1Sambayan Initiates Pink Car Caravan in Chicago

URGENT NOTICE: Assembly/Meeting has been changed from LaBagh Woods to United Methodist Church at 5850 N. Elston Ave., Chicago. The caravan will end at Dunkin Donuts on 7039 W. Dempster, Niles, IL.  Parking will be at Ron Center Parking next to Dunkin Donuts.

Filipinos in Chicago gear up for the 1SambayanUS pink car caravan. On Sunday, December 5 at 1:00 PM. Participants will gather at the United Methodist Church (please check above address). A short program will take place before the cars start moving. The caravan, which is co-sponsored by the Bikol USA of the Midwest, will pass by Seafood City but will not enter the compound.

The pink car caravan is an expression of support for Vice President Leni Robredo, an opposition candidate for the Presidency in the 2022 Philippine election.

It is an expression of the Filipino people’s aspirations to defeat the Marcos-Duterte tandem. The dark years of the Marcos regime in the 70’s and 80’s crippled Philippine democracy. The current Duterte regime is worst. With the Bong Bong Marcos-Sarah Duterte tandem there will be no accountability and they will continue to rule by suppressing the people’s democratic rights. Overseas Filipinos need to add their voice to defend democracy and human rights in the Philippines. The car caravan is just a start.

1Sambayan US will organize another caravan on December 12 in New York-New Jersey.

Car caravans were first held last November 14 in the following cities: Oxon Hill in Maryland (Global Filipinos for Leni), Daly City and San Francisco in California (Filipino American Human Rights Alliance and All For Leni Volunteers) and Cerritos, California (by concern citizens).

To recall, 1Sambayan endorsed Leni Robredo on September 30 as the united opposition’s presidential candidate. On October 10, Leni said “the endorsement of opposition coalition 1Sambayan persuaded her to run for the presidency in the 2022 elections”.

1Sambayan is a broad coalition of democratic forces representing thebroad spectrum of political persuasions in the Philippines. It aims to usher in a competent, trustworthy administration in the May 2022 national elections by fielding a single slate of national candidates: President, Vice President and 12 Senators.

“The unifying factor among all of these groups is that they believe that we should prevent an authoritarian government from taking hold in the Philippines in the next election” said Justice Carpio, who has been chosen by the coalition to be 1Sambayan’s Chairman. Retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio is a legal luminary and champion in the fight for the country’s sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.

For more information about the car caravan and 1Sambayan, go to the Facebook page of 1Sambayan US Chapter and the website www.1sambayan.org. You may contact the Chicago-Midwest Coordinator, Rey Belen, at jedthea@gmail.com.