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Passion Awakened

Many critics of the Noynoy candidacy, earlier in the campaign period, called the energy emanating from the people as a fleeting euphoria born from sympathy and sorrow for the death of democracy icon and former Philippine president Corazon "Cory" Aquino.

For outsiders, looking from the recesses of the events, it was euphoria. But for those people who brushed with injustice and hungered for the change that became urgent in the present administration, it was a passion for justice, equality, and change. It was a compelling emotion that consumed their being when they saw that it becomes possible to hope again. And the chance to do something about it arose before them.

Euphoria is by definition an exaggerated sense of great elation. Elation itself is a weak emotion resembling contentment, satisfaction, pleasure, or joy. You cannot say euphoria for change, or elation for justice... without disrespecting the history of the words themselves.

Euphoria does not have the strength and endurance of passion. And to call euphoric our people's passion for truth, justice, and change is an insult to those who put their lives in the line of fire in the mountains of Mindanao in order to bring lawless elements to justice. A soldier cannot survive their training with elation. But passion can make them put their lives in the line of fire for their country.

I have seen the brush fire that caught up fire from the time I watched Filipinos walked down the streets again to join Cory for the last time. And I have seen that fire consumed the hearts and minds of many truth-loving and justice-hungry Filipinos. I do not think that they simply felt euphoric when they helped Noynoy win the election. What I saw was a fire igniting the drying hearts of Filipinos, unfed and hungry for change and better Philippines, but a strong passion given a new hope to burn hot all the lukewarmness of lost memories... and having found the right leader to lead the fight for a new era in the Philippine history are willing to rise again and walk towards that tomorrow that for many years remains a dream that many have chosen to not wake up from.

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