Just for Satur Ocampo

I, along with blogger friend and colleague Rep. Mong Palatino, attended the benefit dinner organized for Makabayan Senatorial candidate, incumbent Rep. Satur Ocampo. Dubbed “Jazz for Satur,” the event was held at the A.Venue in Makati City.

Upon arrival at the venue, there were already several familiar faces who were queued, waiting to be registered and ushered in their assigned tables. We were assigned at table number 36.

The event was hosted by Rep. Teddy Casiño and Janice Cambri. A video presentation was immediately shown after a few spiels. It featured some of Ka Satur’s closest friends and colleagues at the House of Representatives: wife Bobby Malay, Wigberto Tañada, FQS veteran Bonifacio Ilagan, Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, among others.

The video showed the young Satur as a writer, and later on as a veteran of street parliament. He fought the Marcos Dictatorship and continues to advance the struggle of the people.

Guests were serenaded by Jazz group Skarlet & Friends, featuring Myra Ruaro, former vocalist of Pu3ska. They performed classic jazz songs and played some of Pete Lacaba's Filipino adaptations of foreign jazz classics.



The guests had a glimpse of the 15-second TV ad of Ka Satur and Rep. Liza Maza. It was so swift that after three video rolls, you would clamor for it to be shown again.

Makabayan Co-Chair Maita Gomez took the center stage and invited some of Ka Satur’s supporters to come onstage and state the reason for supporting Ka Satur’s senatorial bid. Dr. Margarita Holmes was among those called and confessed that “there are only two reasons why she will vote this coming elections.” One, because of Ka Satur, and secondly, he finds Ka Satur as a “sex” icon; stating that sex doesn’t exist in a vacuum and that there are things that make a person sexy like integrity, good physique, intelligence.”

Then, it was Ka Satur’s time to speak.

Everyone was raring to listen to what he has to say. Ka Satur looked a bit tired that night. He must’ve come from another sortie. He thanked everyone for coming to the event, and emphasized the need to step up the campaign as they are pitted against trapos, same old politicians who have ruled in strategic government posts for the past decade or more.

He stated that he, along with several other colleagues, continues to be a victim of political persecution. His strong words against the Arroyo administration and its minions for its systematic attack on the nationalist people's movement reminded everyone that we, indeed, have yet to witness the first automated elections with cheating machinery set to make GMA and her bets stay in power.



Let us continue our campaign for our two Makabayan senatorial candidates.

Onward to the Senate!

Support and Vote Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza for Senator.

Visit Satur Ocampo's site. Click here.
Photos by Karl Ramirez of Kodao Philippines