Noy’s yellow ladies and prayer warriors – Elvira Chan, Lulu Lemos, Joylyn Alonso, Ditas Lerma, Lynne Aguirre, Aleth Tolentino, Lalin Basilio, and Polly Aquino. (Ed Santiago)

“Storms make trees take deeper root.” --Steve Tamayo

They came all in yellow, two with husbands in tow, spoke from their hearts why they have volunteered to campaign hard for Senator Noynoy Aquino, and managed to charm the Bulong Pulungan media forum at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza.

The previous week, we had Gibo Teodoro’s spokesperson, Mike Toledo and the all-volunteer  G Squad’s  chief honcho and mover, businessman and La Sallite Andrew Masigan.

But ladies first, in our report to you dear readers…

The oldest in the yellow group,  retired banker Elvira Chan  has “dugong dilaw” and a fierce love for country. These two attributes are still rare among   Tsinoys (Chinese- Filipino descended persons) like her. This ethnic grouping among us may already be absorbed in our lives as a nation but, as Elvira explained, she grew up with an “identity crisis,” like most of her peers.

Was she Filipino or Chinese? So she decided early on to follow the examples of her elders – just work hard, don’t concern yourself about national issues and don’t  engage in partisan  politics.

However, martial rule pricked her complacency and curiosity. After Ninoy’s assassination, she, with some others in her bank, presented Cory Aquino with a painting of her slain husband. It happened to be the couple’s wedding anniversary. To her surprise, she received a touching “thank you” note from Cory the next day thanking her and the others because she felt that through them and the painting, Ninoy was reaching out to her on their anniversary!

Since then, she became an ardent fan and later a close friend of Cory (as much as she could within the confines of her corporate world) learning about her idol’s courage, simplicity, faithfulness to the will of the Almighty and love of country. This continued even and especially during the months of Cory’s battle with cancer and now, this commitment has transferred to her son Noynoy and his sisters.

The youngest of the yellow ladies was Joylyn at 25, an entrepreneur in her own little way. She was the one who posted in her blog her “lolo” Danilo Alfonso’s dying wish to meet Noynoy, whose parents he had so admired in their life times. Wonder of wonders of the e-world, in just four days, it got around to the senator who then quietly and without fuss showed up at her lolo’s bedside in Makati Medical Center accompanied only by Dr . Alex  Ayco and one security aide.

Her lolo managed to make the “L” sign and tell the senator how happy he was that he had come to visit! He died a happy man a few days later, after entreating the whole family to go out and campaign for this compassionate and young senator. Now, Joy is joining the yellow ladies of the PARC House volunteers led by CorVet Margie Penson Juico and her younger sister Polly Aquino (no relation to Noynoy) bringing with her many of her fellow  youth  who want change in the country.

Polly is an ex-beauty queen, married to Tom Aquino and mom to five kids. She took over briefly while “ate” Margie went out of town and has been a volunteer ever since. She is “super-efficient” like her ate keeping the volunteers busy with their respective assignments and going on “visitations” to public markets, churches, communities etc., distributing the ribbons, stickers and posters they solicited from supporters themselves.

Polly is one of Noynoy’s “Prayer Warriors” like the other yellow ladies and also sends out bulletins on the Thursday prayers and masses at the center and messages from field supporters. She was particularly pleased with the response to Noynoy from Zamboanga City’s enthusiastic and huge rallies.

Then there is lawyer Aleth Tolentino and her husband. Passionate about their own commitment to positive change and moral transformation in governance, Aleth shed tears recounting how she had wanted to leave the country before and has now found hope in Noynoy Aquino’s candidacy. She also recalled how deeply touched she was when she met the senator in one gathering with his family and saw how he was with Joshua, his nephew who has ‘special needs.’

Lalin Basilio’s husband hails from Concepcion, Tarlac and their ties with the Aquinos go back a long way. Lalin who is from the Visayas, is now as passionate as her in-laws are about Noynoy’s campaign and she is one of the active Parc ladies who, with Ditas Zamora Lerma, is in charge of the liturgical activities every Thursday. 

Ditas now volunteers to go on sorties, man the “tindahan ni Noynoy,” cut ribbons and other mundane duties thrice a week and finds immense satisfaction doing her chores. She co-owns the Via Mare Café and Oyster Bar in Rockwell with best friends Glenda Barretto and Marites Lopez and like Lalin, is active with the Mission Angels of Fr. Jerry Orbos and the Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation of Fr. Fernando Suarez. But her long-time work as one of Martha’s Vineyard members is a priority with her too.

LuLu Lemos and her husband Buddy actively move around for Noynoy. They solicit donations from friends for campaign materials and don’t think twice about approaching people to talk about their candidate.

Out-spoken and feisty Lynne Aguirre will pick a fight with anyone who disagrees with her candidate and idol. She points out that she has high hopes for the country with Noynoy running for president. If before she almost left with her family, she realizes now that she has a candidate worth her full support.

Each one had their own story to tell why they are rooting for Noynoy and they make for an interesting tapestry of the political scene today.