I always see this word especially on social media posts. Coming from Zamboanga City and being Chavacano, I know that it means receipt. Back in the day, I used to request for a receipt for the purchases I’ve made, big or small. I was working in a multinational company and we could reimburse certain purchases made. I also had a small business that could use the receipts as proof of our business operations. It was a tedious and laborious process collecting and collating the receipts for the monthly reporting. But it was needed and necessary to show proof of sincerity and honesty.

Resibo’s usage nowadays has gone way beyond its original meaning. From a flippant way of saying where’s the proof “nasaan ang ebidensya?” which has now with the on-going political climate in the Philippines changed the meaning to a deeper context. It is now asking for not only just proof, but real, incontestable proof that what one is saying, really exists. I kinda like it to be honest “mas may lalim ang dating!”

Not only that, there is pride in saying “heto o tingan ninyo, wala akong tinatago.” I’m just thinking aloud and fast-forwarding to perhaps a party-list for people who are truthful in everything that they do — RESIBO (Real and Sincere Boom) — I will think of a catchier name later on. But the main thing is “isigaw natin ang RESIBO, ipakita natin ang RESIBO, tumayo tayo kasama at katabi ang RESIBO. Lagi n’yong tandaan na pag may-RESIBO may pag-asa tayo!” Our ethos will focus on transparency and accountability.

2022 will be the 9th time Filipinos will be voting congressional representatives through the party list. Firstly, we need to have a party platform to stand on. Just like any newly-minted political party, we will be relying on volunteers and even funders (if there are any) to push our agenda. We’ve seen how the “Kakampinks” are doing it from the grassroots, and with our limited resources that could be our cue. We could run a competition on who has the best, wittiest, funniest, craziest, weirdest but meaningful poster.

There are over 67-million Filipino voters in this year’s election. RESIBO needs at least 1.4-million plus votes to go over the 2% threshold to have at least one winner as mandated by Republic Act 7941: Party List System Act. We do have to align with a political party to show our willingness to cooperate. The most logical party-mate would be PLM-Partido Lakas ng Masa because it’s always the masa who looks at and conscious of the RESIBO due to budgetary constraints.

We will be big on social media, use that as our playbook. There’s no need for too many rallies, we might not get the numbers anyway. Let’s just focus with online engagements that can reach far and wide. Our endorsers will be ordinary folks. And in all our sorties and engagements, our main attraction will be our raised right fist with our left hand holding a piece of paper while emphatically declaring, “heto ang RESIBO!” Our campaign jingle will be “mamamamay-RESIBO” (to the tune of My Sharona by The Police). Everyone can go to our social media accounts to see what we’re all about and what we’re up to.

What will be our party color? Since nearly all the major colors have been appropriated, violet or indigo with gold letterings spelling RESIBO would be good. It would be like we are the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA. We will focus on a platform of job generation, entrepreneurship and community livelihood, relevant education, equal opportunity and just wages.

As a final push, we will collect all kinds of receipts 30 days before May 9. In order to join, one must write his or her name and contact details. The receipts will be placed in a huge “tambiolo.” Salaries and other allowances of a member of congress usually amount to 1.8-million pesos per year. This amount will be divided into 20. The RESIBO party-list congressperson will get his or her salary and 19 other names will be drawn from the raffle to each receive 90,000 pesos per year or 7,500 pesos per month. This will show that one is willing to serve and not enrich from one’s position.

When one isn’t hiding something or is straight up as we say here in Aotearoa New Zealand, there’s neither fear nor hesitancy when asked for the resibo. In our Kiwi society, it’s but natural that we have proof that we stand by what we’ve said or believe in. Sad to say, in our beloved homeland, that is another story.