A Need to Step Up

I celebrated my 21st birthday last April 9, 2008. And by April 9, 2010, I am 23 years old.

For men, being 21 is the beginning of life; their “debut”. And I am no different from them. This year is my debut to becoming a fully responsible citizen of the country. This year, also, is the time when I have been beleaguered by a dilemma larger than my actual existence.

My family is and has never been political. My family is mainly a clan of middle-class workers who found ample fortune to sustain life and to purchase a little luxury. Their budgets enables us to be sent to good schools and live a comfortable life. But overall, we are not rich. At some point, we all experienced financial woes, fiscal struggles, and other money issues. But in the end, we have prevailed.

Now, as one of the few who have reached college in the family, I have seen the need to step up and make a difference; something I should do as a citizen of this country. After all, this is the least I can do in return to the country that gave my family a fighting chance to a bright future.

THE TRAIL AHEAD

I know that this new adventure will be anything but easy. First, I will be battling age-old politicians who have stuck to power for most of their life and would be all but unwilling to relinquish their political positions. But change is mostly refreshing; it is usually welcome in a society that clamors for change amid a society full of leaders with irregularities and controversies.

Second, I do not have money. I am relying purely on strategy and on some friends who would chip in a few centavos for this cause. I also am relying on some friends who can donate pieces of bond paper where I will print my flyers, some friends who can donate streamers, and the prayers of my family. Maybe this is the time to prove to the country that you do not have to be a millionaire to win public office; where one candidate spends millions only to recover such amount through his newly-purchased position.

Third, I do not have (yet) an established mass base. It’s April 2008. Most of those who will contend for 2010 have started organizing their armies of supporters. But for me, maybe it’s about your advocacy and choosing the right people for the campaign.

POSITION and AFFILIATION

As to the position I will vie for in the 2010 elections, I am not pretty sure yet. But what I really want is legislation. I know that I will be able to contribute to my municipality and province through policy-making and legislation. But to be honest, I really want to try vying for being Provincial Board Member.

Why?

Maybe because I am more of a person who would want to help people in ways vaster than others can. As a provincial legislator (if I win, or perhaps if I even run) I will be able to help address grievances and concerns of a constituency of four towns (Cainta, Taytay, Angono, and Binangonan). Also, through legislative work, I will be more able to provide solutions to common problems of those towns and of the province as a whole.

TOO YOUNG

A remark I receive from so many people, and sometimes, even from my mother. Many people say that people my age spend their days drinking or having fun with friends. This can even be an issue during the campaign. But then again, youth is the key to this nation’s problems, citing as evidence the way oldies have ruled this country. Maybe this time around, the youth gets to save the day.

STEP UP!

To my fellow youth, I encourage you to step up, maybe not in the same way that I do, but in little ways. Example, encouraging your parents to pay the right amount of taxes; paying them on time; getting receipts; and participating in community activities. After all, we are not islands. We are an archipelago. No man is an island.