13/05/2025
“Maraming salamat. Magkakasama tayong babalik. Sabay-sabay tayong hahakbang patungo sa Pilipinas na matagal na nating pinapangarap.” - Leila de Lima
Mensahe ni Leila M. de Lima
Para sa mga Volunteer at Supporter ng ML Partylist
May 13, 2025
To all those who gave so much of themselves in this campaign: maraming-maraming salamat.
The results are still coming in, but already it is clear: ML Partylist will have a seat in Congress. This journey has been long and difficult, but today, we are here, celebrating a victory that was made possible by your strength, your courage, and your generosity.
Alam ninyong lahat: Hindi naging madali ang laban na ito. This campaign had no machinery, very little funding, and none of the luxuries typically available to traditional political organizations. But it had something more powerful—people like you.
People who carved out time from work, family, and rest to organize house-to-house efforts, design posters, prepare meals, manage social media, speak to strangers, and defend a cause that offered no guarantees. Bawat pagkilos, may bigat. Bawat oras na ibinigay, may halaga.
Ang tagumpay na ito ay tagumpay nating lahat. Patunay ito sa kaya nating marating kung malinaw ang ating layunin, at iisa ang ating paghakbang.
The fight for justice and reform is long and complicated. It doesn’t end with one campaign. But this win—this hard-earned, against-the-odds win—proves that even in a system built to discourage idealism, idealism can still break through.
For nearly seven years, I lived behind bars for reasons that had nothing to do with justice and everything to do with power. I lost my freedom, but I held on to my voice. And now, because of your courage and commitment, that voice is returning to a space where it can help shape policy, demand accountability, and speak for those long excluded from the conversation.
Sa pagbabalik ko sa serbisyo-publiko, bitbit ko ang mga kuwento ninyo, ang inyong lakas, ang tiwala at paninindigan ninyo sa laban natin. Pero sa ngayon, bigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang mga sarili natin na magdiwang. We made space where there was none. We proved that truth, even when battered, can still make its way forward.
Thank you for standing with me. Thank you for fighting alongside me.
Maraming salamat. Magkakasama tayong babalik. Sabay-sabay tayong hahakbang patungo sa Pilipinas na matagal na nating pinapangarap.
