Noynoy Aquino represents change – a statement from Filipinos in Cambodia
A group of Filipinos in Cambodia is actively campaigning for Senators Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Manuel “Mar” Roxas II who are running for President and Vice President in the May election in the Philippines. Known in the Filipino community in Cambodia as “Pinoy for Change (P4C),” this same group also was active in the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana), raising money and other kinds of assistance for the Filipino flood victims.
Since the official start of election campaign, P4C has been distributing Noynoy campaign leaflets and tarpaulin banners amongst Filipino groups in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap using money from its sale of Pinoy for Change t-shirts. The group has already organised four Saturday-night dinner-meetings to help raise awareness of overseas Filipinos about the importance of the coming election.
Since the official start of election campaign, P4C has been distributing Noynoy campaign leaflets and tarpaulin banners amongst Filipino groups in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap using money from its sale of Pinoy for Change t-shirts. The group has already organised four Saturday-night dinner-meetings to help raise awareness of overseas Filipinos about the importance of the coming election.
Tonight, P4C is hosting a “solidarity concert for Noynoy and Mar” at the NOSH Cafe on Mao Tse Tung Blvd. in Phnom Penh. Angelito “Bing” Escarez, a Filipino entrepreneur in the travel and tourism sector in Cambodia, is instrumental in organising this concert. Bing is a former president of SAMAPI, the biggest association of Filipinos in Cambodia. He brings to NOSH Cafe tonight several Filipino performers currently based in Phnom Penh, and who are also going to vote for Noynoy and Mar – they are Wowie Hidalgo, Rollie Janairo, Greza Molina and Ann Beraño.
But why are they supporting Noynoy? A long-time Phnom Penh resident, Wowie said,
“I sense a sacred purpose in Noynoy;” adding, “Amongst the current field of candidates, Noynoy represents a tradition of heroic sacrifice. He’s keeping alive the heroism of his parents. Wala nang iba pa, si Noynoy talaga ang dapat maupo bilang susunod na Presidente.”
Another Filipino, Maia Diokno, is expected to jam with the performers during the concert. Maia is a lawyer and was formerly with the Cambodia Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the youngest daughter of the late Philippine Senator Jose “Pepe” Diokno.
Asked how the group emerged and developed, Lou Autencio, current president of SAMAPI, explained, “There are certain things that a large and formal association cannot easily do, but which a small and informal group such as P4C can.” Jane Banez-Ockelford, international development Consultant and one of the key figures of P4C, quickly added, “Noynoy gave us reason to keep alive the Filipino civic spirit even if we’re far away from our country.”
P4C, though small, is also a diverse group. One of its coordinators is Ofelia Rodriguez, a self-employed entrepreneur who owns a popular carinderia in Phnom Penh – Kucina Filipina. Another member of the group is Florida “Tita Purit” Flores, a retiree and doting Tia to everyone.
There are currently more than 6,000 Filipinos in Cambodia. They serve effectively and efficiently in many different sectors – e.g.: in tourism, entertainment, banking, IT and telecommunications, food and beverage, security services, education, health, Christian missions, garments, and NGOs.
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