(Written for Tembtation column)
“Uh la la, Oreta puta ka!” was among the most memorable chants that our group shouted on our way to Mendiola last January 20. A cute and brave girl behind me started it: I overheard her as she recited it while she and a friend were chatting during the earlier part of the march. After some prodding, the girl was convinced to lead the chanting of the anti-Tessie Oreta line. Eventually, almost the whole UP group was crying “Uh, la la, Oreta puta ka!” We surely shocked a good number of manangs every time we passed a crowd of onlookers and sympathizers.