I went to Iloilo City and all I got was a pink T-shirt from Sonny Matula
Some people dislike Sonny Matula.
One of them is Ted (not his real name), a friend on Twitter who bombards me with messages and links about socialism, communism, and books. (Let's just say I prefer the ones about books.)
But I haven't muted Ted just yet.
After all, he does make sense and I agree with him (at least some of the time).
According to Ted, Sonny Matula represents "the reformist left tendencies of the anti-Marcos/anti-Duterte popular front with Leni Robredo."
Matula "is opposed to the bourgeoisie but not the Leni Robredo bourgeoisie," Ted added.
Unfortunately, Ted's remarks about Matula may not have been sharp enough to hurt his feelings.
Matula presumably has other things to think about than joining the More Marxist Than Thou Contest.
This is because Jose "Sonny" Matula, a lawyer and a labor leader, is running for senator and is on the Senate slate of presidential bet Leni Robredo.
As someone who doesn't have the reach nor resources of his rivals, Matula is going to need all the help that he can get.
This is why I am writing about him to hopefully let more people know who he is, what he has done, and what he can bring to the Senate, if elected.
Among others, Matula is the National President of the Federation of Free Workers and the Chairperson of the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, the biggest and broadest labor coalition in the Philippines.
Matula, who sold newspapers when he was in high school, later translated the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) campaign materials from English to the Visayan Language upon the invitation of Fr. Romeo Intengan [See: Fr. Romeo Intengan, Integan profile]. Matula also later worked at the labor desk of the Institute of Social Order (ISO) at the Ateneo University in Quezon City [See: About Atty. Sonny Matula]
Meanwhile, Matula’s six-point campaign platform is a reflection of his professional and personal engagement in the labor sector as it addresses the interests of workers and employees.
Matula’s platform talks about raising wages, increasing unemployment subsidies, pushing for security of tenure, expanding universal health care and unemployment insurance, strengthening workers' rights, and creating green jobs for enhanced productivity and environmental protection. [See: Matula platform]
However, despite his campaign platform and despite his achievements, his Senate win remains a long shot.
But miracles have been known to happen.
I, for one, from out of nowhere, received a T-shirt from a volunteer during a short meeting held with his supporters in Iloilo City.
When I put the shirt on, the fabric was hot, the sleeves were short, and the shirt itself was one size smaller. I felt like a stuffed pink longganisa preparing to be served with fried eggs and garlic rice.
In any case, since the shirt already met Comelec requirements for campaign materials, it was good enough for me.
But seriously, I was honored to be even asked to wear the shirt.
Now, I can say that I have at least one official T-shirt of a candidate whom I am going to vote for as a senator. Also on my list is the unjustly-imprisoned Senator Leila de Lima, who authored the law that institutionalized cash transfers to poor Filipino families. [See: 4Ps, Leila de Lima]
I no longer need to get, let alone wear her official T-shirt. Unless, of course, her volunteers insist and who am I to refuse the honor?
