Postponement
After so much preparation on this year's Sangguniang Kabataan election, it gets postponed again - for the second time.
My memories of the Sangguniang Kabataan were not so vivid either. Five years ago when I was still eligible to vote for this sector, I had no idea what it entailed. Apart from the fact that my childhood friend was a candidate for councilor and that he needed to win. It was kind of weird though, there was nobody against their party except for a brave young man who wanted to be the SK chairman. Their victory was already a given but they still celebrated it anyway and I was on a high mood. Soon after, the real work begun. Projects were visible yes, but they were the usual - basketball courts and waiting sheds. Way to go, SK.
The span of time where one is to be part of the SK is only about two years. When I was a little bit over the mark, I was shocked when I was sent a 50 peso bill in front of our doorstep. It was a form of "pahalipay", an advanced thank you for the vote which I was supposedly about to make. What a shame. My vote was only worth fifty pesos, or a chicken fillet meal in a fastfood chain. At least that candidate thought of the meal I was about to take, but I sent back the envelope to its sender.
With the postponement of the election, it makes me think twice on what this governing body is actually all about (apart from being the voice of the youth). The National Youth Commission wants to reform the Sangguniang Kabataan. They have found loopholes in the system which they want to change such as the age of eligibility, autonomy when it comes to funds, and the dynasty system that seems to lurk on forever. Typically in the barangays, the daughter or son of the barangay captain sits as the SK chairman. It is a never-ending issue of power.
But there are also those who want to serve the public with their whole heart. These are teenagers who have the passion for leadership because they believe that the system, though small in a society's sense, could help the youth. They have an idealistic thinking that their projects and activities would divert the youth's attention from apathy into a form of forward thinking which in turn would rebate a generation that has an oozing love for the country. Very, very ideal.
Now, there are two sides to the story. One wants the election to push through because the youths' right to the system while the other wants it postponed so that efficient changes may push through. There is no need to take sides, what we need is a thorough study of what may happen from the decisions that are to be made.
The Senate has already made its stand but the formality is awaited. Looking back on my experiences as a young student leader, I did not have to delve in into politics just to get a few people to be on the right track. Leadership by example is key - not by grueling on who gets the seat. That's the problem with the young these days. They think that whatever looks good on them - personally or online - makes them popular and influential but that is not the way things work. True leadership is set on a foot and taken into action.
There is just too much to handle on this issue. We might as well place the stress to good use, never mind the postponement.
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