Chapel of the Divine Child
La Salle Greenhills, Mandaluyong
October 8, 2016
[To Fr. Robert Reyes and Fr. Albert Alejo], very selfless, very dedicated priests. Everytime po na nasa gitna ako ng malaking pagsubok, nandiyan po silang dalawa. I cannot thank you enough, Fr. Robert, Fr. Albert. Although si Fr. Albert, bihira kaming magkita niyan.
I’m so touched when he finally revealed Mr. Matobato’s surfacing. That’s one truth that some people are trying to distort, because they’re so used now to distorting and suppressing the truth.
Sa mga nag-organized nitong misa pong ito—“Misa Para sa Katotohanan at Katarungan”; Leah (Navarro) and all our friends in the Black and White movement, yung mga pinangalanan po at binanggit po kanina ni Leah, maraming salamat po sa inyo.
My fellow human rights advocate and defenders, my family and relatives, my officemates, my staff, ang aking mga katrabaho noon sa ilalim ng aming pangulo, ng aming Mahal na Pangulong PNoy.
He’s supposed to be with us today, he texted me last night. I understand na di po siya makararating ngayon.
Friends, ladies and gentlemen.
For days and weeks, and up until about last week when I met with women’s groups, I was feeling lonely, very lonely, and alone. I was beginning to doubt, and I was beginning to have doubts. Am I fighting for the right thing, for the right causes?
Am I still in my right mind? Am I still whole? I kept asking myself: Why is this happening? Why are they doing this to me? Do I deserve all these? The hurt and the sadness, turn to frustrations, to depression, and ultimately, to an emotional upheaval, and even rage.
Then I had a choice. To clamp down and surrender in defeat or keep fighting even against all odds in what seems to be an unwinnable war or struggle.
I chose the latter. I chose to keep my soul and my dignity.
And now, seeing all you today, as I saw the throng of students in separate fora yesterday and the other day, and the women’s groups last Wednesday, and now, that I am feeling and embracing your solidarity, with my cry for truth which has become the first casualty in this so-called war against drugs and even in the 100 days of the Duterte administration; my cry for decency and humanity, and justice for the victims of the daily summary killings; now, I don’t feel lonely. I don’t feel frustrated and exasperated.
But I am still enraged. I am enraged, more than enraged by their gross violation of my rights, by their continuing relentless lies and deceptions.
But most of all, I feel strong, stronger than ever.
Samahan po ninyo ako, mga kapwa ko matapat, samahan po ninyo ako sa laban na ito, laban para sa katotohanan, sa katarungan, sa karapatang pantao, lalo na yung karapatang mabuhay, mabuhay nang may dignidad, sa mga kababaihan, respeto sa mga kababaihan, laban para sa ating demokrasya!
Maraming, maraming salamat po. God bless the Philippines!