TICKLED PINK BY TURISMO PARA KAY LENI

Displaced tour guides who volunteered for the Pink Tour

The election season is in full swing! But for some candidates, campaigning for votes started way way early. I guess it isn't  surprising given that some candidates really have nothing going for them but a political surname, wads of cash, and a lackluster career in government. Given all that, there is but one candidate that stands out as the most qualified from the rest.

The Pink turistas in front of  the Manila Cathedral

This isn't a political endorsement! I don't have millions of followers on my blog and this blog page isn't even monetized. So why am I even writing this? Aside form being the most qualified, she's the only one who even bothered to care about us as displaced workers in the hospitality industry. Most politicos grandstanding at the height of the pandemic would ocassionally mention drivers, laborers, teachers and other occupations deemed "under the radar" (nasa laylayan, in pinoy terms) no one thought of displaced tour guides.

Leni/Kiko campaign give-aways

So, I was mildly surprised when I received an invite to a zoom  consultative meeting on the plight of us non-working tour guides. Some of them were forced to take on other jobs out of a need for survival. I was lucky to have been given some cash assistance by the Department of Tourism and the National Commission on Culture and the Arts. Though grateful for their aid, I wasn't exactly sure if I should use them for basic necessities or save the cash for the rainy days. I had been jobless for two years or longer. We  are always the first to feel the effects of pandemics, coup d'etats, natural calamities or economic crunches.

Participants at San Agustin

Then came TURISMO PARA KAY LENI. JB Halig Quemado, also a displaced guide asked if I would be interested to guide in Intramuros for supporters of VP Leni Robredo. I emphatically said yes without even considering a fee. And so on the appointed afternoon, I showed up at Fort Santiago in a pink shirt to meet the participants. I was surprised to find the event had been organized by tour operators who are reeling from the quarantine. Operations for both inbound  and outbound tours had been stalled since March of 2020. But like me, they believed that only Leni had a concrete, workable solid platform on tourism.

Doing my commentary at Plaza Roma

I was stationed at Plaza Roma to give my commentary on the site. It was a well-attended tour for volunteers and Leni/Kiko supporters. There were Higantes to kick start the long parade of pink-clad supporters, and marching drum and bugle band to boot. The itinerary included Fort Santiago, Plaza Roma, Plazuela de Sta. Isabel, Baluarte de San Diego, San Agustin and ending in Plaza San Luis where light snacks were to be served. By the time the entire group had ended their walk at the San Agustin patio, the individual groups had bonded and made friends with each other.

Barbara's set-up

Barbara's offered a light fare of lugaw, and other Filipino delicacies courtesy of the organizers. But what was extra-ordinary was the assemblage of performers to spice up the merienda-cena. Cultural dancers  were on hand as well as singers whose numbers were meant to ignite love for country and a genuine desire for change!!! People have grown uneasy during the pademic, but what they really couldn't stand was how heavily mismanaged the government response was, not to mention the suffering business ventures and the astounding corruption involved among government agencies.

Kalinangan ensemble

The solution would be to nip corruption at the bud. Vote for a candidate you can rely on. Vote for a candidate who has a proven track record. Vote for a candidate who has no hidden agenda. Vote for a candidate who has managed to shake -up a corrupt system by providing the means to help despite a paltry budget. I needn't even name the person who fits the bill. She's all woman!

What could be more substantial?