RUNNING RIPPLES OF HOPE: "...run marathons to be able to tell the world his sister is innocent."

Running makes the ordinary extraordinary.

Humans of Pinas (HoP) is a community page hosted on Facebook that is inspired by the breath and depth of the extraordinary lives of individuals among the Filpino  people. The administrator is Lorelie Baldonado-Aquino  who herself is an inspiration to many for getting her college degree 28 years later alongside her 2 kids, in UP at that, the premier learning institution in the country. 

In a post 2 days ago  (Feb 24) at the HoP page, Maria Karina Africa of the Ateneo de Manila University Press wrote about the extraordinary journey of Sen. Leila de Lima being unjustly detained for 4 years already inside Camp Crame.  I quote in full the write-up:

"I didn't personally know Sen. Leila de Lima, but I read her Dispatches (2 books) and had the privilege to visit her twice in Camp Crame back in 2017. My first visit was with other women journalists and the second was during the celebration of her first birthday in detention.

I wrote this piece, originally for Spot.PH, to commemorate the good senator's 4th year in prison, with courts not seeing/establishing any evidence against her.

Sen. Leila's space is all of five to eight square meters. There is a single bed, and at its foot is a Monobloc table, her work desk where she handwrites all of her days. There are piles of books, of many genres: mystery novels, legal and political thrillers are her own favorites; fantasy, memoirs, historical and literary fiction are gifts from many friends brought when they visit or sent through her staff. There also are tons of documents: updates, committee reports, transcripts, drafts for proposed bills and resolutions, and arguments to charges lodged against her person, her womanhood actually.

She was arrested the day before the 31st anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution, and for no crime as all the court hearings would show no real evidence or reason for her to be in prison, four years running. Sociological studies have long established how, especially for women political activists, prison is a site of humiliation and family separation because women are stigmatized more deeply than the men and their bonds to their families are so much tighter.

The unkindest cut of all for Senator Leila was when her request to attend her son’s graduation from law school (May 2018) was not granted. Not granted too was her appeal to visit her gravely-ill sister-in-law, wife to her youngest brother Vicboy. She passed away recently; Senator Leila did not get to bid her goodbye and console her brother, the shyest of the siblings, but who after her arrest stepped up to appear in public, grant interviews, deliver speeches on his sister’s behalf, and even run marathons to be able tell the world his sister is innocent.

She wonders if her father, one-time COMELEC Commissioner Vicente de Lima, Sr. who molded her to be principled and strong, ever imagined she would be in prison. Her angels are her older son, Israel, and grandson, Brandon, both special children with autism, and spared of the pain and separation. Her mother, Norma, was not told of what befell her, only that she was out on trips and assignments. She finally got to visit Senator Leila at the PNP Custodial Center at Christmas of 2018, almost two years after her arrest. Now 88 years old, and shielded by dementia, she does not fully grasp the painful reality.

In the early pandemic lockdowns, Senator Leila did not get to see anyone, not even her staff for almost seven weeks. When the scheduled one-hour thrice-a-week visits resumed, they were limited to her immediate family, doctors, lawyers, spiritual advisers, and select staff. She has had four Christmases in detention, which pre-pandemic managed to be happy occasions with family, some friends, and staff. They would gather in the small receiving area, remember only the untroubled times, and before the CCTV, as there were no cameras or gadgets, would sing together, swap stories, and simply cherish one another’s company. Weekly masses were joined by some guests, followed by a simple lunch. Fr. Robert Reyes, her spiritual adviser, called them Parokya ni Leila. Since the pandemic, however, it has just been one family member and the priest for an hour every Sunday.

Senator Leila reads voraciously and says friends have enriched her taste in books.

Lately, the list has been a great mix of the Obama memoirs, Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s My Own Words, Elie Wiesel’s Night, George R. R. Martin’s A Clash of Kings, Ziblatt’s and Levitsky’s How Democracies Die, Bishop Ambo David’s The Gospel of Mercy According to Juan/a, Ed Garcia’s Courage, Julie Berry’s All the Truth That’s in Me, and Randy Ribay’s young adult novel Patron Saints of Nothing. Here, Filipino-American Ribay tells the story of Jay who goes back to Manila to find out how his cousin was mistakenly killed in the drug war.

Though the custodial staff (her guards) are courteous and treat her professionally, her mantra in solitary detention is taken from Ben Stewart’s title—Don’t Trust, Don’t Fear, Don’t Beg:The Extraordinary Story of the Arctic 30, a fast-paced account of the 30 Greenpeace activists who tried to stop Putin from drilling oil in the Arctic, and were jailed in a Russian prison.

She immensely enjoyed reading Bill Browder’s Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One-Man’s Fight for Justice, a gift from journalist Marites Vitug. A crime thriller and political memoir, Browder was a Wall Street maverick whose investment adventures brought him to Russia, where he exposed corruption, barely escaped, and managed to pass the Magnitsky Act in the United States to avenge the torture and death in a Russian prison of his lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky.

Her staff has turned into some kind of book club as she shares what excited her about her last read, and as they too talk about theirs. They exchange among them more and new titles to read.

Known for being a notorious workaholic, even in detention she works tirelessly. Without a laptop, a cellphone, nor internet, Senator Leila painstakingly writes every piece of draft and instruction, prints it out and passes it back and forth through her Executive Assistant who sees her once a week for an hour. Even when senate sessions have gone online, teleconferencing they call it, Senator Leila is not allowed to participate in plenary sessions and committee hearings. With the aid of her able and efficient legislative staff, she files her bills, proposes resolutions, and asks her colleagues to co-author the bills. Through written manifestations, she recommends amendments to pending bills and interposes interpellation questions. To fulfill her committee assignments, she carefully pores over thick draft reports and signs concurrence or dissent.

She has showed up for all her court hearings, and always upbeat whenever she does, waving to crowds outside the Muntinlupa Hall of Justice or the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court. After ten online hearings facilitated by the PNP Custodial Center in coordination with her legal team, Senator Leila, strictly observing health safety protocols, was again able to physically resume attending court hearings. The first was on February 9, and then on February 11-12 for 24-hour routine tests at the Manila Doctors. On February 17, she was acquitted of one of the three charges against her by Judge Liezel Aquiatan of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 205.

On top of the work, Senator Leila keeps a journal and handwrites her thoughts and feelings for most of the days. These have been collected into three books published by her staff as Dispatches from Crame. She is handwriting everything down as there has to be a way of wringing out good from bad. A way to tell the stories as the universe is made up of them, more than atoms.

Since their compound was enclosed, she has not been able to walk for exercise, but without fail, she does her daily chores: tidy up her cell, sweep her quarters, feed her family of stray cats, water the plants, and take out the trash. But for 90% of her almost 1,460 days in detention, she reads, she works, and handwrites—it is pure life of the mind: restless, questioning, keeping safe precious memories, analyzing new ones before making them, and configuring how and when the social reset, certainly the crest of the pandemic tidal wave, will push societies hard off their boards.

The crisis, as always, Senator Leila knows, is the proverbial test for heart-wrenching difficult decisions, yet empowers us with hope for all kinds of possibilities."

Much appreciation to Karina and Lorelie for having the eloquence and courage to write and post about the Truth. These days, truth is under constant attack but we are inspired by the truism that truth will always prevail. As Leila once said "Truth, indeed, while sometimes slow to surface, is a most formidable weapon." This was inspired by a quote from Saint Teresa of Avial - "Truth suffers, but never dies."

In the aforecited HoP write-up, I am the one referred to as "the shyest of the siblings" and indeed have been doing my part to spread the truth about continuing persecution of my sister under the hands of those with vindictiveness in their dark and misguided hearts. It is something that me and my other siblings do with a bit of trepidation and discomfort at the start as we in the family, except for Leila who is a public servant for more than 12 years already, are private individuals who have never been in the public arena before. But the continued "shameful persecution" of our sister has lead us to go beyond our comfort zone and do our part in spreading the truth like delivering speeches in behalf of Leila in local and international venue and going occasionally on radio & TV for interview with the Press. Our relatives and friends are very supportive.

Another thing that I do which is close to my heart is to wear the #OneForLeila running shirt when I join running events. It is a way to remind me that I am running not just for me but for Leila and what she stands for which is respect of human rights and justice without fear or favor. It is also a way to tell the public about her quest for justice which has long been delayed, thus denied.

At the start, which was in the summer of 2017, a month after Feb 24, 2017 (the day of Infamy for us), I was a bit unsure if it would be wise but the support from close friends gave me the courage. Their act of solidarity was to join me in wearing the #OneForLeila shirt and run with it in a marathon in Mariveles, Bataan. That running event in Bataan was actually to celebrate the patriotism of our fallen heroes in World War II.

Since that patriotic moment, I have never looked back in my running marathons to tell the world that my sister is innocent and thus should be released from her unjust detention. Since that hot day in Bataan, support for my running quest from friends and strangers alike have heated up and have grown as the photos would show:

1st Marathon I ran wearing the #OneForLeila running shirt is the Bataan Freedom Run held Apr 2, 2017. Sponsored by History Channel, the running event was to commemorate the 75th year of the Bataan Death March.

5 good friends joined me in the Bataan Freedom Run. They are the first among my running friends to wear the #OneForLeila running shirts.  They would not be the last. 
 

A bigger group of #OneForLeila runners joined me in the 60Km Naga to Lagonoy Ultra Marathon in the province of Camarines  Sur in Apr 29, 2017. 

One of those wearing the #OneForLeila shirts, a runner from Buhi finished 2nd overall in the Naga to Lagonoy Ultra Marathon. 

During the Isla ng Catanduanes Ultra Marathon (ICUM) on Oct 20-21, 2017, a local runner from Catanduanes requested for a #OneForLeila shirt. He will be the first of a growing number of Catanduanes ultra runners wearing the shirt.

Visibly tired from running for close to 14 hours,  I joined a group of #OneForLeila runners ICUM finishers. One of them (the one in the yellow shirt)   bagged the 1st place in the 65kms ICUM.   

In Feb 2018, finishing the 50Km Asog 360 Ultra Marathon in my hometown of Iriga City. Have joined  Asog 360 ultras for 3 straight years (2018-2020) already and each time, I crossed the finish line wearing the #OneForLeila shirt. 

Many more runners would follow wearing the #OneForLeila shirt to conquer Asog 360 Ultra Marathon thru the years. 

In the town plaza of Guagua in Apr 28, 2019, me and my running buddy taking a breather after finishing the Tarlac to Pampanga (TP50) Ultra Marathon.   

Wearing the #OneForLeila shirt, I lead the opening prayer in the start program for the   Sorsogon Marathon last Aug 25, 2019 in Sorsogon City. 

In the half-marathon category of the Sorsogon Marathon, a runner from the Legazpi Running Team was wearing the #OneForLeila shirt when he finished 3rd.  Asked about the shirt, he replied "Opo parati ko po sinosoot para sa idol kong Senator."  

The #OneForLeila running shirt  has been seen in parts of the Philipppines as far north as Basco, Batanes... 

...to as far south as General Santos City in the southern tip of Mindanao. 

The longest race that the #OneForLeila running shirt has been seen in action is the Bataan Death March (BDM)  160Km Ultra Marathon.  Both runner and her pacer are running with the shirt under the intense heat of the sun in Central Luzon during the 2018 BDM.  

The UP Diliman campus is a favorite running venue for the #OneForLeila runners in Metro Manila.  Lots of trees and soft asphalt road. The campus exudes an air of liberty and democracy.    

Paranaque runners with their colorful #OneForLeila shirts getting ready to run in their favorite park.  

Ran in Switzerland, now running in San Juan, she likes to run with the #OneForLeila shirt. 

Veteran ultra marathoner proud with his #OneForLeila shirt at the starting line of the Caliraya 360 in Laguna. 

A runner  in action with the #OneForLeila shirt in an ultra marathon event in the province of Quezon. 

Two Albay-based runners looking cool and relaxed in their #OneForLeila shirts as they near Naga City in the inaugural edition of the 100Km Daet Naga Ultra Marathon (DN100).   

I am joined by a group of row5runners and Caceres Runners wearing the #OneForLeila shirt at the grave of the late Mayor Jess Robredo in Naga City.

A group of avid bikers and runners   called Cyclotitas with the #OneForLeila  shirts visiting the Quitinday Hills in Albay. 

A Husband-Wife team joined me in wearing #OneForLeila running shirt at the starting line of a half marathon event in the town of Pili, the capital of Camarines Sur.  

An  elite runner from Nabua crosses the finish line of the 80km Mayon 360 Ultra Marathon in 2018. Wearing the #OneForLeila shirt, he finished among the Top 5. 

A  runner wearing #OneForLeila shirt in her training runs in Northern Samar.

A runner wearing #OneForLeila shirt on the hills of Catbalogan City.

A leader of the running club in Baybay City wearing the #OneForLeila running shirt getting ready for her morning run. 

Just like our heroic and hard working OFWs, the #OneForLeila running shirt has seen  parts of the globe.  Here, a #OneForLeila runner is on the deck of a supertanker journeying thru the Indian Ocean.  

A #OneForLeila runner at the start of the 10km Clarendon Day Run in the State of Virginia.  

September dawn in DC.  #OneForLeila in The Ellipse in the shadow of the Washington Monument.    

Got invited to speak in the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy in early spring of 2019.  I made sure to bring a bright #OneForLeila running shirt. Ran with it in the cool  streets of Geneva.  

Met an officer of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law who happens to be a runner.  Gave him a #OneForLeila shirt and he used it to ran on the shores of Lake Geneva.     

Almost a year later after Geneva, I received an email from the Raoul Wallenberg Institute officer where he showed this photo of him with the #OneForLeila shirt at the Perito Moreno glacier in Argentina. 

The HoP administrator  showing solidarity with the running ripples of Hope. 

In Queensland, Australia, a Human Rights advocate connected with Alitaptap walks with the #OneForLeila shirt  

When I started wearing #OneForLeila shirt for running events, it was only me and a handful of my close friends.  Since then, the number has grown and the solidarity has endured. With my runs with  the #OneForLeila shirt, I   will continue to tell the truth that Leila is innocent of all the bogus drug tradng charges against her. 

Looking at all those who run in solidarity with me, wearing the #OneForLeila shirt, I cannot help but be thankful for the extraordinary blessings and  be inspired.  As inspiration goes, there is this Ripple of Hope speech by US Senator Robert F. Kennedy in 1966 at the University of Cape Town.  My favorite words from the speech are these:

"Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a curent which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."

We have our aspirations and my hope is one day soon, my sister will be freed from this  most unjust detention. She knows that she is in for the long haul but she also knows that she will eventually be vindicated. There have been blessings to be thankful for but it  will be a long haul, just like a marathon or an ultra marathon. But there will be a Finish Line.  

Till then, runners who believe in her, will endure to be running ripples of hope.    

Postscript:  After the posting of this blog article last Feb 26, I received photos of runners and walkers wearing the #OneForLeila shirts to run a marathon or walk/run  in a favorite place in their locality, be it the Philippines or in another country. These photos were taken after Feb 26.  The journey for justice marches on. The ripple reverberates. 

A Filipina in  Sydney, Australia has dedicated 5kms of powerwalk on the 1st of every month for as long as it takes for Leila.  

An Alitaptap member with her #OneForLeila shirt on her walk in Aichi Prefecture in Japan.  

Another Alitaptap member in her walk at the Palais du Louvre in Paris. Asked as to why she wears the shirt, she said she is always wearing the shirt to show support to Sen Leila and to show the world that she is innocent. 

A kababayan based in Wiesbaden in Germany shared this photo as a way of sending out a tiny ripple of hope to Leila.   

A veteran ultra runner wearing the #OneForLeila shirt for his heat training in the roads of Angeles City, Pampanga. 

A runner in Naga City wore the #OneForLeila for her virtual Martian Marathon this weekend.  She said she got inspired by this blog article.   

The Bicolano Penguin proud to finish the 4th Mt. Asog 360 Ultra Marathon Virtual Edition this Feb 27 with the #OneForLeila shirt. At 50kms, it is his longest run for the year.