TAYO Awards

Sen. Bam Aquino’s Keynote Speech during the TAYO 16 Awards Ceremony

23 January 2019

 

Maraming salamat, palakpakan po natin si Pepot Vinta.

 

Alam niyo po, every year sa TAYO, para tayong nagre-reunion na mga magkakaibigan. Ang problema lang, ang mga youth leaders parang hindi tumatanda pero kaming mga organizers lang ang tumatanda. 

 

The first time that I’ve met Pepot was TAYO3. TAYO 6 was also the first year that Coke became part of the family. San Miguel became part of the family about 6-7 years ago also. Smart has also been part of our family through the years. And of course our friends from Jollibee, Ayala, and Lenovo are also here with us. 

 

Round of applause for our sponsors! Maraming maraming salamat sa inyo. Pero ang pinakamlakas na palakpakan, ibigay natin para sa ating mga TAYO finalists. 

 

Congratulations for being here and thank you for making our country better. 

 

Thank you for giving us a healthy dose of positivity and inspiration, especially this week. Lalo na ngayon na pinag-uusapan ang pagbibilanggo ng batang Pilipinong siyam na taon lamang. Thank you for providing us an alternative story for all of us today. 

 

Kayo ang paalala at pruweba na ang kapag may tamang gabay at oportunidad ang kabataan, kayo mismo ang magsisigurado na aasenso ang Pilipinas, at aasenso ang bawat Pilipino.

 

Kaya maraming salamat sa inyo! It is an honor to be here speaking to such accomplished and passionate young men and women who have done so much for our country.

 

Yung tanong ko lang… Ano pa ba ang maibabahagi namin sa inyo?

 

Sa totoo lang, lahat naman mahahanap niyo na sa internet. Ano pa ba ang laban natin sa world wide web?

 

Kung gusto natin ng pinaka-magagaling na speech, maghahanap lang tayo sa TED Talks, naroon din ang mga paburito niyong kanta at TV shows, mga lifehacks, pati photos at IG stories ng crush niyo – lahat na ay mahahanap online at sa social media.

 

But while the internet has opened up our world to so much content and possibilities, we also know that the internet and social media has a dark side.

 

Napansin siguro natin in the past few years, habang dumadami ang mga life halks, nakakatawang kuwento, at mga inspirational stories, dumadami rin ang mga nakikita nating negatibo sa internet. 

 

Actually po, namimiss ko na yung 4 to 5 years ago. Dahil 4 to 5 years ago, ang mga trolls ko noon ay mga masasayang trolls. Hindi mga galit na troll. Ang ginagawa nila dati, pinapalitan nila ang Wikipedia Page ko ng kung anu-anong nakakaaliw na kuwento.

 

One time, sinabi nilang ako’y isang Ninja Turtle. Ginawa na rin nila akong hip-hop dancer, master-twerker, at kung anu-ano pa. And honestly, we didn’t feel that bad about it kasi it was all done in good rumor. 

 

Unfortunately these days, grabe na ang social media. Grabe at dumami na rin ang fake news at paninira. Ang pinakamasama na dito ay noong tinawag akong terorista.

 

Pero sa totoo lang, hindi lang yan nangyayari sa mga taong nasa pulitika. Alam natin na ang ating mga kabataan ngayon, marami na ring hinaharap na negativity sa kanilang buhay. Nandyan ang mga nagsasabing: 

Hindi mo kaya!

Kalokohan ‘yan!

Wala kaming pake sa ginagawa mo!

 

In fact, just the other night nung nagdinner kami, I found out that a number of our finalists focus on mental health of the youth. Dahil napaka-grabe na ang sitwasyon ng marami nating kabataan pagdating sa kanilang mental health. 

 

I was so shocked to find out that in one of our finalists pools, in one batch that they were helping students in, more than 10% had actually tried to commit suicide. 

 

Itong negativity at napakasamang mga boses na umiiral sa ating buhay at sa online world ay talagang napakasama at kailangang labanan. 

 

But, dear friends, we cannot allow these voices to win. We cannot allow these voices to get even louder!

 

Kailangan nating isigaw at patunayan na “Kaya Natin!”

Para sa atin at sa ating mga pamilya, para sa bayan “Kakayanin Natin!”

 

Holding on to this voice of hope, especially through times of adversity, is what will make all the difference in our lives.

 

Which is why I want to share with you the story of Geraldine. 

 

Nakilala ko si Geraldine noong bumisita ang aming Libreng Kolehiyo Caravan sa Iloilo.

 

Si Geraldine ay pangatlo sa labing isang anak. At mahirap ang kanilang pamilya. 

Dahil dito, mababa ang tingin sa kanila ng kanilang mga kamag-anak. Hindi na daw sila aasenso.

 

Dahil sa hirap ng buhay, noong nag-graduate si Geraldine ng High School, namasukan muna siya sa kaniyang tiyahin.

 

Sabi ng tiyahin niya na papaaralin siya sa kolehiyo kaya umasa si Geraldine. Pero imbis na paaralin, pinagtrabaho lang siya.

 

Kaya umalis si Geraldine at nakahanap ng trabaho bilang mananahi ng mga bag. Sa kita niya, nakapag-enrol siya sa kolehiyo!

 

Pero noong kapos at kinailangan niyang umutang, hindi siya pinautang ng kaniyang amo at hindi rin siya pinautang ng kaniyang mga kaklase. Kaya ang ginagawa niya ay lumalabas siya sa kanyang eskwelahan, nagpupuyat, at bumabalik sa mga factory ng bag at ginagalingan upang makaipon at makabalik sa eskwelahan. 

 

Buti na lang, hindi nagpatalo si Geraldine sa mga boses na nega at nagsasabing:

Hindi mo kaya!

Kalokohan ‘yang pangarap mong makapag-college!

At wala kaming pake sa iyong sitwasyon!

 

Ngayon, 3rd year college na siya at ginagawa na nila ang kanilang thesis! Mas may oras na siya na mag-aral dahil Libre na ang Kolehiyo sa kanyang eskwelahan sa Iloilo! Ang dating 10,000 pesos per semester na kanyang kinakayod sa mga factory ng mga bag, ngayon ay libre na.

 

Kaya nakita natin kay Geraldine na hindi siya nagpatalo. Hindi nagpatinag at tuloy-tuloy niyang inabot ang kanyang pangarap. Sa tulong ng libreng kolehiyo, I am sure na by next year, g-graduate na siya at makakamit ang kanyang pangarap. 

 

Noong naging Chairman tayo ng Committee on Education, naisipan namin ng aming oposina na gawing prayoridad ang Libreng Kolehiyo at itrabaho ang pagpasa nito sa Senado.

Kahit noon, maraming nagsasabi na hindi kaya iyan:

“30 years na yan tinatrabaho sa senado, walang makapasa-pasa ng batas na yan”

“Masyado ka pang bata para makapagpasa ng napakalaking reporma.”

 

Napakaraming mga negatibong bagay ang binato sa amin. Pero hindi kami nagpatinag. Hindi kami nagpatalo. 

Hindi ko na lang po sasabihin kung sinu-sino, pero marami ang kumontra sa repormang ito. Ang pangunahin nilang sinasabi ay kapag libre na ang edukasyon, hindi na pahahalagahan ng kabataan ang kanilang edukasyon. Na alam naman naming hindi totoo dahil sa kuwento ni Geraldine at libu-libo pang mga kabataan na naghahangad na makapagtapos sa ating bayan.

 

Every step of the legislative process had a challenge. And until the last moment – kahit noong nasa Malacanang na at nagaantay ng pirma ng pangulo, may mga balita pa rin na ive-veto ito. 

 

Buti na lang malakas ang positivity! Hindi lang ng aming opisina, pero pati na rin ng milyun-milyong naghangad na maging batas ang repormang ito. 

 

Ang lagi naming sinisigaw: ‘Tuloy ang laban! Para sa bayan!”

 

Hanggang ngayon, kahit malakas ang boses ng paninira sa batas na ito, tinatrabaho pa rin namin sa Senado ang napakahalagang reporma na ito. Kaya sama-sama naming sinasabi na “Kaya natin at kakayanin pa natin to.”

 

Dear friends, when we sift through stories of revolutionaries and change-makers, we find that there were always critics and there were always naysayers. People who will say that you can’t do it. 

 

But the inner voice of optimism can triumph and shine through!

If Bill Gates gave up after his previous business ventures failed, we may never have had “a computer in every home.” If Steve Jobs gave up whenever his ideas were shot down, we wouldn’t have “a computer in every pocket.”

 

If Mahatma Gandhi gave up those countless times he was thrown in jail, we would never have known the power of non-violence.  If Cory Aquino believed those that said a housewife could never be president, who knows if we would have freedom and democracy today.

 

They had the willpower and a strong, hopeful voices that cut through the criticism and negative chatter to drive revolutions, drive reforms, and ultimately, create change that we want to see in our world.

 

Like them, we need to strengthen our inner voice that says, “Kaya natin! Kakayanin natin!”

 

Pero sa panahon natin ngayon, hindi na sapat ‘yun. It is simply not enough. With social media and all the negativity in our society these days, sometimes that voice can easily be overwhelmed. 

What’s the challenge for us today? Especially to the TAYO finalists? 

 

Kailan nating magtulungan. Kailan nating suportahan ang isa’t isa. We need to be that voice for others as well. 

In these times, it is not enough to strengthen our inner voice. We are called to be that voice for others. We are challenged to support each other, to support those who are doing well for our country amidst all of those voices that seek to bring us down. 

 

We need to be that voice of understanding for those who have known nothing but judgment.

 

And be that voice of confidence for those that have known nothing but disappointment.

 

Be that voice of inspiration for those who are paralized by their failures.

 

We are called to speak up, for them, and not remain silent. We are called to silence the hopeless and hateful voices that weigh so heavy on the shoulders of our young countrymen!

 

As we step out of this room and back into the dim world of critics, skeptics, and defeatists, let us become the loudest voices of inspiration.

 

Let’s use our stories of hope to weave a more joyful, more passionate, more productive Philippines!

 

Maraming salamat at magandang umaga para sa inyong lahat.

Hope in the hopeless

I’m a firm believer in the power of the youth, their idealism, and their can-do attitude. But I will concede that there is a problem.

There are young Filipinos that commit terrible crimes – robbing, doing drugs, raping, even killing.

Yes, there are Filipino children who are not only exposed to systemic violence but also perpetuate and reinforce it by joining gangs and syndicates.

But while we must acknowledge this sad reality, we must not discount the youth’s capacity to positively impact the lives of fellow Filipinos.

We must also acknowledge the youth’s remarkable ability to change their lives for the good and even make the world a kinder, better place.

These are two polar ends of the same reality and we see the full range of this spectrum in the story of Rustie Quintana.

I met Rustie a few years ago. He was part of Dire Husi, which is a youth organization in Cagayan de Oro, and at that time, he was receiving the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Award in behalf of his organization.

The members of Dire Husi use arts and crafts to give streetchildren an alternative to their vices, such as drugs and gang violence.

What’s remarkable about Rustie is that he used to be one of those kids – a true batang kalye who would sniff rugby, snatch cellphones, do petty crimes and even be involved with syndicates in Cagayan de Oro City.

He was in and out of DSWD’s program for juvenile delinquents and even landed in Lumbia City Jail before being sent to the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY).

But after years of being in and out of these institutions, he decided to make a change for himself. He decided to join Dire Husi and transform his life.

When he received the TAYO Award, he told me, “Kuya, noong ako’y nasa kalsada ng Cagayan de Oro, hindi ko po napangarap na balang araw mapupunta ako sa Malacanang at makakamay ko pa ang presidente para sa isang award para sa kabataan.”

Just recently, he graduated from Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan with the course Development Communications. The icing on the cake came when Rustie Quintana’s story was featured in Maalaala Mo Kaya.

It is this story of Rustie that came to mind when I reviewed House Bill Number 2, which seeks to amend the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (Republic Act 9344).

This initiative pursues a lowering of the age of criminal liability from 15 years down to 9 years old.

While I am relieved the policy’s author asserted that his objective is to rehabilitate juvenile delinquents and not throw them in jail with hardened criminals or worse, the bill filed does not seem to point to that path.

If the age of criminal liability is lowered, 9-year-olds might be tried as adults and be meted the corresponding penalties in our Revised Penal Code and other special laws.

So if a 9-year-old snatches your smart phone, this child who acted with discernment could be sentenced to 6 to 12 years in prison.

The current Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act already focuses on rehabilitation more than punishment. Erring children are likely sent to a Bahay Pag-Asa where they undergo therapy and are assessed periodically to check if they have been successfully rehabilitated and whether they can rejoin society.

The Bahay Pag-Asa in Davao and Bataan come to mind as institutions that do their task of helping and transforming these children well.

Instead of lowering the age of criminal liability, why not further support the already established youth care facilities and Bahay Pagasa centers first?

Why not improve the rehabilitation programs and make these centers more effective at addressing trauma and providing alternatives to a life of crime?

Why rush into solutions that could make matters worse instead of taking the extra effort to transform these young lives for the better?

Surely there are solutions that can address our problems of criminality and still have the best interests of our children at heart.

Hindi nag-iisa si Rustie.

There are numerous young Filipinos like him who have shown that given the opportunity to change, they can become Filipinos we can be proud of. And that ability and capacity to be better, gives us hope that our country can change for the better as well.

First Published on Manila Bulletin

BIDA KA!: Kuwento ni Rustie

Mga bida, sa ilang taon kong pagsasagawa ng Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards, isa sa mga kahanga-ha­ngang tao na nakilala ko ay si Rustie Quintana.

Napakaganda ng istorya ni Rustie. Katunayan, ang kuwento niya ay naitampok pa sa isang episode ng drama series sa telebisyon.

Si Rustie ay dating batang kalye, rugby boy at nagpagamit pa bilang “courier” ng mga nagbebenta ng droga sa kanilang lugar sa Cagayan de Oro.

Dahil sa kanyang kalokohan, ilang beses naglabas-masok si Rustie sa programa ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) para sa mga juvenile delinquent.

Sandali ring nakulong si Rustie sa Lumbia City Jail at pinaamin sa kasalanang hindi niya ginawa para lang mailipat sa Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) sa Gingoog City.

Sa nasabing center, dalawang taong nanatili si Rustie at sumailalim sa rehabilitasyon. Nang makalabas, inalis lahat ang anumang record niya.

Kung nahatulan sana si Rustie sa pagiging drug courier, ang parusa sanang ipinataw sa kanya ay labin­dalawa hanggang dalawampung taong pagkabilanggo at multang P12,000 hanggang P20,000.

Paglabas ni Rustie ng center, nagsimula ang tuluy-tuloy na pagbabago ng kanyang buhay. Nakatulong din sa pagbabago ni Rustie ang isang youth organization sa Cagayan de Oro na may pangalang ‘Dire Husi’.

Tinitipon ng ‘Dire Husi’ ang mga batang kalye at tinuturuan sila ng sining upang mailayo sila sa bisyo at kriminalidad patungo sa kanilang pagbabago.

Sa tulong nito, nabago ang takbo ng buhay ni Rustie. Nakatuntong pa nga siya sa Malacañang nang igawad ni Pangulong Noynoy Aquino ang parangal sa ‘Dire Husi’ bilang isa sa Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) noong 2012.

Kamakailan lang, na­balitaan kong natapos na ni Rustie ang kursong Development Communications sa Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan.

Kung hindi nabigyan si Rustie ng pagkakataong makapagbagong buhay, siguradong dalawang lugar lang ang kanyang kina­hantungan – bilangguan o libingan.

***

Muling bumalik sa akin ang kuwento ni Rustie ngayong umiinit na naman ang isyu ng pag-amyenda sa Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act o Republic Act 9344 as amended.

Ngayon, may mga panukalang ibaba ang age of criminal liability mula 15-anyos patungong siyam na taong gulang.

Katwiran ng mga nagsusulong na ibaba ang age of criminal liability, nagagamit ang mga batang may edad 15 taong gulang pababa sa paggawa ng krimen at nakakalusot dahil hindi maaaring kasuhan. Hindi ko mailarawan sa aking isipan ang nasabing sitwasyon.

Hindi katanggap-tanggap na ang isang siyam na taong gulang na bata ay papatawan ng parusa na para sa isang matanda.

Baka sa halip na magbagong buhay ay posibleng humantong din sa pagiging kriminal ang mga batang ikukulong kasama ng iba pang masasamang loob.

Isa pa, sa kalunus-lunos na kondisyon ng ating mga bilangguan at detention centers, baka lalo lang mapariwara ang mga batang bilanggo sa halip na magbagong-buhay.

Lalala pa ang sitwasyon kapag nagtagumpay ang mga nagsusulong na ibaba ang age of criminal liability at death penalty.

Kapag nangyari ang dalawang senaryo, posibleng kabilang sa mga bibitayin ay batang siyam na taong gulang na gagawa ng karumal-dumal na krimen kapag sila’y nilitis bilang nasa wastong gulang at hindi menor-de-edad.

***

Naniniwala tayong napakaganda ng layunin ng Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, basta’t naipa tutupad lang nang tama.

Sa halip na ikulong, ang mga batang 15 taong gulang pababa na may problema sa batas ay ilala gak sa kustodiya ng mga magulang o ipasok sa isang youth care facility o ‘Bahay Pag-asa’.

Sa ‘Bahay Pag-asa’, mabibigyan sila ng panibagong pagkakataon upang makapagbagong buhay nang walang takot at trauma na dulot ng pagkabilanggo.

Pinapatawan din ng mabigat na parusa ng Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act ang mga taong gumagamit ng mga bata sa paggawa ng krimen at ilegal na aktibidad.

Sa halip na pagtuunan ng pansin ang pagpapababa ng tinatawag na age of criminal liability, mas maiging bigyang pansin ang pagpapaganda ng pasilidad ng ating juvenile centers.

Kung mahuhubog sila at magagabayan sa tamang landas, muli silang makakabalik sa lipunan na may positibong pananaw sa buhay at malaki ang maitutulong upang maging produktibong mamamayan ng bansa.

Ganito ang eksaktong nangyari kay Rustie.

Tuwing naaalala ko ang kuwento ni Rustie, nananatiling buo ang aking pag-asa na kayang magbago ng mga kabataang naliligaw ng landas, basta’t panatilihin lang na bukas ang pinto ng pagkakataon para sa kanila.

Kung mayroon mang butas ang batas, puwedeng pag-usapan, pag-aralan at hanapan ng akmang solusyon.

Huwag tayong magpadalus-dalos sa pagkilos dahil baka sa halip na makabuti, lalala pa ang problema.

Article first published on Abante Online

Sen. Bam Lauds Outstanding Youth Groups in TAYO Awards Finals

Senator Bam Aquino lauds the twenty youth organizations that made it to the national finals of the 12th Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards for their untiring efforts to address problems in their respective communities.

The National Capital Region (NCR) will be represented by Phi Lambda Delta Sorority, Children Museum and Library Inc. Junior Council Alumni Association, UP Circuit, Kanlungan Pilipinas Movement Inc., and UP Business Administration Student Council.

From Luzon, Youth for Environment in School Organization, LCNHS-Ransohan Ext, Red Cross Youth and Junior Rescue Team, CITE Youth Volunteer Group, Katipunan ng mga Kabataang Santiagueno, and Indigenous Youth Servant Leaders Association of the Philippines-Isabela made it to the national stage.

Kwaderno, Order of Asclepius, Rapid, Inc., University of San Agustin Little Theater and Youth for a Livable Cebu emerged as winners in the Visayas area finals held in Iloilo City last Nov. 9-10.

Finally, Move this World-Pilipinas Inc, ACCESS PYLP Alumni Association Inc.-ZAMBASULTA Chapter, Hearts and Brains Youth Volunteers, New Breed Special Force, and Rebirth Outdoor Trekkers and Adventurers Philippines Incorporated clinched the five spots for Mindanao after the area finals held in Cagayan de Oro.

“We laud these youth organizations for their untiring efforts and perseverance to find new solutions to solve age-old problems in their respective communities,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth and TAYO Awards co-founder.

“These TAYO national finalists have taken the initiative and went out of their way to help in the best way they can,” the senator added.

The 20 national finalists were determined after a grueling week of deliberation by a select panel of judges, led by NYC Commissioners Dingdong Dantes, Perci Cendaña, Earl Saavedra and Jose Rafael Cruz, and representatives from the TAYO Alumni, media and corporate sponsors.

“While we can only pick five groups each from NCR, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, all the participants are already winners in their own right for effecting change in their respective communities through different programs and projects,” Aquino said.

The judging that will determine this year’s winners is tentatively scheduled on December 8-9, at the Senate Building in Pasay City.

The annual search for Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) is the country’s premier recognition program for youth organizations.

Since its inception in 2002, the TAYO Awards Foundation has successfully gained credibility as an institution that recognizes and supports the outstanding contributions of youth organizations to the country.

The annual TAYO Awards is organized by the TAYO Awards Foundation, Inc., the National Youth Commission, Coca-Cola Foundation and the Office of Senator Bam Aquino.

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