"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me."
There has been numerous times when the advocacy and the fight against inequality and unfair treatment was and is questioned, doubted and denied... And there are times when I questioned myself if doing this was or is worth it...
Personally, I never thought to be in this position and doing the things I do today... I never thought people will come to join me and take on the job that offers no glorification, no compensation and no end...
I have seen people come and go for or against the cause and for the benefit of all riders... I have seen people stay and continue with their support... I have seen rumors, lies, blasphemy and statements worth of slander and libel... Yet we chose to ignore them and push forward for we do not come first, the riders do...
We have been pushed down, ignored, turned over, spun in circles, shamed, humiliated, betrayed and used... Yet we tread forward in spite the disheartening acts and disillusionment that we experience...
I have personally experienced riding alone and doing what needs to be done for others... I have seen myself turning back and thinking, "I am doing this for others besides my self, but why am I alone?" Admittedly, I had been selfish and have turned my back a few times because I have lost the urge and the inspiration... Yet, I find my self back here... Thinking of others before my self...
But this is not about me... It is not about us... Not about what is ours, amin, kami, ako, akin o sarili... This is about you, them, sila, kayo o kanila... We do not wish to claim anybody, anything or what is not ours to begin with... For we are yours, at your service and at your disposal... We are as dispensable as the next person... We are not perfect, we are not the smartest, we are not always correct, we are not always sensible, we are not always logical... Most of all, we are not always doing what is right... Yet, from the beginning when we were but a small group, to reaching an unbelievable 6,700 within a year of going public on social networks, we have come together, thought of the issues, consolidated our ideas, spoke, met and acted on what needs to be acted on... And we have prevailed... And we have acted on whats best for everybody and not just ourselves...
We have made sacrifices... Some more that what is required of them... Yet they do so without asking for something in return... For the benefit of those we do not even know... Who don't even give the same care that we have for them... We understand... For this is not something any person would do on an ordinary day or an ordinary situation...
We have come across challenges, surprises, disappointment, dismay and betrayal... We have come across small victories, large ones, clarity, sense, friendship, camaraderie, unity and we have seen the light at the end of the darkest tunnel...
Some of you may be asking why I write this, what purpose, what message... I write this because, not all of us will be here forever... Some of us would have to move on, set other priorities, change sides or pay back for what we have ignored and set aside for the longest time... But as long as we have the advocacy in out hearts, each stroke of the pen, each small idea, one word post or gesture for the benefit of others, our advocacy will live on... It will continue... It will prevail...
So what ever the reason is for coming or going, may you give back to the family you have set aside for the advocacy, an illness that needs tending, the loyalty for another or you were blinded by lies, you shall always be part of who and what we serve as members and volunteers of MRO/MAP...
Thank you... Thank you for sharing everything, what you have done, the support and for being part of the advocacy...
Thank you for listening, for believing, for understanding and for responding to the call for unity, safety and equality... Thank you for fighting for our rights...
On November 18, let us give this day for the cause and dedicate it to those who have lost their lives and offer it to those who we can still save... Let us come together, be united and put others before ourselves to help make our lives safer and more enjoyable... Let us shape the future, apart from all the glory, all the fame and self gratification... As having one shared goal will provide us with one shared and combined victory... A victory for all of you, the riders of the country we live in... A victory that we, united, can make it happen...
Let us give thanks and honor to those who have helped, supported, believed in, participated and accepted the call to action towards unity, safety and equality... Let us share this day with the rest of the road users and the rest of the world... Let us make history on this day...
Hear the message and accept the call... Have renewed faith and be one of us... Be a rider... Be a Filipino...
Let us ride... For the future... For all roads lead here...
"Even if I ride alone, for as long as I carry the belief that I am doing good for others before my self, I will be proud of my advocacy... And I will continue until everybody becomes aware of the truth for it will set us all free..."
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