Note Nr.: 15 from 2004-05-06 05:57:31
by Eddie Ilarde
email: no email
url: no homepage

Dear Rancho Pinoy members,

Hello and greetings to you from this side of the globe. Congratulations to Mrs. Victoria Antiporda and all the members for finding the vision, courage, and initiative to assemble your wonderful and progressive organization. Kudos to a terrific website as well. Based on its informative content and attractive layout, I have no doubts you will draw even more prospective Filipino members who share the same core values as those of Rancho Pinoy.

I heard of your organization through the member nephew of my wife, Jackie Romero. Being that, it is that time of the electoral calendar, when every Filipino, be it here in our home country, or anywhere else in the world, can affect and initiate change or continuance in the Philippines by placing his or her vote in this coming elections, I took it upon my self to send my fellow Pinoys in Rancho Pinoy this email.

I am running for Senator as an independent in this year’s national elections. For those of you senior enough, you might recall that I actually had an abbreviated stint in the Senate way back in ’71, together with my peers in the Liberal Party --the late Sen. Ninoy Aquino included, among others—that was abruptly cut short by the horrific Plaza Miranda bombing, and the subsequent declaration of martial law by then President Ferdinand Marcos.

Those of us who bear the deep scars of that ghastly act of political terrorism, but were lucky enough to survive and fight on, can truly cherish and appreciate the “second” lease on life granted to us by the good Lord. More than just having the chance to continue to share life’s ups and downs with my family and loved ones –joyous as that may be—it also blessed me with the opportunity to dream on for better things in our beloved country.

For countries led with institutions that are civilized, democratic, and God-fearing, this the birthright of every citizen, and one which the Filipino immigrant, by way of example, embodies fully—the right to dream of a better life at his or her own time, place, and vocation of choosing.

I humbly implore you to kindly exercise your right to vote, at sana maalala po ninyo si Kuya Eddie. More power to your terrific organization. Wish your Araw ng Pasasalamat 2004 will be a rousing success! Maraming salamat at mabalos!

Warmest regards,

Eddie Ilarde