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MANILA, Philippines – Inspired by President Barack Obama’s call for social change, 59 young Filipinos, became part of an experience that allowed them to share their thoughts on how to effect this.
“Change should start from each and every Filipino. But for this to happen, Filipinos should be educated first, what are our goals, where we are now, and what needs to be done to achieve that goal,” said Francis Oliver Sison, who works in a non-profit social development foundation, in response to a survey by the SEAchange movement, partner organization of Youth Asia, which staged the Youth Engagement Summit (YES) held November 16-17 at the Putrajaya International Convention Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“It is sad that Filipinos are going to school just for the sake of getting a diploma, and not to learn,” added Joel Cubol, a student of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City in his response to the same survey.
YES 2009 Organizing chairman Harmandar Singh said in a statement that there was a need for positive social change, which was the message articulated by Obama during his campaign.
The Filipino delegates were among the 600,000 youths in Southeast Asia whose answers to the three survey questions posted by the SEAchange movement won for them an all-expense paid summit pass worth $2,500.
For these Filipino youths, poverty, environment, governance, and education are the pressing issues in the country that need to be addressed.
“I feel bad to see fellow Filipinos living below poverty line, unable to eat 3 times a day, while the people in power, who are supposed to provide the necessary social services to help the poor can manage to spend $20,000 for a single dinner date,” said Hera Barrameda-Zulueta, events coordinator from Iloilo.
“We should be committed to all the good values we already have. We claim to be a religious nation but doesn’t act like one in walking the talk,” said Michael Paul Cocauco of Zamboanga City.
For Roxanne Delay, a psychology student from UP Diliman, there should be strict implementation of codes/rules that aimed to protect the environment while Hannah Quijano of Iligan City believed that it was necessary to change the “crab mentality” and the “bahala na” attitudes of Filipinos.
Global icons such as Twitter’s co-founder Biz Stone, Facebook’s Marketing Director Randi Zuckerberg, Plane crash survivor Nando Parado, Music icon and founder of Live8 and Live Aid Bob Geldof, Chess Legend Garry Kasparov, World Bank’s managing director Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, Air Asia’s founder Tony Fernandes, marketing director of London 2012 Olympics David Magliano and business tycoon Donald Trump served as speakers in the two-day summit while CNN’s former host Lorraine Hahn facilitated the forum.
“You as young people have the responsibility to do moral choices right now, not when you’re grown up,” said Ramphele, who talked about ethics, morals, and sexism in Africa.
Ramphele talked about how she overcame discrimination and stood up to become a medical doctor.
“Black women are at the bottom of the food chain but through the years, we overcome stereotypes and define ourselves as black people and we’re proud as who we are,” said Ramphele.
On the other hand, Geldof shared how music anchored their message of change in the Live8 concert to help Africans suffering in hunger and poverty in 2005.
“Young people should always question, demand answers and request leadership. Everyone has the exact same potential if they’re given the exact same opportunity,” said Geldof.
“Leaders are born but you can make yourself a leader through knowledge and respect. People will respect you when you do your work properly,” added Trump.
The 2nd Youth Engagement Summit in 2010 is scheduled in Indonesia.
