Land is Life. For Survival. Identity. Self-determination.

October 29 was declared as a national holiday - not because of any commemmoration or significant celebration, but because of the upcoming barangay and youth election.

let me say this clearly, i don’t see the point of why continue holding such expensive appropariation of government fund which only yields and give us the whole community often inutile officials who climb into power because of bribe mainly consists of 100 peso bill or some grocery items like rice, sugar, noodles and canned goods. to those who want to refute this claim, tell me one official who did not resort in bribing his or her constituent just for a single vote.

Many mayors called for the abolition of the Sangguniang Kabataan. I in one, agreewith them. SK officials could not divide their time between schoolwork and responsibilities in the SK. I believed that SK does not necessarily represent the youth. True that youths have the inherent right to sepak themselves with regards to the development of their community but the question is, are they capable enough in decision-making that is free from any parental if not, influence from people with vested self-interest?

More so, like the brangay officials, like in the case of many bangays in teh rural areas, projects run from barangay post, beautification projects and greening stuffs (with colored bamboo fences and newly planted flowering plants), distribution of trashcans that are supposed to be a part of waste-segregation scheme but is not effective for most people are unaware of the basics of waste segregation. On one hand, SK projects,most, if not in general, are those of erecting basketball courts and conducting annual basketball tournaments like paliga spending much on the uniforms of the participants. The rest, I do not know of other existing projects that SK can be proud of and is worthwhile to the rest of their peers and colleauges. Guess the mayors are right, SK officials could not respond to the demands of schooling much more to deviate and avoid being engulfed by trapo…

Let not be SK the breeding ground and the stepping stone of corrupt and inutile politicians. I am not saying that these young people are already corrupt, nevertheless, corruptible because of vulnerable and still, unstable mental, emotional and spiritual framework…psychologically speaking, these young people, are still on the verge of forming their identities…one’s search on who really a person is, is such a traumatic event if one cannot overcome and surpass and we are here, giving them added responsibilities of school and politics.

If we do not want our young people represented by the SK as youth capable only of giving and initiating projects like basketball tournaments and courts, I guess we have to be wiser in coming into agenda which will highlight the true and innate capability of Filipino youth…