By Erik Espina
A FEW months post “EDSA One,” the new government in libidinous desire to rid government of anything and everything identifiable with the previous administration initiated what was the Konsultahang Kabataan. This was made-up of youth groups allied with the climactic “yellow” fad at the time. The convention was held in Laguna, and I sent my Vice President, Al Lopez (later appointed Youth Sectoral Congressman) to represent Young-UNIDO which I headed under the leadership of Salvador “Doy” Laurel. Even at the time, the yawning schism between UNIDO versus Cory faction was palpable.
I desisted attending the consultative gathering, for one, to shoe-horn the junking of the Kabataang Barangay. A change in people and membership was more substantive than a benediction of new faces and the christening of the Sangguniang Kabataan.
Fast forward to 2018, the lab test proceeding from the ideal concept of cascading “non-partisan” elections to the Sangguniang Kabataan thrown into a highly politicized cauldron of barangay campaigning with LGU incumbent officials clearly involved e.g. congressmen, governors, vice-governors, provincial board members, mayors, etc. and their opponents in 2019, infects the bosom of the nation. The younger generation, tutored early, “money politics” and “dirty tricks” are bread and butter for winning elections.
Our children are waking-up, that elections are an expensive/money-making proposition. Who you know spells a big difference. This is street-smart political survival 101. So unlike campus politics, where leadership standing, campus recognition and principles or ideology, is staple for winning Student Governments. I was and is against our kids running as candidates in Sangguniang Elections for said “influences.” Rather, all youth (volunteer) groups may have themselves accredited at the barangay or LGU level, and in that direction, propose/initiate helpful and commendable youth-oriented/community projects for appropriation by local councils. Volunteerism is the key!
