The Hope That Comes Alive

            Where are you? You, who have been called the hope of our nation, where are you? You, who are supposed to free this country from darkness, I can’t see you. You, who were given the mission to take care of the environment, I can’t feel. You, who should build your community to a better one, where are you? My fellow youth, are you still there?

           

We, youth, are the hope of our nation. We are entrusted to make a better Philippines. But what happened? All those years that passed after the man in the Luneta was fired was a big joke. Generations always pass the commitment of saving the Philippines to the young ones. When the youth has known his mission, he is inspired and starts to live Rizal’s vision. But when they reached their sunset, they are telling the next generations to sacrifice and do what they can to help our homeland. How can this thing be happening? Filipinos can’t finish his mission so when he knows he cannot continue working, he sends on the unfinished business to the next youth. While some of us do not even care, the cycle keeps rolling and rolling. The system of passing the mission to the next generation can’t save the Philippines.

           

            We, youth, are the protectors of the environment; but not only the youth, all of us must contribute to give our strength and knowledge to take care of the nature which God gave us as a gift. What is the purpose of this gift? It is rewarded to someone you really love and appreciate. Like what the other gifts the Almighty has written to be our weapons in everyday, let us use it properly. Don’t waste everything that comes to you. Putting these things to trash is like killing your own life as a very deadly sin. Oh, Philippines! – An awesome land, rich in wonderful places, loaded with virgin resources and most especially, the pride of the brown warriors of God. For the Lord’s sake! If only our country is not corrupted by the hungry reptiles, we could’ve had a better Philippines.

            We, youth, are the builders of the community. Like what is caring of the environment is all about, this could be done by everybody. But the young ones have more strength and skill to do this. The youth is more capable of bringing the others together, uniting, and working in the name of success. All of the development should start individually. We have the duty to help our fellow youth and citizen to change into a more productive person. Thus, resulting to a more bonded family, and a more stable and progressive community.

           

           

Hunger, crime, drugs. Youth who had gone astray are found here. Youth do illegal things just to earn money, money which will not be used for education. Some of us are in drugs to escape problems. There are also involved with forced labor. Or some just wanted to work early. But most of these youth are doing this due to the government’s lack of attention. The government, which chooses to be attracted by foreign demons, should work on this problem with the youth.

           

            No one wants to kill just because they wanted. All things have their reasons. A big problem they are facing is just not for us to understand a hundred percent.

            All we can do is to inspire our fellow youth. How? We can do great things! I mean, we are young, yet we have more time to study. Strive for education. For it is our most precious asset. Rizal once proved that even in hard times, if a student is willing to study, he achieves more than his goals were. On the other hand, great names like Ninoy and Cory saved the country from dictatorship. They have done a great deed which was not normally worked by a young body, but let us not forget that they are once one of the young people who dreamt and studied.

           

            Rizal once said on his letter to the women of Malolos, “Youth is a flower-bed that is to bear rich fruit and must accumulate wealth for its descendants”. We are the most capable ones who need to work and study well in order to produce a better community, environment, and Philippines. We can’t counter the only permanent thing on earth- change. We then, should go by the flow of the change and start developing new strategies. We can’t stop climate change, but we can know how to adopt on it. We can’t stop technology, but we should not try to, for it is one of the most important tools that the youth can use in order to make better changes.

            Rizal declared, “The youth is the hope of our nation”. I’m glad I am one of them. But I will be happier if I will not only become a hope, but a hope that became reality. From a youth that once a hope of our nation, I will be a youth that will change our nation.