Like many others in this free, yet crises-laden world, I am awed by the ongoing pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong which started two months ago and have shown no signs of stopping.
We are witnessing history unfold for the people of Hong Kong as they fight against threats to their civil liberties and political autonomy.
What is even more astonishing is the persistent and militant manner by which these protests are staged. The number of protesters is impressive, in the hundreds of thousands, numbers rarely seen anywhere in the world since the Arab Spring.
It has set me thinking about our own struggle and our fledgling efforts to stand united against the aspiring tyrant currently occupying Malacañang.
Pilipinas, kailan lang ay ipinakita natin sa buong mundo na kaya nating magkaisa at mapayapang magpatalsik ng diktador. Patong patong na ang mga kabalbalan ng rehimeng ito. At may mga plano pa ngang mga hakbang para lalong supilin ang mga tumututol sa kanila. Papayag ba tayo? Kaya pa ba?
Perhaps we need to ponder and learn from our tiny neighbor currently battling the same Goliath that enabled Duterte in exchange for our sovereignty and resources.
(Access the handwritten copy of Dispatch 576, here: https://issuu.com/senatorleilam.delima/docs/dispatch_576)