It’s a full-circle moment for Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan when he welcomed the Samahan ng Manininda sa UP Campus to the Senate for a birthday celebration last Wednesday, August 28.
The senator couldn’t help but reminisce about his years as a University of the Philippines-Diliman Student Council President when he personally fought for the vendors’ rights to earn.
Back then, Pangilinan recalled that outside vendors were not welcome inside the UP-Diliman Campus and the UP Police would often go after the vendors to confiscate their goods.
“Ito ang grupong UP Manininda na noong ako ay Student Council President sa UP binigyan natin ng tulong para sila’y ma-organisa,” he said as he introduced the group to his staff.
“Dahil bago sila ma-organisa at maging opisyal ay hinahabol sila ng UP Police at kinukumpiska ang kanilang mga paninda. Eh sabi ko ay nakikinabang ang mga estudyante sa kanilang pagkain na abot kamay, mura, tapos tinataboy sila,” he added.
The senator said he decided to talk with the then-UP Acting President Ernesto Tabujara, whom he convinced to allow the vendors to become “regular” in the UP campus.
“Pumayag naman na maging regular sila, official, at lehitimo,” Pangilinan said, adding that the vendors were given identification cards and uniforms to help them organize better.
“Meron silang dagdag na pinagkakakitaan at nakikinabang naman yung mga estudyante. Everybody happy,” he stressed.
Now in the hallowed halls of the Senate, the senator has been putting his experiences as a former student leader and activist to good use—fighting for the rights of farmers and fisherfolk, ensuring that they have adequate support from the government, and working for a Philippines where people like the UP maninindas have access to decent livelihood opportunities.