Our resilience can only go for so long. Everyone must act now, including the YOUTH.

OUR WORLD IN THE PANDEMIC

For almost a year now, the world has been suffering from Covid-19, a new coronavirus disease that emerged from China last year. As per John Hopkins Medicine, its main cause is yet to be determined but many researchers and scientists hypothesized that it came from a seafood market in Wuhan, China where visitors of the said marketplace acquired a viral pneumonia caused by the virus. Other studies, however, stated otherwise. This disease can infect other through droplets that can stay in the air for which is why it always advised to maintain physical distancing and to wear face masks and face shields.

STATE OF THE NATION

Our country faces a lot of natural disasters every year. Earthquakes, typhoons, and threats of volcanic erruption are no longer new to us. This year, however, was out of ordinary.

Last January, Taal volcano showed signs of eruption; spewing hazardous volcanic ash with persisting tremors that affected thousands of families in CALABARZON. And just a few weeks later, our country recorded its first Covid-19 case. It was only a matter of few weeks when the cases boomed, forcing the national government to enforce the Luzon lockdown.

State of the masses

This health crisis that our country and whole world has been going through did not only affect the health sector, but affected all the other sectors, as well.

Unemployment rate increased from 5.4% last year to 17% this year in April, but went down to 10% when there has been an ease in quarantine regulations. Still, it is a significant number of Filipinos jobless and in need of temporary subsidy from the government.

A lot of small local businesses have closed down,too, due to irregularities of customers and supplies brought about by long lockdowns and strict qurantine protocols.

In education, around 3 million students have dropped out, which accounts for 11% of last year’s enrolment. This may have exceeded the expected 80% rate for this year, however, there is no assurance that every student will graduate or finish the school year.

And just recently, we were struck by typhoons that devastated many parts of the country; Luzon received the heaviest hit. Help from all over the world has been pouring, with our bayanihan showing once again. Many organizations have started initiatives that cater to the needs of people from different sectors affected by various circumstances. Surprisingly, many of these organizations are actually youth-led. Yes! High school and university students are among those who started initiatives amid the pandemic. Indeed, the youth is our hope!

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YOUTH BAYANIHAN

As ‘iskolar ng bayan’, more importantly, as part of the Filipino YOUTH, it is essential that we extend help for one another and contribute to the betterment of our community in times of crisis. We may only be students but it is never too early contribute and be part of a solution. Being part of youth does not detach us from the reality that we will be managing this country soon, and from the responsibilities as citizens of this nation. And so, it only reasonable that we act now in every means that we can. We must also be an example to the younger ones in our sector, so that they may also be responsible citizens in the future.

QUESCI AGAPAY

Featuring our very own organization, QueSci Agapay is an initiative of the Supreme Student Government that aims to address the needs of students and teachers who have been greatly affected by the pandemic. So far, it has already launched MELODEASE, an online benefit concert, as well as, a donation drive for our dear teacher, Ms. Gapas. Currently, it has a donation drive for the members of the Scientian community who were greatly devastated by Typhoon Rolly and Ulysses.

ANAKBAYAN UP DILIMAN

Anakbayan UP Diliman is a chapter of Anakbayan, the most comprehensive national democratic mass organization in the Philippines. AB UPD regularly conducts basic masses integration and commmunity outreach, as well as, organize rallies and mobilizations. Currently, they canot conduct BMIs due to the pandemic, but they have continued its community outreach and mobilizations. So far, they are conducting community kitchens and literacy programs, educational discussions, and relief operations.

UP Geology Majors’ Society

UP Geology Majors’ Society, UP GeMS, is a group of geology students who advocates for academic excellence and protection of the environment. Founded on February 19, 1975 at the Parks and Wildlife, it actively participates in college and NIGS activities and continues to execute and achieve its objectives as a college based organization. Their main goal is to create a new generation of environmental leaders by introducing into the classroom and the community environmental experiences that are so active and engaging that they inspire dedication to a healthy environment

UP Geology Majors’ Society is an organization in the University of the Philippines that has been active in relief operations for the victims of the recent typhoons. “Taguyod: Alalay kay Bantay” is an initiative of theirs that aims to respond to the needs of ‘mga bantay sa gubat’ or forest defenders of Rizal. They have been gathering donations and funds from different projets such as COOKIED MNL that sells home-baked cookies. This organization has also been firm in protecting and promoting the rights of Filipino citizens–forest defenders or not.

KATRIBU UPD

The Kabataan para sa Tribung Pilipino – UP Diliman Chapter (KATRIBU UPD) is a non-profit, non-partisan, youth oriented, university-based voluntary student organization composed of University of the Philippines Diliman students who advocate for the collective rights of the indigenous peoples of the Philippines to their ancestral lands and right to self-determination. KATRIBU UPD aims to forward the issues of the IPs of the Philippines to other sectors, especially the youth, and to be one with them in the fight for national sovereignty, freedom, and democracy. It is the official student arm of KATRIBU Philippines in UP Diliman, affiliated with different KATRIBU Chapters in Metro Manila.

This organization has been also been involved in relief operations for the communities of indigenous people. They have been raising funds through online benefit concerts and other activities.

ISKO-OPS

An initiative of the UP Community, Isko-Ops continuously unites organizations and members of the University of the Philippines in responding to the needs not only of their members but other kababayans as well. They have already extended their help to the victims of Taal eruption, Covid-19, and the recent typhoons. It currently holds its relief operations in UP College of Science Library where you will find its students, teachers, parents, and staffs actively repacking and participating in different kinds of relief ops.

THE YOUTH INITIATIVE PHILIPPINES

The Youth Initiative 2020 (YI) was formed in response to the growing threat of COVID-19 in the country. Its objective is to aid in gathering donations and supplies for hospitals in Metro Manila, especially those designated for COVID-19.

AMBAGAN PH

Ambagan PH is a non-profit, non-stock organization which aims to promote volunteerism and cooperation among Filipinos. It is a network of volunteers formed to respond in crisis situations and help the vulnerable sectors of society.

Wanna know how you can help?

Of course, some of us really have no means of going outside to do relief ops or have spare money for donation, but you can still help! Here are some ways in which the youth has used their skills and creativity to help our kababayans.

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If you’re not skilled in baking/cooking or not an artistic person, you may also donate clean unused or rarely used clothes, blankets and bed sheets, and toys. However, due to the pandemic, government agencies are strict in accepting such donations. You may coordinate with NGOs or youth orgs that will accept and clean them to lessen the risk of spreading the virus.

“The youth is the hope of our future.”

-Jose Rizal

References:

• Lopez, M. L. (n.d.). 4.6M Filipinos jobless in July as unemployment worsens in Metro Manila – PSA. Retrieved September 3, 2020, from https://cnnphilippines.com/business/2020/9/3/PSA-July-unemployment-figures.html?fbclid=IwAR31fdY0J0DJXUNnsGx3NprT9lQmIzFx4nWqz6EKLDuf0xObgeKuTtanYrk.
• Mateo, J. (2020, October 5). As Classes Open, ‘Learning Crisis’ Highlighted With Millions Of Students Left Behind. One News. https://www.onenews.ph/as-classes-open-learning-crisis-highlighted-with-millions-of-students-left-behind

_{How was my blog? Was it informative? Did it help you realize your role and importance in this pandemic or did it lack in content? Comment your insights down below. Your opinions would be of great help in my improvement. Thank you!}

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“Balak mo ba maging aktibista?”

My auntie asked me that once when she saw that I have been frequently criticizing her beloved Duterte. At first I thought it was a compliment, but only until when she told me that I should focus more on my studies instead of bickering about political issues. When I asked my grandma what her first impression of me would be based on my Facebook posts, she told me that one could immediately label me as a critic of the government. According to her, I seem ‘palaban’ and that I often voice out my opinion about the government and on national issues. I was quite pleased with what she said, although the way she described how I voice out my judgments made it sound like I was being entitled to my own opinion only.

It is true that I often criticize the government now that I am knowledgeable on many things. I am aware of how people see me as someone who would share my sentiments about the government and prevailing problems in our country and the society. However, I also happen to be conscious of how my stance on certain things might seem negative for some. If it were a fan of the government who would’ve seen my posts, I’d immediately be labeled a ‘yellow’ or someone who refuses to see the ‘good’ that this current administration has brought upon this country. If not a ‘yellow’or an ‘ungrateful’, I know that some wouldn’t take me seriously and would think of me as a ‘millenial’ who likes to pretend to know or care about the country’s or the world’s welfare. Although these things are highly likely, I know there are a some who understands where I am coming from.

As a teenager who only wants to be part the solution, I do know that there are others who see the depth of my thoughts and believe that I am not someone who would keep still while the everything crumbles down. I do not only want to be known as a talker, but also someone who acts with dignity. I know that in every ten people, who view my social media posts, one can tell the sincerity of my posts. If one can, I know a lot can, too.

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
• What topics do you think you’ll write about?
• Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.