Thus, our task after this disastrous and fraudulent election isn’t to book flights overseas nor to scorn our country as an unlovable mess. No. Our task is simple but arduous: to educate, organize, and mobilize the masses; to awaken more of our messiah.
Aside from the free public education, included in their agenda are decent jobs for the youth and the people; improved healthcare and other social services; clean and affordable energy, water and utilities; increased awareness and focus on mental health; better telecommunications and internet; good governance and youth empowerment; promotion of democratic rights in and out of campuses; gender equality and end to discrimination and environmental preservation and climate action.
“The youth should take part in the politics. We should not just settle and impose our criticisms through social media, it is not enough in this kind of political status, where there is a dictator. The youth must stand together and encourage other youth organizations to join the plight of the people.”
“Our diligent study of history and our present experiences have proven that martial law has done no good to the youth or to the Filipino people in general.”
“If we recall, during the Marcos dictatorship, the first thing he did was to suppress the media.
While the domestic and international currents tend to make a person pessimistic, hope abounds. For young activists, the previous year has three lessons that may be used to further uphold people’s rights, interests, and welfare.
Our unities should be based on the recognition that our enemies are not each other but the oppressive state. We have seen this when the fraternities of UP declared fratwar, not against each other but a fratwar against budget cuts, fratwar against Lumad killings, or the frat war against tyranny and fascism.
“The presence of the Lumad schools in UST is a big step because it helps push other schools to do the same.”
The mobilization provided the exact opportunity to gain perspective and learn about society for among its ranks are national minorities, workers, migrant Filipinos, and delegates from Southern Tagalog, Bicol, and Central Luzon among others. Study circles were an integral part of the mobilization and as soon as the program on the stage started, the youth were quick to settle down to conduct discussions that define fascism and outline the present political situation.
“As CHED has confessed, it limits free education beneficiaries so as to prevent exodus from private schools and to ensure enrollees and profits for private schools.”
On Sunday night, May 20, Filipino women also launched the #BabaeAko campaign, highlighting how women are willing to fight against the President’s misogynistic behavior.