With May 2022 elections looming ahead, the FAITH Alumni Organization has been actively participating in the recent activities in Batangas that call for responsible citizenship.
When the Taal Lakeshore District turned pink, the FAITH Alumni Organization made sure that it stayed pink all the way. Pooling their own resources, alumni members volunteered to pay for the rent of the FAITH Colleges multipurpose covered court, twice the venue of the volunteer-driven pink movement.
Maja Vergara, chair FAITH Colleges Alumni Board said, “Allow me thank our alumni for sponsoring the venue and supporting this cause. Truly inspiring to see everyone giving their time, financial contribution, and effort to support the candidacy of the person who we believe should be the next leader of our country.”
Longest stationary caravan
A 30-kilometer stationary caravan spread over a 120 kilometer route involving 15 Taal lakeshore communities in Batangas was staged on 30 January 2022.
The stationary caravan of more than 2000 cars, jeepneys, and tricycles were positioned in two-kilometer stretches along the towns and cities of Tanauan, Sto Tomas, Lipa, Malvar, Balete, Mataasnakahoy, San Jose, Cuenca, Alitagtag, Sta Teresita, Taal, San Nicolas, Agoncillo, Laurel, and Talisay.
Simultaneously, a 300-car mobile caravan starting from Tanauan traversed the 120-kilometer route, passing by all the pink nation volunteers positioned in two-kilometer stretches in each locality along the Taal Lake route. The mobile caravan literally “connected the dots” of the 15 stationary caravans into ONE BIG LENI CARAVAN.
Caravan organizers said that the carefully-selected two-kilometer stretches were along four-lane roads so as not to disturb traffic. The mobile caravan, on the other hand, was initially limited to 200 vehicles, mindful of keeping the caravan’s carbon footprint at a minimum. However, as the caravan went on its way, more and more vehicles joined along the way.
There were culminating activities in four different locations right after the caravan: Tanauan (FAITH Colleges campus), Balete (Batangas Lakelands), San Jose (Paraiso Village Farm), and San Nicolas Baywalk). Each location had its own concluding program.
In Tanauan, where the mobile caravan arrive at 12 noon, there was a salosalo lugawan, a community activity that brought together people from all walks of life. A holy Mass was held, followed by a concluding program. The mass and program were both livestreamed via Facebook//PinkNation. VP Leni joined the program with a video message to the volunteers.
Some 4000 pieces of pan de pink bread were distributed to the Leni volunteers at the various locations. The distribution of the pan de pink bread somehow brings to mind the biblical distribution of bread, with the hope that the bread will multiply into votes that will carry VP Leni Robredo to the presidency.
“Our country desperately needs a leader who empowers and who take sone challenges with finesse and civility not to mention her 1st experience working with communities. I just hope and pray that Filipinos will support the right candidate: with high moral values, integrity, and who will bring the country to where it should be,” Vergara concluded.
Ala Eh! Padadaig ga kayo dine?
(Mula sa patnugot: And One Big Leni Caravan na ginanap sa kahabaan ng Taal Lakeshore district at bumagtas sa 15 munisipyo at bayan na nakapalibot sa lawa ay nagtapos sa apat na lugar: Tanauan (FAITH Colleges campus), Balete (Batangas Lakelands), San Jose (Paraiso Village Farm), at San Nicolas Baywalk. Upang maidaos sa multipurpose covered court ng FAITH Colleges ang isa sa mga nasabing culminating activities ay nagtulungan sa pag-aambag ang mga volunteer mula sa FAITH Alumni Organization.)
FAITH LIGHTHOUSE STAFF (Written by: Shaina Mae Macapagal, ECE 3; Patricia Dacanay, BAC 2; Edited by: Bernette Botardo, BMMA 2; Charles Belen, BSN 3; Photo by: Glaisie Falculan, BAC 3; Felicity Santos, BMMA 2)
A supporter giving free food to the attendees of the event
Dine sa Batangas, kaliwa’t kanan, ang makikita mo ay kainan. Pagandahan ng lugar, palakihan ng espasyo, pasarapan ng Goto, Bulalo, Kulawo, at ang dinadayong Loming Batangas. Ay talaga namang mula bata hanggang matanda, higop sa sarap ng “lume” lalo na iyong mainit init pa. Subalit nitong nakaraang 30 ng Enero, tila naiba ang order ng mga Batangueño. Hindi nga lang tulad ng ibang kainan, lahat dito ay nakatayo at may isinisigaw, hindi “Isa pa po!” kung hindi “Kay Leni ako!” Nagtipon-tipon at nakihigop sa lugaw na may itlog ang mga kababaihan, kalalakihan, kabataan, at kahit pa uugod-ugod basta may bakuna at ipinaglalaban upang makiisa sa One Big Leni Caravan.
Ang ruta na mula Tanauan, Lipa, Cuenca, Alitagtag, Taal at iba pang lungsod sa probinsya ng Batangas, ay tila ba tinamnan ng mga rosas dahil sa mahigit kumulang dalawang libong sasakyang nakisama sa parada bitbit ang mga tarpolin, kulay rosas na lobo at lasong sumisimbolo sa kanilang paniniwala at suporta sa tambalang Leni-Kiko. Hindi alintana ang init at ang pagpapansin muli ng Bulkang Taal, tuloy pa rin ang saya ng mga tao sa daan. Paano ka nga naman ba mapapagod kung halos magpaligsaan ang bawat lungsod sa dami ng pagkain at inuming ipinapamudmod. Subalit hindi pang karaniwan, tulad ng isdang Tawilis, ang ipinamimigay na meryenda sa parada. Nariyan ang Pink Taho, Pink na Ice Cream, Pink Pan de sal, at Pan de Pink, na pinagtulung-tulungan lutuin at pagsaluhan ng mga Batangueño.
Kung natikman mo naman ang Tapa ng Taal, sa unang kagat mo pa lang, ngiti na ang babahid sa iyong labi dahil sa pinaghalong tamis at linamnam ng naturang putahe. Ganiyan rin ang pakiramdam habang nakikinig sa mensahe nina Bise Presidente Leni Robredo, Senador Kiko Pangilinan, Atty. Chel Diokno, G. Alex Lacson, at G. Sonny Matula, para sa mga Batangueñong Kakampink. Nakabubusog na impormasyon ang kanilang inihain at hindi lamang matatamis na pangako. Masigabo naman itong tinanggap at pinalakpakan ng mga dumalo.
Kapeng Barako. Mainit, matapang, nakapanggigising ng isipan. Bagay? Hindi. Hayop? Hindi. Pagkain? Pwede. Tao? Oo. Tao, mga tao, mga nagsipagdalo sa programang naikwento. Iba’t iba man ang edad, katauhan, estado sa buhay, tindig, kilos, at hugis ng katawan, ay nagtutugma pa rin sa isang layunin, ang lumaban para sa tingin nila ay tama. Mga tunay na barakong maituturing sa larangan ng prinsipyo sa buhay. Nagnanais na magsilbing inspirasyon sa kapwa nila mamamayan. Mga Batangueño ay gising na gising, ipinaglalaban ang mabuting hangarin.
Sa huli, gaano man karami ang mga putaheng naitala sa itaas, konektado pa rin sila sa iisang konsepto lamang, ang probinsya ng Batangas mismo ay tulad ng One Big Leni Caravan. Sa haba ng oras, dami ng pangyayari at iba pang detalye, nanaig pa rin ang layunin, ang sumuporta, at ipakita ang pagkakaisa. Bibihira ang naturang pangyayari, kung gaano kaorganisa, kasaya, at kaimpormatibo. Kaya talaga namang tumatak hindi lamang sa mga papel o telepono, kung hindi pati na rin sa isipan ng mga nagsipagdalo. Ala eh, baka Batangas iyan!
#KulayRosasSaBatangas
BY: FAITH LIGHTHOUSE STAFF
Supporters tying up a pink ribbon on their wrists before the event to show that they are registered
Last 10 February 2022, Vice President Leni Robredo, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, and the 1Samabayan Senatorial Slate took turns to share their advocacies and goals for the country to the attendants of the Leni-Kiko Batangas Rally that took place in FAITH Colleges’ covered court. Leni’s supporters, called “Kakampinks,” colored Tanauan City in a pink sea as the audience wore pink clothes and masks, waved their pink flags and balloons, and in the online space, sported a pink profile picture with a pink rose at its center in support of VP Leni and her campaign. After Leni’s speech, supporters cheered and shouted “Leni! Leni! Leni!” ending the event on a high note.
*Venue for the Caravan Event was sponsored by the FAITH Alumni Organization
