A lawmaker for two days

Photo from Philippine Model Congress

For two days, I acted as a lawmaker.

I applied to the 2nd Philippine Model Congress (PMC) on a whim. While browsing the Internet, I saw a call for applications to the model congress. I thought it would be a great opportunity to be in the shoes of the country’s legislators, so I sent my application a week before the deadline.

Fortunately, I was accepted as one of the delegates from a pool of over 1,400 applicants from across the Philippines. Considered as the country’s premiere legislative simulation program, the congress was held last July 27 and 28 at the Philippine Senate Building.

My stint as a representative of the District of Laguna gave me an opportunity to experience the life of a legislator even just for two days. The entire process the delegates underwent in the congress, which concluded with the passing of bills, made me realize that being a legislator is a no joke.

Legislators should have at least knowledge in relevant fields such as law, public administration, and economics. They should also have utmost perseverance since the process of drafting and passing of bills is a tedious task. But, I realized that the most pivotal factor is a strong sense of civic responsibility to improve lives by protecting the rights of the people.

A legislative simulation
The model congress was "a simulation of the affairs of the legislative branch of government." Like a real Congress, I experienced the process of creating laws of the land.

However, I was not able to write and submit a bill to the executive committee due to academic works. Given more time of preparation, I would have proposed a bill focusing on education, public health, or green environment. My fervent hope now is to draft a bill in advance, if ever I will apply to the 3rd PMC next year.

The delegates were grouped into five committees. Each committee was composed of more or less 100 high school and college students and young professionals. I was part of Committee 2.

In our committee, nine bills were discussed including Student Rights Bill, Urbanization Bill, Revised Party List System Bill, Livability Bill, and People’s Hour Act, among others. The delegates themselves drafted all these bills prior to the event.

The committee session began with the committee chair convening the session. Then, principal sponsors presented their bills to the committee members. A caucus was called for them to gather support for their bills. Voting proceeded to determine the bills to be debated in our committee.

Afterwards, principal sponsors of the voted bills discussed their bills in details. During this time, committee members asked questions about the sections of the bill. After the bills were amended, each bill was put into a vote to determine the bills to be passed to plenary. Committee 2 passed three bills.

Bills that passed the plenary session will be presented to the actual Philippine Senate and House of Representatives. This is a great opportunity for us – the youth – to be heard by the country’s leaders like Sen. Bam Aquino and Sen. Loren Legarda who have expressed their support to bills that passed the model congress.

Keeping my idealism burning
“Keep your idealism burning through the years.” – Sen. Bam Aquino

The two-day congress also saw speakers from both the public and private sectors who shared their different views on leadership and public service.

The conference’s speakers included Sen. Bam Aquino, Sen. Sonny Angara, National Youth Commission Chair Leon Flores III, Kabataan Partylist Rep. Terry Ridon, and business tycoon Washington Sycip. All of them inspired us to be part of the country’s development process.

Sen. Aquino reminded us to keep our idealism burning through the years. Trying to set an example, he said that as a toddler in 1980s he participated in rallies against the dictatorship. He added that he loves to talk to Filipino youth because he believes they are idealistic.

“It is never too early to start and fight the good fight. We’re never too young to take the challenge and say, I’m ready to join the development process,” he added.

During his speech, I realized that my idealism is my starting contribution to society. It is my weapon to take risks, to improve lives eventually, and to be ready to take any challenge.

But this idealism should not remain within me. The congress has taught me to start using this idealism in my communities where changing people’s lives begin. As I become more mature, hopefully, this idealism would ignite a light that could change my community, even in the simplest ways possible.

Wrapping up
My foremost goal in sending my application to PMC was to enlighten myself about the things I could do for my community. During the congress, I realized that my idealism should guide me to start a good fight for my community and, eventually, for our country.

My stint as a lawmaker for two days was one of the highlights of my life. It was an honor to participate in PMC which aimed to increase youth’s awareness on national issues. I also had the opportunity to meet idealistic people who had unique views on the country’s development process.

The congress also gave me a glimpse of what our country’s legislators do in the Congress. I realized that their task of creating laws demands knowledge in relevant fields, determination, hard work, rhetorical skill, and, most importantly, a strong sense of civic responsibility. The insights I got from PMC about the legislative process and public service would surely help me in my future endeavors.

Moreover, in this year’s PMC, 500 youth from 80 provinces across the country gathered to signify that the young generation could also offer a wealth of insights about the issues that are important to the country.

The varied bills discussed in the committee and plenary sessions showed that Filipino youth are still concerned and optimistic with the country’s future. The delegates debated upon on different bills, but the ultimate goal was to improve lives by protecting the rights of the people – even just in a model congress.

Hence, the most important lesson I realized is that the Filipino youth has the power to make a better political landscape in the county.

Indeed, PMC has molded a community of young people committed to nation-building. As Sen. Aquino reminded the delegates, “One is never too young to contribute to society.”

Following my heart's desire

"Go for what your heart wants and all will fall in place."

I applied in many companies for my internship. Only four of them entertained my application. The first one was an international humanitarian organization based in Makati. I underwent a phone interview with them, and that was my very first formal job interview. Since then, I did not receive any further update. I waited for almost three weeks for follow-up, so I kindly asked for one last week. Apparently, I was rejected. I moved on with open arms.

The second company was Storyline of ABS-CBN's ANC. I was invited for an interview, but I did not confirm my attendance. End of story.

Torn between two companies

Now my internship dilemma was this: I got accepted at IdeaSpace Philippines and Rappler. I went to IdeaSpace in March 25 for a one-on-one interview. I got accepted, fortunately. But I was still hoping that time I would also be accepted at Rappler. I crossed my fingers, tightly.

Rappler announced that they would notify those accepted on March 31. But because of huge number of applicants (more than 100 students applied!), they just notified the successful ones in installments. I kept my hopes up high, but I thought I was not good enough to be part of Rappler.

Then IdeaSpace invited me to attend the national finals of their competition held in Antipolo City last Friday. I attended the event. I don't regret it since I had the chance to witness 20 aspiring technopreneurs in the Philippines geared to turn their ideas into commercial realities. Moreover, I was able to meet my co-interns who hailed from famous universities. Unsurprisingly, they don't know my school. Someone even asked if it's a private school! Yes, it is.

'Unofficial' intern

My first task as an unofficial IdeaSpace intern was to update the Twitter world with what was happening in the event, so I tweeted a lot during that day. I flooded the timelines of my followers. Hehehe. Sorry for that. I also met the President and Co-Founder of IdeaSpace and saw the likes of MVP and Johan Segergen (Google Manager - PH & Thailand). Indeed, it was a fun experience, and I was warmly welcomed by the team. That was the time I realized that perhaps IdeaSpace was the right company for me. The next day, the one who interviewed me followed me on Twitter, and he tweeted "Good job! Hope you enjoyed the event." I was happy that my effort was acknowledged. It seemed that I was really for IdeaSpace until an email changed everything.

Last Monday, I received the much-awaited acceptance letter from Rappler! Yes, after weeks of waiting, this is it I'm about to spend my internship at Rappler! But my application journey doesn't really end here. How about IdeaSpace? They were very kind to me. It just makes me sad that I'm about to send an email declining their offer. "It was a difficult decision to make," I wrote. There's some sort of guilt on my part: I met the bosses of the company, talked to my co-interns, and understood the internship tasks I was supposed to do. But here I am about to decline their offer. (The interviewer just added me on Facebook yesterday, which makes thing more awkward! I'll probably accept him after my internship.)

Final decision

I called my OJT professor and asked for an advice. She just said that I should follow my heart's desire and everything else will fall in place. She told me to write a letter to IdeaSpace. The email is done, and I'm about to send it right after my Rappler orientation on Thursday. It seems awkward, really. I tried to make the letter as neutral and professional as possible.

This would be the first time that I am doing this, in a professional level. I was thankful that two great companies offered me with two different opportunities. But I have to make a final decision. That decision will surely affect my career goals in life. I am hoping for the best. I am hoping that I will be receiving a kind reply from IdeaSpace once I finally send the email. I am hoping that I will be enjoying my stay at Rappler. One thing is for sure, I just followed my heart's desire.

Rejected as intern, life goes on

An international humanitarian organization broke my heart today. The confirmation was sent this morning. The message read: "While you were qualified for the internship, we regret to inform you that we have accepted another applicant." I thought I did a good job during the phone interview, but apparently, a company rejected me - for the first time.

Perhaps the post was not really for me. Another applicant did better than I; or maybe they also considered my location. I couldn't blame them if that was the justification: Santa Rosa City is too far from Makati. The interviewer asked this, and she was a bit ambivalent to know that it would take me an hour to commute to their office. Or maybe the successful applicant came from a renowned university in the metro. No, the position was not just for me. I should be happy that at least my resume impressed them.

I asked myself with many questions why I was rejected. I don't know, but I'm not used to it. I should be satisfied and consider this rejection as a learning experience. After all, another company already hired me as their intern. I should understand that no matter what I do, there will always be someone better than me. They rejected me, but I'm not defeated.

"Please do not hesitate to try again should we have openings for internship (or work) in the future."

On youth empowerment and access to education

To Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, the youth is the country’s hope. But given the recorded 61 million children worldwide who are out of school, I ask myself if Rizal’s eminent adage is still idealistic with today’s seemingly aloof access to education.

DEPRIVED. Access to education can reduce poverty and promote youth empowerment.

Education is a basic human right; it is a fundamental key to success, as the saying goes. I believe that it is also an imperative factor in the holistic development of youths. Having an affordable and accessible education will nurture them to fulfill their endeavors. It will give them the opportunity to develop fully themselves.

Education, more importantly, serves as youth’s indispensable tool against ignorance and poverty. That is why it is so alarming that millions of youths are being deprived of education and literacy, which also means that they are also being denied of their full potentials. Youth empowerment is at risk, therefore.

Thus I think there is a strong connection between youth empowerment and access to education. Youth empowerment basically means helping the youths realize their full potentials and enabling them develop their capacities to make a change in the society. Their access to education gives them the opportunity to know the larger fulfillment of their human potential and meet their basic learning needs; therefore, if they are deprived of education, how can they realize their potentials? How can they fully participate in reducing poverty and help in promoting economic growth? How can they work productively? How can they live the life they aspire?

I studied in both public elementary and secondary schools; I experienced the perennial problems of education such as lack of facilities, textbooks, and teachers. I am firm in saying that there is a great need to strengthen further the access of youths to education. Make it universal. Make it accessible. Make it an education for all.

Moreover, the year 2015 is aimed to ignite a worldwide change in education. It is supposedly the year of the “Education For All” – the onset of universal access to affordable and quality education. Three years from now the 61 million out of school children are expected to be at school. BUT looking at what we have now, this 2015 goal, either needs to be re-scheduled or needs to be taken more seriously and vigorously. 

Education has the innate capacity to change a youth’s life. Pursuing an education for all implies gearing every youth for the future and preparing them to partake in solving societal problems. Their access to education is a requisite in achieving development through youth empowerment. This will surely reaffirm Rizal’s belief that youths are the country's hope, and they still are. I am still optimistic that time will come that everyone will have the chance to go to school and experience an education for all.

12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country

"Bayani ang bawat Pilipino. (Every Filipino is a hero.) We are the heroes we need." - Atty. Alexander L. Lacson

Rarely do I finish reading books. But in December 2010, a great friend of mine gave me a birthday present – a book, so I was somehow compelled to read it. That was my humble way of valuing the unexpected gift that he gave me.

Written by Atty. Alexander L. Lacson, the title of the book was “12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country.” It had its first printing in June 2005 and sold almost 25,000 copies after its fourth printing in the first quarter of 2006; however, I first heard of this book on TV during the 2010 Philippine Election, where Atty. Lacson ran for a senatorial seat. I was intrigued by the book’s title; I immediately asked myself the same question that most readers would be probably asking before reading it: “What are those 12 little things?”

Most, if not all, of the 12 little things mentioned in the book were chiefly generic, which I neglected to realize and apply. Actions like following traffic rules and asking for an official receipt were included. Sounds easy to follow, right? Unfortunately, these are ignored by most of us.

The author, who is also a philanthropist and a nation-builder, aims to inculcate in the minds and hearts of every Filipino that each of us has significant role to partake in helping the country. The book promotes positive values about the Philippines amidst its countless adversities. For this, I salute Atty. Lacson. The book has helped me realized how imperative it is to be a good, responsible, and productive citizen of my beloved country. Indeed, I was lucky enough that I received this kind of present.

Here are the "12 Little Things" listed in the book:
1. Follow traffic rules. Follow the law.
2. Whenever you buy or pay for anything, always ask for an official receipt.
3. Don’t buy smuggled goods. Buy Local. Buy Filipino. (Or, if you read the book, he suggests: 50-50).
4. When you talk to others, especially foreigners, speak positively about us and our country.
5. Respect your traffic officer, policeman and soldier.
6. Do not litter. Dispose your garbage properly. Segregate. Recycle. Conserve.
7. Support your church.
8. During elections, do your solemn duty.
9. Pay your employees well.
10. Pay your taxes.
11. Adopt a scholar or a poor child.
12. Be a good parent. Teach your kids to follow the law and love our country.

If every Filipino will genuinely apply these acts, the Philippines is going to be a better place to live in. The book has served its purpose – a revelation about the (little) things we can actually do in helping our own country. Today is the day. Let us solemnly do our part as responsible citizens.