Thank You and Goodbye Cory

source: calavera comics

I can't seem to articulate the plethora of thoughts and emotions stirring within me at the moment. All I know, is that despite not knowing much about this great woman, her story, her admirable character and her legacy have awakened something I thought I have buried a long time ago: hope. Hope for a better future for a country I still call home. Hope that despite all our differences, we can always find a common ground on which we can unite and work together. Hope that leaders, will not rule only with their political know-how and popularity, but most importantly, with a concrete sense of integrity- a trait severely lacking in our leaders today.

Today I actually shed some tears while watching the live telecast of Cory's funeral mass. I watched how thousands of people voluntarily weathered the erratic downpour, marched with her to her resting place, and said their last goodbyes and all I could think about was how sad it was that such a significant uniting force had to be taken away from the country and most especially from a family that would continue to live on to feel the most acute pain from the loss. But seeing the masses, the yellow confetti, the L sign for "laban", I could feel Hope emanating from the TV screen. It was a strange pseudo-communal experience for a generally apathetic person like me and at that moment, I was very proud to be a Filipino. 

And to me, the L sign will never stand for loser ever again, because from now on, it's Laban (Fight on). 

Because we deserve a better future. And this future is ours to make.