defeat.

Leaving you with this "huling hirit" a fan music video and song dedicated for all the GT Volunteers. Let's all cross our fingers while the PCOS machines are a-counting. It's a great song - so if you don't care much for my candidate - you may close your eyes and just listen. Hehe, but you'll miss some cool photos and the subtitles.