Youth empowerment is a much needed component for national development. The future belongs to the youth, as Rizal would say, owing to the great potential of young minds to bring about social change through getting involved with the great issues affecting the world. From campus journalists, to student leaders. The youth plays a vital part in shaping and sculpting an ideal community of cooperation, tolerance and peace.
The three day seminar workshop held at the Iloilo Grand Hotel is one of the stepping stones in developing the youth's identity as the movers for social and political change. Becoming a part of this great endeavor for the betterment of the nation, I can conclude that my participation in the Central Echo is an opportunity for me to impart my writings to my fellow youth and empower them further to act from passivity and let them be aware of their role in society. It's not about developing my skills in campus journalism, but rather, unveiling my potentials to move the world through the power of writing.
The seminar workshop, themed "Campus Paper Writers in the Realm of Community Building" and organized by the Philippine Information Agency, aims at improving the skills of campus press writers and editors in the field of journalism. With the skills they acquired, these young minds can use them to achieve development for the better.
I can say with total confidence that I have no regrets of becoming a part of my university's campus publication. I have just realized how important my role is to herald forth social change. And I shouldn't ignore my potentials nor should I delve into the habit of passivity. My writings can move society. My writings can scare off tyrants. And my writings can help my fellow man to rally himself towards fulfilling his destiny. I will not let my ideas rot in my mind. I will not leave a single page blank. Let the fires of youth kindle in our hearts. Let us take up our pens, unite and resonate the call for action.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Back (Again)
Haven't been around posting like crazy for a while. Been busy lately with a lot of stuff now that I'm a writer for the University publication. I'm still expecting more to come my way this semester. Like news stories to write, deadlines to meet, more teeth-grinding mental stuff. Despite all this, I'm pretty grateful that I'm beginning to be proactive. Opportunities like this don't come around often.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Wisdom Tooth
Nothing is more excruciating of an experience for a young adult than the emergence of a wisdom tooth. It hurts. And what's annoying is the more painful feeling of an intense migraine that results from the dental pain. I don't know how to deal with it, since it's, shall I say, part of "growing up."
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Rising Dawn
On June 12, 1898, a very significant event took place. An event that has become a symbol of national pride and liberty. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, standing on the balcony of his ancestral home before a large mass of his fellowmen in Kawit, Cavite, made the proclamation that the Philippines was no longer under the rule of Spain. It was a moment of victory for the Filipino people. After nearly 333 years of settling at the hands of the colonizers, Filipinos had finally took their first taste of freedom.
But how pure is freedom nowadays? How are we sure that we are totally free from tyranny? From oppression and persecution? The succeeding years after Aguinaldo's proclamation, the nation came under fire from another set of tyrannic oppression. We did not fully embrace total freedom during the rule of the Americans and the Japanese. Even to this day, freedom is but a lone word, distant from our grasps.
The Americans introduced themselves as our friends. Being a nation of freedom-loving peoples, they wanted what is best for a country which suffered under the oppressive policies of the Spanish monarchy for three centuries. Most will say that the Americans and Filipinos are alike in terms of historical background. Both nations experienced the grueling conditions under despotic rule. And both nations took to arms with great eagerness to yearn for total liberty. It is a matter of fact that, in some way, we have this common factor with the Americans. But that was not the case, as they became the successors of the Spaniards. Their authority was far different than that of their predecessors. They trained us on how to run a democratic form of government and introduced us to the blessings of public education. Their acts were only stepping stones towards a better life of being free. But, all in all, we were not totally free being under their boots, so to speak.
The essence of freedom is all about liberation from foreign intervention. Therefore, under the Americans, we were not totally free, but rather, we were having the potential to be free with their ideas of democracy.
With the aid of the Americans, the Filipinos' anticipation for true independence heightened. The Philippine Commonwealth was introduced in 1935 to better prepare the country towards a democratic future. But one roadblock was laid ahead that stagnated the country and subjected it to another regime supposedly far worse than that of the Spaniards. The Second World War brought the Japanese to out doorstep. With their own blend of tyranny and aggression, they terrorized the nation and humbled it to its knees. Under the Japanese, independence seemed a fragmented dream. However, that bloody regime ended, and from the ashes of war, the Philippine nation had been given independence.
Truly, another moment of triumph. The Japanese left our shores, and so did the Americans. Should we conclude then that everything became more different now that foreigners had left the country? There is no reason to be optimistic by that assertion. We did gain our independence, but did we really gain true freedom? True liberty from tyranny?
We had gained our independence, but the succeeding years were blotted by the emergence of another form of tyranny. Ferdinand Marcos rose to power. Martial Law took control of the country by his blend of corporate tyranny and social oppression. His rise saw the mass persecution of intellectuals, student activists, university professors and others who he deemed antagonistic towards the new order.
The collapse of Marcos' regime brought about a new optimistic feeling in the hearts of the Filipinos. But much like in the past years, oppression still exists, in the form of political suppression and social stagnation. How can we call ourselves free if our lives are being controlled by megalomaniacs we call politicians? Corruption is another factor that made me realize that we are not experiencing freedom at its sincerest. With thousands of our fellow Filipinos starving due to the greedy advances of these "crocodiles-in-office", our country is being enslaved by yet another form of tyrannical rule. This time, it's Filipino exploiting Filipino.
Last week, as the 15th president, Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III, took oath as the new leader of our nation, more and more Filipinos are still hoping for another dawn. A dawn that may bring about a new light of optimism. A dawn that may change the souls of every Filipino. A dawn that may write itself in history as the moment of triumph over years and years of tyranny and oppression.
We may not see a new dawn right now. But we should look forward to it, as it may bring about great change. Perhaps, a brighter and much more dignified future that will hopefully perpetuate and overshadow our nation's turbulent past.
But how pure is freedom nowadays? How are we sure that we are totally free from tyranny? From oppression and persecution? The succeeding years after Aguinaldo's proclamation, the nation came under fire from another set of tyrannic oppression. We did not fully embrace total freedom during the rule of the Americans and the Japanese. Even to this day, freedom is but a lone word, distant from our grasps.
The Americans introduced themselves as our friends. Being a nation of freedom-loving peoples, they wanted what is best for a country which suffered under the oppressive policies of the Spanish monarchy for three centuries. Most will say that the Americans and Filipinos are alike in terms of historical background. Both nations experienced the grueling conditions under despotic rule. And both nations took to arms with great eagerness to yearn for total liberty. It is a matter of fact that, in some way, we have this common factor with the Americans. But that was not the case, as they became the successors of the Spaniards. Their authority was far different than that of their predecessors. They trained us on how to run a democratic form of government and introduced us to the blessings of public education. Their acts were only stepping stones towards a better life of being free. But, all in all, we were not totally free being under their boots, so to speak.
The essence of freedom is all about liberation from foreign intervention. Therefore, under the Americans, we were not totally free, but rather, we were having the potential to be free with their ideas of democracy.
With the aid of the Americans, the Filipinos' anticipation for true independence heightened. The Philippine Commonwealth was introduced in 1935 to better prepare the country towards a democratic future. But one roadblock was laid ahead that stagnated the country and subjected it to another regime supposedly far worse than that of the Spaniards. The Second World War brought the Japanese to out doorstep. With their own blend of tyranny and aggression, they terrorized the nation and humbled it to its knees. Under the Japanese, independence seemed a fragmented dream. However, that bloody regime ended, and from the ashes of war, the Philippine nation had been given independence.
Truly, another moment of triumph. The Japanese left our shores, and so did the Americans. Should we conclude then that everything became more different now that foreigners had left the country? There is no reason to be optimistic by that assertion. We did gain our independence, but did we really gain true freedom? True liberty from tyranny?
We had gained our independence, but the succeeding years were blotted by the emergence of another form of tyranny. Ferdinand Marcos rose to power. Martial Law took control of the country by his blend of corporate tyranny and social oppression. His rise saw the mass persecution of intellectuals, student activists, university professors and others who he deemed antagonistic towards the new order.
The collapse of Marcos' regime brought about a new optimistic feeling in the hearts of the Filipinos. But much like in the past years, oppression still exists, in the form of political suppression and social stagnation. How can we call ourselves free if our lives are being controlled by megalomaniacs we call politicians? Corruption is another factor that made me realize that we are not experiencing freedom at its sincerest. With thousands of our fellow Filipinos starving due to the greedy advances of these "crocodiles-in-office", our country is being enslaved by yet another form of tyrannical rule. This time, it's Filipino exploiting Filipino.
Last week, as the 15th president, Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III, took oath as the new leader of our nation, more and more Filipinos are still hoping for another dawn. A dawn that may bring about a new light of optimism. A dawn that may change the souls of every Filipino. A dawn that may write itself in history as the moment of triumph over years and years of tyranny and oppression.
We may not see a new dawn right now. But we should look forward to it, as it may bring about great change. Perhaps, a brighter and much more dignified future that will hopefully perpetuate and overshadow our nation's turbulent past.
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