Updated:November 17, 2021, 2:35 P.M.
Richmond, B.C.
Another one to roll in December
By Charmaine Janis Rodriguez
INSPIRED by last Sunday’s turnout during the Canada-wide Pink Caravan of Hope for Leni, organizers and supporters of pro-Robredo groups will stage another event in December to keep the momentum going.
“The participants were so determined to show their support for Leni. I have never seen such determination ever since I came to Vancouver in 1978,” said Treenee Lopez of Global Pinoy Diaspora Canada and co-organizer of BC Kami Kay Leni.
Rom Cannen, organizer of BC Kami Kay Leni, described the growth in the number of supporters for presidential candidate Leni Robredo and her running mate Kiko Pangilinan as something that “rose like wildfire” and was truly inspiring.
“We are sending a loud and clear message to Pinoys whose heart still yearns for their Lupang Hinirang that decent, competent, and transparent governance should not be a luxury. It should not be just a dream. The tandem of Leni and Kiko embodies our ideals that we hold dear and will take us there, but we must take the first step to be not afraid anymore, to reach out and walk alongside us chanting Leni/Kiko 2022!”, Cannen added.
He said that if the event that took only three weeks to organize was able to rouse that number of volunteers, then “an astounding display of activism for Team Leni/Kiko in Canada has barely just began.”
For Vancouver, close to 150 cars, including a bright Pink Limo, drove around Vancouver then converged in Richmond City where around 300 Leni-Kiko supporters braved the rains.
In Toronto, more than 700 participants on board 250 cars trooped to Earl Bales Park last Sunday, November 14, to support the Pink Caravan of Hope.
In Montreal, over 150 participants in 45 cars showed up for last Sunday’s event that was aimed at sending a message of hope to Filipino-Canadians who are voting in the May 2022 elections.
Caravans were also held in Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Victoria, and Ottawa. All caravans started with just a few people who dreamed of organizing something for the tandem in their respective communities—a grassroots effort to campaign for her and Pangilinan.
Narima Dela Cruz, one of Robredo’s supporters and a long-time community leader, lauded the organizers for the “amazing” turnout last Sunday and the real power of genuine volunteerism.
“The respective caravans in other major Canadian cities (Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Winnipeg, Victoria, Montreal and Ottawa were also very successful and super duper well attended! Such amazing sea of pink on Canadian roads,” she added.
Edmonton on Sunday, Nov. 21st
Another caravan is slated for Edmonton on November 24, 2021. Please contact Manny for details: 780-802-0848.
Composite images by Tom S. Choy.
