From a very young age I was often taught to learn to lead and get involved and not just sit back and watch the show. I ran for student government (positions in the wings mostly) both in my tiny high-school and in my large university, or if I happened to not be officer in grade-school or high-school I was writing essays, little school skits, or once editing our little school newsletter (it was a small school but still, got it done). Politics, wherever it turned up in my life, wasn't some toxic blowfish word mentioned in our family that carried a foul stench, unlike for some. It was highlighted in our family for my generation as an avenue or space for possible improvement, anything was possible if worked for with zeal and integrity. Beginning Saturday I shall be duly serving in the ranks of my uncle Kiko Pangilinan (IG: @kiko.pangilinan, #40PANGILINANsaSenado) who is campaigning for the senate once more. I will be shooting behind the scenes material on the campaign trail in 7 destinations in a span of 5 days, whew. I see no reason why I shouldn't involve you in this, I'd like to take you along somehow, if I can manage it. It matters to me and I see that my beloved country is limping. I crave protection of whatever beauty we find in the freedom we have today.
Nearly a decade ago now in Tito Kiko Pangilinan's 2007 campaign I conceptualized and spearheaded a web series project called KTubed which you can watch in glorious low resolution and , an online portal to see him as a normal person as well as a celebrated leader. Passionately, I used OPM music from people I knew to generously season the videos with young flavor. The project was of enough significance that the search for the mere Multiply website I was embedding the KTubed YouTube videos on in 2007 was being slapped by hackers, search engines were often being masked from searching for the site. Following the release of that web series campaign I was interviewed for my small role and the use of YouTube on ANC. That was a little project I was quite proud of which I produced, shot, and edited personally on a well-loved Toshiba laptop. By the way, of course I will be mentioning my presidentiable but I choose to do so on my social media platforms instead. Read on to the end of the post.
I was invited earlier to an intimate gathering of writers and bloggers, we were an audience requested by our national press secretaries, Manuel Quezon III, Edwin Lacierda, and Abe Valte. They wanted to hear us out on small and large basic grievances, share some scope on the upcoming presidential debate and elections, and yes, of course, put forth their candidate for consideration. They also gave us a little nudge to not be afraid to put ourselves and our words out there for the good of the nation. Oh, and were you aware? Manuel Q III and Edwin began as bloggers in their own right, too.
At this point much of the country has turned on itself with various camps bickering amongst themselves about chosen candidates. The campaign atmosphere is rife with spite, lewdness, and malice. It goes without saying that heightened negativity is palpable and imminent during every election season, but this time believe me...based on "whispers of a nameless fear" abroad (as Tolkien says it) the future is beginning to look much worse than we perceive it to be. Other countries have begun selling their Phps to be rid of them early. Someone recently wrote "It doesn't even have to be bad, it just has to look like it's going to be..." meaning that that's all it takes for an economy to begin heading downhill and for investors to cut and run. The last thing I want to say is this, you don't need to be negative in order to be powerful.
