By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
FRUSTRATING. Appalling. Disgusting.
Sorry to employ these three deleterious adjectives in this article. But I do believe these words (really) fit my observation re: Sangguniang Kabataan Federation (SKF) election on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
In local government units (LGUs) in the province of Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, almost the same obnoxious scheme was used in choosing the SKF officers – via a “choreographed” election.
SK chairmen from different barangays were reportedly “caged” – “ginkurong” in Hiligaynon – either in a hotel, a resort or in a secluded place a day prior to the election.
Then, in some LGUs, SK chairmen were “paid” or given money raging from P50,000 to P100,000 each.
The benefactor: trapos. Traditional politicians.
Their “political wish”: Vote for whom we want!
Thus, during the SKF election, everything – from nomination to second the motion – was seamless thus “wala na kontrahanay”.
VITAL IN NATION-BUILDING
SK alongside Katipunan ng Kabataan (KK) were created via Republic Act (RA) Number 7160 as stipulated within the Local Government Code of the Philippines of 1991.
Then, two additional edicts were recently passed for the very purpose of introducing vital reforms in the SK. These included:
* RA No. 10742 or Establishment of Reforms in SK (Jan.15, 2016)
* RA No. 11768 or Institutionalizing Additional Reforms to Revitalized Youth Participation by Providing Honoraria and other Benefits (May 6, 2022)
In a nutshell, SK is specifically meant to “politically empower” the youth by giving them an avenue for a meaningful participation in nation-building.
So, what are expected from the SK officials are the three Cs – Choices. Chances. Changes.
But what happened in the recent SKF election in NegOc was the birth of another three Cs – Caging. Convincing. Corrupting.
‘LOUSY LEADERSHIP’
So, what’ll happen with these “spineless” youth leaders?
I stand to be corrected, but I believe these SK leaders will surely be “agents” of the so-called “lousy leadership”.
They will be “cultivating” a “hopeless society” for their fellows where corruption, for sure, will continue to persist and so on and so forth. Sad, unimaginable but true!
Let it be known that many of these SK chairmen graduated in college with Latin Honors or academic achievers
Yet they became either “hapless or helpless” against those senior high school graduates or just academically average counterparts but whose parents were “political friends” or loyal supporters of the mayor or congressman.
If Dr. Jose Rizal were still alive, he would never permit this scenario to happen.
Rizal’s undying quote: “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan” has this very simple thought-slash-reminder that our national hero had (really) high hopes for the Filipino youth to be great leaders of our country.
But with the present set up and kind of leaders composing the SK, I don’t think so.
Succumbing to an offer of P50,000 or P100,000 in exchange of their principle and idealism, I can’t help but exclaim: “Bull***t!”
‘WISHY-WASHY’
Well, to be “spineless” is gonna be like “wishy-washy” thus it is beyond impossible to effect change(s) in society.
The new pool of SK leaders, of course, will be subservient to their political master(s) who bought them or finance their candidacies during election.
“Utang na loob” is the best catchphrase here.
With SK, we simply allow our children to learn about corruption, political intimidation, among other “dirtiest things” in politics at their very young age.
Too, SK is just like a vehicle we’re using right now in breeding the “next political monsters” in our own backyards.
Ergo, it’s not surprising anymore that, in the near future, the “new breed of stupid and corrupt politicians” in this country are mostly ex-SK leaders.
Lugubrious! Upsetting! Eerie!/PN
