‘Millennials are not lazy’

CEBU, Philippines — Millennials care about the country’s political landscape and should not be labeled as lazy and narcissist.

This was according to Aubrey John Ampoon, Akbayan Youth-Cebu chairperson, who said young individuals, fondly named as the “millennials,” also intend to engage in public discourse on certain political issues.

Ampoon’s group launched on Saturday morning its month-long campaign dubbed #MillennialsRemember to look back on the atrocities of the late president Ferdinand Marcos, whose birth anniversary will be on Tuesday, September 11.

He said the group seeks to raise awareness among the youth of Marcos' dictatorship during the Martial Law way back the late 1970s to 1980s. The launch was held at the Plaza Independencia in downtown Cebu City, particularly at the Martial Law marker.

The young activists also laid wreath near the marker to also remember the sacrifices of Cebuano martyrs who risked their lives in freeing the country from the military rule in spite of the several killings and political persecutions during Marcos' leadership.

Ampoon, in his speech, said young individuals remember not the greatness of Marcos being looked up as “hero,” but rather the dreadful events that happened during one of the darkest periods in the country’s history.

He said Marcos’ birthday is not worth-celebrating because it will only remind people of the sufferings many had went through due to his dictatorial rule.

“We remember the political persecutions done by that time like jailing the opposition, and getting rid of people who have stood up against the dictator,” he said.

What is more significant to remember, said Ampoon, are the late young activists like Archimedes Trajano and Liliosa Hilao who were killed because they spoke out and resisted the oppression of the past administration.

“The dark days of Martial Law were long over. However, we are yet again experiencing the same struggles as before. Opposition is being silenced, jailed or attacked by trolls,” he said.

He took as an example President Rodrigo Duterte's move revoking the amnesty granted to Senator Antonio Trillanes IV in 2011.

“It is again our duty to remain strong in our plight to resist any effort to crush oppositions. It is about time that we resist any attempt to silence opposition and to encourage solidarity among every sector of the nation to ensure development, peace and democracy,” said Ampoon.

He emphasized that in a democratic country, there must be mutual respect to opposing ideas and resistance to any authoritarian and dictatorial rule.

“In these trying times, the youth will never forget. The youth will remember and the youth will continue the fight. It is proven again and again, the youth will resist,” Ampoon said. —/JMD (FREEMAN)