MISSION: SHAPING THE FUTURE
In the Philippine Literature, I’m sure you once heard or have read the famous Rizal quote, “Kabataan ang Pag-asa ng Bayan” (The youth is the Hope of our Nation). With that quote in mind, the youth nowadays are more involved in the political landscape of the Philippines. According to the Commission of Elections (COMELEC), one of the driving forces of the previous 2022 presidential election was comprised of voters aged 15 to 30 years old or 56% of total registered votes. The youth’s energy, idealism, and innovative approaches have been catalysts of change in regards to social and political change.
There are a lot of notable youth organizations in the Philippines that serve as a platform for young people to engage in advocating for their rights, civic participation and bring campaign awareness to issues that persuade the lawmakers to take action. The following are; Youth Vote Philippines, it’s an organization that promotes voter education and participation among young filipinos. Youth for Environmental Protection, focuses on their advocacies about environmental concerns in the country. Student Council Alliance of the Philippines, a federation of student councils in the Philippines, and probably one you most heard of, Kabataan Partylist. A political party representing the interest of young people in the Philippine Congress.
Here are the 5 vital roles of the Youth Organization in the Philippines:
- Advocacy and Activism- advocating for various causes such as social and political issues such as human rights, education reform, etc. By organizing protests, rallies and awareness campaigns.
- Civic Education and Voter Engagement- by conducting voter registration drives, and organizing forums and debates.
- Leadership Development- by offering opportunities for young people to be equipped with tools and confidence to become future effective leaders.
- Policy Influence- they can influence policy decisions by participating in the policy-making process.
- Community Development- such initiatives from youth organizations contribute to the well-being of their communities, such as helping to build schools, promoting sustainable development, etc.
The challenges along the way are expected such as having limited resources and funding, political patronage that might compromise independence, lack of recognition by the policymakers and the general public, and not to mention, potential for radicalization as they are susceptible to extremist ideologies. Despite these challenges Youth Organizations continue to contribute to Philippine politics, they show potential to be powerful agents of change and advance democracy.
By: Janha Tolentino & Lloyd Alexis Muldong
References:
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1193992
https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/philippine/youth-vote-05052022150215.html
