They say that the future is in the hands of the youth and that everything should be in proper cases to completely mold them into better leaders that our world needs. Bombarded with lessons, books, life teachings and many more but are the youth just good with it?

Our place is subjected to many factors, factors that can withstand and factors that shouldn’t be. We all have the voice to address these problems yet our hands are bound when action arises. This coming election, promises, and extravagant favors are given and dropped here and there. Promises that our young and youth look up to and depend for guidance and for the needed implementation.  We are all tired of this enclosed and carried by the wind sweet words of action, change, and betterment, supposedly.

This coming election, the youth will have their own voice, an identity, no more bounds and no more discrimination. The youth will hold what they possess and I, an advocate of child’s security and youth’s capabilities will stand by their side and seek for better and legal plots of change.  We will continue to uplift and focus on what we share and eradicate the barriers that divide us as a nation. We should be honest to fix the wrong things and must not tolerate the aftermath of the past illegal ways and their cunning spree practices. The change we pray shouldn’t be like the inked pages enclosed in covers that can only be appreciated by the privileged. Change should be introduced to everyone no matter what race, gender, age, status, or where you come from. Change is what we need, and I believe that the youth has a say on this and that they shouldn’t be covered or pampered because the youth are warriors of our hope. They are our thinking warriors.

All of us have the upper hand who to vote and who will be the next board for the upcoming years. No one should be set aside because everyone belongs to the population of next voters. The time where our power is put into test and flames and the power of who we voted for. We can make progress, but for us to do so, I need your vote. Stand with me, and together we will build a land where youths can express, see prosperity, and see no threat.

 

Amilanto, Alaina Therese

Liwag, Ava Victoria

“We’re a blessed nation because we can grow our own food and, therefore, we’re secure. A nation that can feed its people is a nation more secure.”

     This quote from the late president of the United States, George Bush, is an irony that perfectly describes the situation of our country today. The Philippines is primarily an agricultural country with 30 million hectares wide of land area, 47% of which is agricultural land. Ideally, this must translate that we are capable of producing our own food and thus, likewise be able to provide security to our own people. However, in the current paradigm existing in society, why is the Philippines struggling to provide food for its own people?

     The agricultural sector, in fact, still faces numerous concerns in the way of its progress; over the past six decades, both internal and external bottlenecks constrained its performance and growth. Only recently, the lifting of the ban on imported rice and the implementation of the rice tariff has been set in motion. This just means that the private sector can now freely import rice from a foreign business without any concern for limitations. This exigence leads us to a dilemma between the benefit of the private sector, and the pressure exerted on the agricultural industry, specifically municipal self-sustenance farmers.

     Tayong mga pinoy ay natural na matipid. Bakit pa tayo bibili ng mahal kung meron namang mura? Sapagkat, ‘wag nating pakakalimutan ang mga kapatid natin na sa pagsasaka na lamang kumakapit. Kung may paraan man, ito ay dapat kung saan tayong lahat ang makikinabang.

     Inclusivity. I believe that our growth as a nation is also measured by how much we help those in the hems of society. Although we should not deny the average man of the opportunity to avail cheaper commodity, we must also recognize that our local farmers will suffer due to people picking the cheaper product. In the middle of all this, it seems that both sides must find a common ground to compromise, not just for the benefit of one sector, but of both parties.

     There are battles in the sidelines that are as equally important, if not more. Battles that don’t get as much coverage or media attention but the outcome of these battles decide whether we, the human race, survive or perish. It’s time we wake up and recognize that the daily battles of the oppressed and the marginalized are our roaring battles, too.

     To answer the question, “why choose an agriculture-related platform?”, here is my answer: to become a doctor of the sea, a lawyer for the fisherfolk, a champion of the future. This is the battle that I choose to sign-up for, this is the cause that I wish to champion, this is how I will change our lives.

     Ito ang magiging paraan ko upang mabago itong mapait nating kasalukuyan; magiging paraan natin.

 

by Francis Gideon Tagnong & Divine Angela Serag

 

 

 

 

               Do you remember how many years it has been since you started voting? Do you still recall the promises made by those candidates who were begging for your votes? For many years we, Filipinos, have been used to the chaotic and misleading platforms of these aspiring government officials. We became used to electing the same person to lead us which blinds us the reality. But, today is the time for us to change our actions and act for our future and the future of the next generations, our children, grandchildren and our loved ones. We Filipinos need to stand and fight not only for our rights, but also for our children, the younger generation. We don’t want them to live in a society governed by greedy officials. We have the power to change the future. We can help each other by exercising our right to vote wisely for deserving public officials.  

We all share the same sentiment regarding this matter because I, you, us, the citizens of the Philippines want what’s best for this country and for our children to live in place where there is harmony and peace. I have observed and experienced myself the things you wanted to voice out. All together, we will lead a government where the whispers of the marginalized and less privileged sectors of the society will be heard and the advocacies of the government will benefit both the economy and its people. A country that allows personal growth and improvement of its people towards a more empowered establishment that would bring great changes in our economy, society and nature. The choice originates from the moment we shade our ballots. We can’t keep repeating the same mistake as yesterday. We are vigilant and educated citizens. We have the power if we will, and I know we can.

 

-Potato
-Sante
-Rasgo

               

 

A Speech by a Presidential Candidate

By: Zoe Rein Isobelle J. Florete and John Patrick G. Octavio

Greetings fellow Ilonggos and fellow scholars ng bayan. I remember when I was in college I’d always stop by the beach at sunset and look at how beautiful the world can be. I’d be sitting in front of the college buildings, which by the way is still around today. And of course, speaking of buildings that are still around, is “bangs” still open? Kidding aside, I would like to thank you all for coming to this event, and as well as for the unwavering support you have given me. We came a long way but here we are, and here I am, in front of you students.

Now looking back to where this campaign all started, and to address the question, “Why I ran as the president”, then let me tell you, as a college student of the most prestigious university in the country, it was our responsibility as scholars ng bayan to serve and protect our country and the rights of all the Filipino people. It burdens me that a current crisis has arisen these past few weeks from our brothers and sisters from Mindanao that had been affected by the strong typhoons that had hit our country. Let me take this time, to tell the family of those who had their loved ones lost in that incident, my deepest condolences and let us hope that those people in Mindanao would be helped and eventually saved from that disaster.

To tell you, I had been there, I had seen their suffering, and not in Mindanao, but I had been travelling around the country, and all I saw was people suffering on every corner, inflicted by natural disasters, poverty, and effects of corruption that had made our fellow countrymen suffer. I saw students suffering from injustice, student groups who had been silenced and red tagged as activists. I saw families not able to eat proper meals or even afford proper clothing and housing. I saw the struggles of the Filipino people who cannot afford to send their children to school because of the miscellaneous expenses. I saw Filipino families who are broken because of the lost lives of their family members who tried to fight for the rights of every Filipino but were persecuted because of it. I’ve had enough and I told myself, “This has to end, and this country needs change”.

With all that, I decided whole heartedly to offer my body, spirit, and soul, to serve the Filipino people, as I am not just an advocate for the people, I also have been a student who fought for the rights of students and battled so that everyone could attain free education. As a woman I also had my everyday battles on how to deal with catcalling because of the clothes I wear.

Through running as a president, I can and I will bring change. I advocate that every student must not only attain free education in the form free tuition and school fees, as free education must also mean that there should be no return of service, there should be no other payments in projects and field trips, and most especially free education must also provide for the cost of living of the students, this ensures that every student in the country does not only have free tuition but would also have access to free food, free fare, and free lodging as long as you are enrolled in any university. I want every Filipino, to be able to afford, quality food and eat three meals a day. I want every Filipino to have a household full of happiness and without despair. Most importantly, I want every Filipina to feel safe on the streets even at night without having someone to look over their shoulders. I want our country, the Philippines, to progress into something better, the country that our Filipino heroes sacrificed themselves for and the country that is worth dying for. Let us turn ourselves from being a spectator and start becoming a participant. Help me change the country we live in, into a country without injustice, a country without poverty and corruption. Let this country be full of Filipino people enjoying their rights, to safety and education. Let me serve you and I promise that all will change for the better.

If you would have told me I would be running for President someday I would’ve never believed you. I was never the type to be the first to raise my hand during class or volunteered to be the leader during group assignments. It’s not that I didn’t want to, but because I felt there was someone there that could do a better job than I could. I’ve never been the best and I’ve never been the worst, I’ve always considered myself as somewhere along the middle of all that. Maybe you do, too. Maybe the rest of you out there  feel the same way I do – scared and afraid to make mistakes, but it’s time for us to take a leap that creates a ripple of change.

Life, as we know it, is all about choices- this one’s mine. I’m not going to fight the system but I aim to improve it. Growing up with a Pastor as a father, it is ingrained in me that a man’s word is heavier than any stone, but I have also seen how one can be caged in because of it.  I will not promise you things I can’t keep because I was raised to always walk what I talk, to always practice what I preach. So if I say I’m going to do it, know that I will do everything possible in order to keep it. Nevertheless, I ask you to keep in mind that I am human, too. I can’t promise you every event, speaking engagement and decision is going to be perfect but they will all be well thought out and carefully done.

There is no blueprint to success because it everything is a game of risk. So bet on me because I won’t let you down.

 

By:

Mary Queen Agdalipe

Hannah Kathleen Labrador

To the people of this nation,

I stand before you as a witness to the gradual degradation of our oceans. The once vast, beautiful and rich aquatic resources have become an unbearable pile of dump ever since the evolution of technology and the rise of advanced human consciousness in our country. Numerous aquatic species have been swimming not in clean and fresh water but in plastics and other harmful garbage which were thrown in the ocean. As a result, the levels of their population keep on decreasing every single year. Garbage disposal is not only the problem which we are experiencing but also bycatch, discards, and illegal fishing. Indeed, the ocean can satisfy our needs but how long?

This nation needs a strong and determined person who will fight with sheer willpower and integrity that will hoist the sails of this country which will direct the people to the right path where the real change leads to. I know change takes time to process but if we do it together we can leap through those obstacles to envision a sustainable community not only for us but also for our aquatic resources and the lives of our marginalized fisherfolks.

My dear Filipinos, help me reach this advocacy of ours. Help me to help you stand up again and redeem this forsaken resource. This is the time that we wake up! This is the time to answer the cries of the ocean! This is the time to move and step up for the succeeding future waiting to be unveiled!

 

Article by:

Alar, Noreen Beah

Balad-on, Nicole

Thank you for inviting me in this wonderful province of Ibarra, such an ironically cold place because of the weather but filled with heartwarming welcome of the people.

Let me introduce myself first to everyone here. I am Luzviminda Manalo from Iloilo.

I stand here today to tell you a story of this woman who surpassed all the hardships in life in order to come to this point. In the past few months, a lot of people have been asking me, “Why run for presidency?”.

My answer is simple. I wanted to experience growth and stability, a breath of fresh air, a smile in the faces of every person I will meet, among others this nation deserve to experience and live by.

Like you, I experienced living in the rural area– the lowest priority of this country in this time. I lived in a town where jobs are not available and buying the basic necessities would nearly be impossible or most of the times, cannot be afforded. My parents do not have jobs. They plant vegetables in our backyard and sell it to nearby towns in order to sustain us. Schools were also not accessible. It would take hours of walk in order to get to school because of undeveloped road. Healthcare is nowhere to be found nearby. This is sad, but its true. The law provides for our human rights embellished under Article 3 of the 1987 Constitution. Yes, we have rights, but sadly we are deprived.

We have had several presidents who lead this country but the problem in poverty could not be fully eradicated. We cannot eradicate poverty as long as there is one Filipino who cannot afford the basic necessities of a human being.

If I become the President, I will make an outline plan for economic revival. It is a bold and forward-looking plan to increase jobs and opportunities for the Filipino people. I would also make education accessible because it is the basic right of everybody, the children and any one else who wanted to pursue their ambitions in life. Through education, we can stop this cycle of poverty. Corruption is a cause, which is why i stand here in front of you to lead a transparent government, if ever i win this position. We Filipinos, deserve more than this.

Of course, I cannot fulfill these promises alone. I need you, I need each and every Filipino of this country to support me. The road may be rough, the journey may be tough, but if you join and support me, it would surely be worthwhile. Hand in hand, side by side, we shall conquer poverty.

Written by: Honey June Gabiota and Klynne Clarise Kuizon

Ladies and gentlemen, it is so humbling to see every one of you who have journeyed from different places join this electoral campaign.

Our country has come to a crossroad, and you have the power to change the political landscape of the Philippines. In my heart, I believe that you came here not to see me, not to listen to me, but you came here today because like me, you believe that our country can become great and you want to become active players in the endeavor of building a great nation. I believe that like me, you believe that in the face of extreme poverty, we Filipinos have been experiencing ever since the time of our ancestors because of corruption. We can stop corruption, which, like rust eating away iron, has slowly eaten us away at the very core of our values, of our being, corruption which has caused  the people of this great nation to be poor, not only in material provision but most especially, to become poor in the spirit of patriotism. I believe that like me, you believe that there is peace and order, justice and equality in the face of rampant criminality and unjust and unfair trials.

And if elected as the leader of this country, in the halfway of being in the position, my vision of a country where there is peace, order, justice, and equality, will come into reality. A change that we will be able to see.

We may be a state of 7,641 islands, a nation speaking more than a hundred dialect, but we are one country, one nation, one people, and together, we shall have one great future. And I promise to give my all to my elected position, and address all the issues that will be raised by you, the people of this country.

Article by:

Apid, Jannah Grace

Caparino, Shanine Trishia

Yumang, Sebastienne

To my Fellow Countrymen Good Morning,

                 I know some of you may hate speeches but I encourage you to be part of my advocacy for pure service. We have seen the remarkable changes that our country is experiencing right now. We have seen dramatically the increase of prices due to the current laws, the shed of blood on the slums of Manila or the Philippines rather, the heavy traffic along the EDSA, the left and right rallies by our fellow countrymen who are hungry for changes. The love story of Jonel and Leila De Lima that released  big scale plunder cases. These changes are just a mere examples of our current situation that may lead our country to great depression.

                Our country is crying in the doubt of its future. I know we are all tired of all the flowery and breakable promises of politicians since then, but I am standing here in front of you to make you believe that there is still someone ready to serve this country with pure heart, I may not be perfect but because I was once a victim of politicians’ fake promises and dark intentions, it urges me to represent the common people who is hoping for a true change in our dead and dirty government.

               Philippines needs a person who will help the youth uplift their importance, who  will bring progress to agricultural land and waters. A person who will promote equality, who will give opportunities in all Filipino workers, who will put effort in education, and a person who will not run for money but for the people.

               We gather here today, not to put us in danger but to save our country from the tyrannical patriarchy. Do you see what i see? A land lead by crocodiles and puppets that is a great grimace. We must be awakened in this reality, foresee a better community not only for me, for you but for all of us Filipinos.  

                A country that we dreamed on, living not only on our imagination but now we are gradually grasping it with our hand. With your precious vote, together lets hold and see a better future that awaits us. No one will be left behind. Vote for me if you want a  hope for our country. Thank you.

 

Article by:

NIQUE, SHENNA MAE P.

PALAFOX, MAURIZ GRACE M.

Amilanto, Alaina Therese and Liwag, Ava Victoria

Globalization and modernization gave birth to many innovations may it be in technology, fashion, physical and internal art, culture, practices, and even words. An addition to terms and to communication spree, it paved the path to new connections and established a much more meaningful approach besides physical contact and intimate words used for affection and influence (Arango, 2008). It has been 57 years since the blooming of the seed of which everything started. It was in the year 1962, when the very first satellite was launched in hopes of connecting people all over the world and merged the influence of graphics and broadcast media. These became the stepping stones of interaction, communication and feedback. Though the stones were not that fully dependable just yet, that didn’t stop the experiments and researches for development and achieve success in the period of supposedly digital age and everything has been carried out up until now, not the same but deemed to be better.

“Moving to the Cloud” from https://techsupportcomedy.com/moving-to-the-cloud/

The way communication progressed have been a major factor in people’s way of living (Kaul, 2012). Before, there were no pens nor paper but merely expressions and words. Communication and sharing in many forms has been observed since day one of breathing. From short noted sounds, to aggressive and expressive actions, and has always been an endeavor to daily whereabouts and exchanged between living species. As time went by, we seek for permanence of information thus print media was invented and as we become subjected to dynamic application, different forms were introduced with the help of technology. Technology has been helping us see a wider view of how and what are the measures that can be done to communicate easier and conveniently.  It became the tool to see what is technically possible and what is desirable to the mass. From codes encoded individually to snap and scan of expressions, everything has all been replaced by easier access and tools.

Imagine, in just a span of 57 years, manually encoded messages are now developed and designed to be easier by just the power of encoding through speech and even automatic transcription.  With just more than 50 years, different brands and models were introduced varying in unique features showcasing different futuristic designs and application. What more after another 50 years? Will the physical features be replaced by flying invisible gadgets that can easily read your minds with a snap of a finger? Or maybe by just clapping a certain sequence can be an equivalent to one sentence or maybe a paragraph meant to be said. All these futuristic designs were only achieved through science fiction novels that turned into proposals and now a living embodiment of the rapid change and powerful minds of inventors and scientists.

In addition to increasing the speed on the access of information at our fingertips, the Internet has added a whole new dimension to communication. Becoming the author of a printed book may take many years of frustrated effort, but becoming a publisher of online material requires little more than the click of a button and all thanks to social media platforms. Innovations like the touch screen and voice operated gadgets are in trend but is also subjected to gradual change and will never be the trend forever.  A change that is slowly reaching its peak is the future of communication with augmented reality. It is the future of seeing the universe and its proponents through a technological overlay. Applications, games, and even the famous augmented reality glasses are reaching its famous tag by letting you see places and people you’ve never reached before. This future stimulates expectations and the accepting of technical communication that aims to overcome barriers. Not just language barriers but as well as physical and other external barriers (Coates, 2007). The upcoming generation will have an access to a lot more personal information and will be introduced to different nations, language, and with the help of the fast making of several emojis designated for different types of emotions, expressions without seeing the users face is comprehendible yet risk on understanding the true intention might grow to confusion. These innovations and communication through this mean is rapidly growing but are we really responsible enough to adapt and be revolutionized by this technology?

According to Kraut (1998), technological driven communication is good, it helps spread information easier, connect with people far from you, and reach out to people you want to reach out. But still, nothing beats the purpose of physical eye contact and warmth of people when communicating. The connection is still different from several circuits and wires designed to move and communicate.

We become more empathetic and compassionate because we personally see and hear the discussions. The interpersonal communication is still influenced by the rapid change but as possible should still be considered and not meddled by technological means (Terrel, 2018).

There should still be a clear line for the usage of such machines and means as we humans main drive is to communicate; may it be with effort or more.

 

 

References

Arango, T. (2008).World Falls for American Media, Even as It Sours on America.  New York Times, Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/01/business/media/01soft.html

Coates, T. (2007).Confessions of a 30-Year-Old Gamer.Time. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1577502,00.html

Kaul, V. (2012).The Changing World of Media & Communication. J. Mass Commun Journalism 2:116. doi:10.4172/2165-7912.1000116 Retrieved from https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/the-changing-world-of-media-and-communication-2165-7912.1000116.php?aid=6473

Kraut, R. (1998). Internet Paradox: A Social Technology That Reduces Social Involvement and Psychological Well-Being? American Psychologist. Retrieved from http://psycnet.apa.org/index.cfm?fa=buy.optionToBuy&id=1998-10886-001

Terrel, S. (2018). What Are Interpersonal Skills And Why Are They Important? [Blog post] Retrieved from  https://blog.mindvalley.com/what-are-interpersonal-skills/amp/