EPISODE 6 LKTKR
SEPTEMBER 4 2004
NEW FACES IN POLITICS…
IS THE YOUTH STILL WILLING TO BECOME A POLITICIAN?
VOICE OUT:
Politics has already been stigmatized with dirty money, character assassinations, crime and corruption. The government has failed to change this image, and it is unfortunate that the media has magnified negative politics overshadowing our true public servants and sincere government officials. With this imagery and dilemma, how could any aspiring politician be encouraged to embark on this career, this profession and advocacy?
Early politics for kids could start from the school, as class to student council president. Outside of school, Sangguniang Kabataan SK would be the first step in politics, until they go to the highest rank in baranggay level.
Pocholo believes that there are only two types of politicians. One is good and the other is bad. To start with, a politician should have a positive orientation as a youth. He stressed that most SK councils today face crisis because of the intrusion of the older or senior leaders in the local government, where their funds come from. Children of mayors and other officials also dominate the SK, although it may not necessarily be a bad thing, the practice deprives other deserving young people to become involved in government projects.
But as an eternal optimist for our young nation, Choy believes that there would still be a positive change in the image of Philippine Politics.
BILIB KAMI SA’YO!
To start this positive change, we invited the recorded youngest baranggay chairman at age 25. He is Chairman Dominic Flores, of Brgy. Pansol, Balara Quezon City, also a teacher on-leave in Miriam College Grade School. During his elementary days, Dominic is already a PRO of the baranggay council and eventually, he was elected as SK Chairperson at fourth year high school. He continued his involvement in different outreach organizations in the University of the Philippines, namely UP Sandigan, UP Green League and UP Pahinuhod. He ran for Baranggay Kagawad and was elected number 1 councilor.
Dominic believes that even as a young person, he could create change in the community through his idealism, principles and political will. His family is in full support of his current post, despite the fact that he became a successor after the former captain passed away due to a criminal incident.
The immediate challenge for Dominic is to bridge and unite the factions that resulted after the death of the past chairman. To resolve this problem, Dominic has become very consultative in the community. He calls on every concerned individual and mediates on the issue without any bias. Through this balancing act, he gained the trust and respect of the people although most of them are older than him.
Brgy. Pansol is the only town with speakers on every post where Dominic gives announcements and public address especially during their weekly forums. Dominic also works even on Sundays and he finds particular days to hold office regularly even in distant areas to provide closer service to his kabaranggays.
His programs for the youth include launching computer literacy programs and satellite libraries to different areas in the community to enhance their talent and skills. To fight illegal – drugs, the baranggay finds creative ways and coordinates with the authorities. He plans to implement no-loitering scheme for young people from 10 pm to 4 am. For his greater constituents, he’s forming a taskforce for pabahay or housing, land and water supply, the basic needs of the people.
Talk about his personal life, Dominic admits that he has dedicated his time to service unlike the common youth. Although not really the outgoing type, he still manages to hang out with friends.
His campaign Discipline First or DF is the ultimate legacy he wants to impart for the people.
JOIN KA DITO!
KAMPUS MAG, truly a one of its kind magazine dedicated for the voice of educators and students. Ritchie Orario, its publisher and editor, says that most youth – oriented magazines available commercially are focused on entertainment and pop culture. He observed that many young people are interested in celebrity and picture filled - magazines but don’t necessarily buy them.
Ritchie, a journalist and professors, also handles the CCM school organ. He says that there are almost no available magazines dedicated for teachers and students unlike showbiz and political publications.
What’s the edge of Kampus Mag? The magazine also features youth organizations through League of Extraordinary Groups of LXG. The mag balances student and teacher issues and views. They give the Universities and Colleges a chance to promote their institutions and activities for free. Not only that, the featured universities get five pesos for every copies sold. The magazine also promotes balance campus journalism and free press, a huge issue nowadays in school publications. They would also publish researches conducted by educators and other student and youth policies unknown to the public.
Kampus Mag, is a once a month publication was launched January 2004 and costs only 30 pesos, available in all National Bookstores.
Joining Ritchie in the program were volunteer coordinators and staff, Analyn Gabion, third year Masscom student from City College of Manila, Rolan Jeffrey Decena, coordinator of Kampus Mag and President of Young Mass Communicators Society of CCM, Kenneth John Montagrande, one of the editors and reporter of Tanod newspaper.
RIBYU SA RADYO!
F. Sionil Jose’s Collection of Novels: THE ROSALES SAGA relives and immortalizes the Philippine politics, culture and history. Recipient of Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1980 and 2001 National Artist Award, the Rosales Saga is an epic story coursing to “Po-on”, “Tree”, “My Brother My Executioner”, “The Pretenders” and “Mass”. It is the ultimate series to awaken every Filipino’s sense of nationalism and patriotism. It is the Filipino Life unfolding in every page and every word.
It is just unfortunate that our educational system focuses on foreign and western literature that many students, even after finishing college become oblivious of these written works of art, these gems and treasures of the Filipino culture and heritage.
YAN ANG EDITORYAL!
Al Ian Barcelona believes we should admit that there is an ongoing leadership crisis in the country especially in the moral and political credibility of the leaders. Filipinos are usually politically aware, participative and mature, only during election season. But political development and education should continue towards a strengthened democratic system.
For Ian, the major factor that would discourage the youth to engage in politics is the present situation of the country, the lack of unity. The Filipino culture made the youth become always in search for role models, icons and idols. But so far, these charmers and idols in politics just made matters worst.
“Everything rises and falls in leaderships” as John Maxwell put it.
But the leadership alone could not solve the problems and it’s the right time for the youth and student leaders to face this challenge through active involvement and participation. This is the Voice of the Youth, this is LKTKR. RECHARGE!!!
EPISODE 6 LKTKR
SEPTEMBER 11, 2004
YOUTH VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION!!!
VOICE OUT:
In every episode of LKTKR, we have been indirectly pushing for Volunteerism, after all, the Voice of the Youth Network and the people behind this radio program work out of pure volunteerism and advocacy. Most of our previous guests started out as volunteers and they still are in big and simple ways, the Heroes of our generation.
According to the US – based United Way Volunteer Center, young people spend 2.4 billion hours every year to volunteer as part of their school curriculum. When it comes to the fruit of one’s labor, money is out of the question, because the rewards of volunteerism are absolutely priceless.
As the Philippines face crisis in just every aspect of the society, the Spirit of Volunteerism is just what we need, the answer to all these problems. Filipino Youth, would you take the Real Challenge?
BILIB KAMI SA MGA VOLUNTEERS!!!
For this episode, we have invited two different organizations serving the same advocacy of promoting volunteerism, Hands On Manila Foundation, Inc. and Ivolunteer.ph.
Our resource speaker, Lisa Crisostomo, executive director, explains HOM as a non-profit organization that recruits, educates and coordinates with new volunteers to help them find different organizations to work with. To date, HOM is affiliated with 47 organizations and foundations welcoming everyone who is willing to dedicate a small amount of time and effort to help others. So far, HOM have had 3000 volunteers.
Most of the volunteers of HOM are young professionals who could spare at least one or half of their free day. The students who go to HOM are required through the National Service Training Program (as replacement to ROTC) of universities. NSTP gives young people the first exposure to volunteerism. Their experience would teach them that volunteerism is worthwhile, not difficult, and definitely not boring because of the fulfillment they get in return. Young people could be with their peers and friends as suppose to the usual gimmicks and activities. Usually, volunteers get attach to the people they help and that’s what makes them go back.
Few of HOM projects include feeding to children, tutorial to kids in shelters, environmental activities and outreach to the sick available to their NGO affiliates. People could choose from any of their interests and any of the organizations where they would fit.
Lisa stresses that volunteerism doesn’t require financial capability to take part of this cause, just free time and willingness.
HOM invites everyone to its anniversary on October 24 at the NBC tent in the Fort, Makati where the awarding of Change the World through Volunteerism would be held. Anyone interested to join HOM is required to attend to one – hour monthly orientation. The contact numbers are 843-7044 – 843-5231.
iVolunteer.ph is the Philippines' First Volunteerism Portal. iVolunteer.ph seeks to promote volunteerism for social development by harnessing the power and reach of the Internet. iVolunteer.ph provides web-based facilities for non-stock and non-profit organizations to post volunteer opportunities in a intelligently-searcheable database for FREE! Interested volunteers can then conveniently browse these volunteer opportunities (vopp) by issue/cause, location, duration, and other parameters -- all at the convenience of their desktops. Online sign-up facilities are provided or volunteers may make arrangements with participating organizations directly. Some of the people behind
www.ivolunteer.ph graced the studio, Ms. Deanie Ocampo, Mark Ruiz, Regnard Raquedan, and Ms. Ritchie Magpayo.
Ritchie explains the three major features of the website include Volunteer Matching, where people could sign up to organizations; Resources on Volunteerism, where they can read articles, stories and events; Referral Service through the online e-groups where 600 individual volunteers are signed up to share information.
According to Deanie, iVolunteer was launched 3 years ago, during the country’s crisis with the toppled administration. Until now, newspapers and media have become too pessimistic. Their motivation is to do something that creates a positive cycle and that would encourage and give hope to the Filipinos. Through the website, individual volunteers tell their inspiring stories and experiences from simple to “grand work”, from a student visiting cancer patients to a MILF rebel returnee that started community development programs.
Mark says that iVolunteer recognizes that all sectors should come together and share the advocacy, from private, government and youth sectors. iVolunteer is like a “Friendster” on volunteerism where the supply and demand for volunteers meet.
Regnard, the Webmaster, plans to improve functionalities and the design of the site to adhere to standards. Through the Internet, people are no longer bounded by physical location. But the project itself faces challenges, because of the fact that less than 1/3 of Filipino homes have Internet access and many people are still computer illiterate. But they try to harness and maximize the available resources.
A special section of the site features the stories of different volunteers about their inspiring experiences. Deanie says that this is their way to give recognition to these unsung heroes overshadowed by too much negative news in media. These stories range from interaction with cancer patients to rebel returnees that help community programs.
This December, iVolunteer, would celebrate Volunteer Month where they would hold Volunteer Recognition Night. They plan to have a weeklong celebration of volunteers.
JOIN KA DITO!
Pocholo Gonzales (Voice of the Youth Network), Al Ian Barcelona (Philippine Youth Sphere) and Lloyd Luna (Network of Campus Journalist of the Philippines), gave a live report from Hotel Supreme Baguio City, with the leadership training of 162 Sangguniang Kabataan chairman and 15 SK Kagawad of Pasay City.
Greg Paulo, Pasay SK Federation President, says that they have been holding this seminar for the third year. This year, it’s about Team Building and leadership seminar. These seminars would greatly change the attitude and service of SK members. Andrea of Baranggay 58, Zone 7, promises that they would practice everything they have learned from the seminar. Luz of Baranggay 164, Zone 18, is just overwhelmed with the training. Christian learned more about himself and the purpose of his life. Greg Paulo thanks Pasay DILG, City Account and Mayor Pee Wee Trinidad for the success of the training.
YAN ANG EDITORYAL!
In the face of crisis and difficulties, what the Philippines needs right now are VOLUNTEERS. There is a renewed call for volunteerism to help the government and to help the nation. There is a need to celebrate and recognize these ordinary people who are willing to give part of their selves for the country through development work. And LKTKR would be more than welcome to honor these young volunteers, these everyday heroes that we should all look up to and would someday, really change the world by affecting an individual
