Rosas sa Hatinggabi

Sa mundong puno ng ingay, mas pinili ni Isa Ramos ang manahimik.

Para sa kanya, ang buhay ay parang isang ubusan ng kape sa madaling araw-paulit-ulit, mapait at kailangang tiisin. Sa edad na labinsiyam, sapat na sa kanya ang mag-drawing sa gilid ng kanyang mga plates at umiwas sa mga argumentong nauuwi lang sa galit. Her father's words were law, and the status quo was her safety net.

But then, the world turned pink.

When her best friend drags her to a volunteer center for "free bread," Isa finds more than just pandesal.

She finds a movement that breathes hope into the gray streets of Manila.

And in the center of it all is Lu Alon-the calm in the middle of a storm, with a tired smile and a bandana that matches the ribbons on the trees.

As Isa trades her silence for sketches of roses and her neutral tones for a color that screams courage, she realizes that waking up comes with a price. Between heated dinners at home and the electric energy of the rallies, Isa must decide:

Mananatili ba siyang saksi lang sa dilim, o pipiliin niyang maging bahagi ng liwanag?

Dahil sa pagitan ng hatinggabi at bukang-liwayway, hindi sapat ang mangarap lang.

Kailangan mong humakbang.

(This is a story inspired by 2022 Election, Leni Robredo Presidential Campaign)