...i wonder if the youth is still the nation's hope

Philippines
June 17, 2011 11:31pm CST
Well, we all know that Rizal quoted the quotable quote 'Ang kabataan ay ang pag-asa ng bayan' (bow!). I just wonder if this is still applicable to today's youth. As a young adult, I hear many issues about the youth in the news everyday and these issues are very disturbing - teen pregnancy and parenthood, lack of jobs, young people wanting to serve other coutnry but not ours, many youth being disillusioned by society, lack of national identity and the likes. I don't want to paint a depressing picture here but everybody knows that living in this times is hard (i dunno about the youth in Rizal's time - same hard but different circumstances perhaps). As much as we want to live up (or maybe not trying at all) to Rizal's image of the youth, perhaps, it's already impossible. Perhaps, Rizal required and hoped for us too much. We're not perfect as he is but somehow he did give us a good picture of ourselves while it lasted. We have our own issues and woes, as a personal individual and as a members of society. I hope wherever he is, he still supports us.
4 responses
@rinzgca (316)
• Philippines
18 Jun 11
Well, as long as there are youth in the Philippines, we shouldn't lose hope. I think, one of the reasons the Youth is the hope of our nation, is because these individuals still have the chance to change. They still have time to make something of themselves, unlike older adults. Coz, when you are old, it's really hard to change your values. Yes, the Philippine youth today seem to be a hopeless case. But I think, that kind of thinking is part of the reason we still have problems. Remember, when you were young, when someone said something about you, sometimes you just live up to the things being said to you. For example, they say you're lazy, you're gonna act lazy. Few are the people who would think of that statement as a challenge NOT to be lazy. Thus, we should start by looking at the good points of the youth, and start rebuilding their values from them. After all, the youth, are still under the guidance, supposedly, of RESPONSIBLE adults. If the adults' actions are questionable, then definitely, the youth will act accordingly. Thus, while the youth are the hope of the Philippines, the adults in the country should also do their part in RAISING UP RESPONSIBLE YOUTH!
• Philippines
18 Jun 11
I agree on all of your points. Your response gave me an instant enlightenment. Perhaps I touched too much on the negative side rather than in the positive. Forgive an pessimist person if I somewhat ruined your day. Your suggestions are very sound. I agree that adults should reinforce the positive rather than the negative. It's bad enough that the situation is hard nowadays and some adults try to channel their anger to society to some unfortunate kids. Then again, most of the parents use the tough love approach instead of encouragement. It's like blind leading the blind. Let's hope that there will be responsible adults and parents who still see their children not just the hope for their respective families but the country as well.
@rinzgca (316)
• Philippines
20 Jun 11
No, don't worry, your pessimism didn't ruin my day. ;) Having replied to other comments before this (sorry), I realized that one factor to the disintegration of the youth is their values. Either they were not taught properly or they don't have the right ones anymore, again sadly to be blamed to the adults around. After all, if you grow up in an environment where corruption is rampant, won't you think it's the normal thing to do? The right way to do things? I like your statement 'blind leading the blind' because it's kinda true! But I realized, the adults shouldn't even be blind in the first place, right? 'Coz they've had all these years to them to learn and see what they didn't when they were young. Thus, they should be able to tell the younger ones what they saw and lead them to the proper way. But that's the ideal, I guess. I think, I am a bit of a pessimist myself. But I still really believe that our country can rise from the depths that it has sunk to if the youth of today can be taught/trained properly.
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
20 Jun 11
haha honestly i have very low esteem in today's youth. its not that i do not think i may be part of that generation.. but maybe since i am 30 im way beyond the generation we are looking forward to step up. you know why i am saying this? actually that is because i saw how some fresh graduates act towards their newly found work. you know? i mean i am so frustrated seeing them so not into the job they applied to. they are a bunch of lazy people trying to prove something but is not doing anything.
@rinzgca (316)
• Philippines
20 Jun 11
I will be 24 in a few days and you just gave me a wake-up call. I do consider myself lazy at times. Anyway, being in the education industry, that laziness of the youth today can already be seen early, in highschool, for example. A good saying, what you sow, is what you reap. These students are being lazy even in high school. If they are lazy during that time, how do you think they will act during college? If they are lazy there too and get distracted lots of times, I dont wanna think about how they're gonna act when they start working (given they find a job).
@lhenpaule (495)
• Philippines
18 Jun 11
With various "pasaway" (bad character) youths nowadays, we can initially say there's no hope with out youth, this is probably one of the reasons why there are those who are pro-RH Bill because they wouldn't want another soon-to-be problem child, but that's besides the point. In my own point of view, let's remain hopeful for them. It is in the proper motivation from us adults.
@beamer88 (4259)
• Philippines
18 Jun 11
I think the youth of Rizal's day were definitely in a less better position than the youth of today. Imagine living in an foreign-occupied country. But that's another point. The youth is still the hope of our nation but sadly, pinning my hopes on them to make our country better is fast declining. I mean, the youth of today are really different from those decades ago. I know that the parents are ultimately responsible in their upbringing, but as a parent myself, we can only do so much. And technology as well as television and media aren't really helping.
• Philippines
18 Jun 11
I don't have the point of view of a parent so I can't offer much. But perhaps we should reassess on what we really should do and what we really are hoping for. at least,w e have a goal in mind. I agree on the media part. Sometimes, it promotes self-gratification and cover only the youth as a demographic profile and nothing more.