Generation of change

Lucky are those who belong to the Class of 2025, UP Diliman College of Engineering as they were reminded, even before they could step into the real, unfiltered world – which at times could be unbearably cruel and ugly – of their potential and great opportunity to help bring about change in our country today.

No less than Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto gave such simple yet powerful reminders to the graduates during their commencement ceremony last week as he warned them against corruption in both public and private sectors.

It is a timely reminder, considering how unfathomably corrupt this nation of 120 million has become and, like the good mayor, I am pinning my hopes on this generation of graduates to strive to fight the system that has been causing society’s moral decay.

‘Standard operating procedure’

He talked about SOP or the usual kickbacks which corrupt politicians get from government projects.

“Pag pumunta po kayo sa gobyerno, makikita niyo kaagad ’yung kalakaran kung gaano kalaki yung mga kickbackan na tinatawag na ‘standard operating procedure o SOP.’ Isipin po ninyo kung P6 trillion ang budget ng isang pamahalaan – ng ating pamahalaang nasyonal – kung kalahati niyan dumadaan sa procurement, P3 trillion. Sabihin na lang natin na ano ba’ng 10 percent ng P3 trillion, e di P300 billion. Tama ba? Pero alam naman natin hindi talaga 10 percent ’yan. Pinakamababa na daw 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent.”

Against this backdrop, he said, it’s easy to lose hope, and he himself isn’t spared from such feelings of frustration and hopelessness.

But what keeps him going, he told the graduates, is their generation, which can truly bring about change.

“When I look at how things are developing, more and more I come to the conclusion that it is your generation, and perhaps until the next generation, that has the opportunity, the potential to create change, to be a catalyst for change in ways that are more drastic and in a faster pace that has ever been seen in the history of mankind.

“Honestly, I’ve been giving a similar message or a similar speech since 2015, 2016. Di pa ako konsehal, ‘yun na ‘yung mensahe ko sa mga susunod na henerasyon. Pero ngayon, nakikita natin na mas totoo pa ito. If it was true 10 years ago, ngayon, grabe na ‘yung mga nangyari. For better or for worse, you will have that opportunity. Whatever job you will take, whatever career you will enter, whatever field you will end up staying in, wherever you may be, this will be true at a faster pace than has ever been seen before. In a more drastic way than has ever been seen in the history of mankind, you will have that opportunity.”

While reminding the graduates of their power to create change in our country today, he also challenged them to rethink the traditional definition of success.

“I’d like to challenge the traditional definition of success, sa halip na traditional na depinisyon ng success ang gamitin natin, ba’t hindi natin gamitin ang simpleng tanong, ‘Naging mabuting tao ba ako?’ ‘Mabuti ba ako sa aking kapwa?’”

The big things

He also reminded the graduates that big things come from the smallest of actions.

I take this to mean that stealing billions from state coffers always starts from a decision to do it – or not.

“Whether as individuals or families, hanggang para sa bayan natin, let’s remember that these ‘big things’ always start with the smallest of decisions, the smallest of actions, the smallest of outcomes. Again, this is true for our personal lives, true for families and this is true for our nation.”

Mayor Vico said, it’s OK not to be able to change everything for the better as long as you do the best that you can and that in doing so, you have been a good person.

I agree with the mayor’s points and especially on the fact that today’s generation and the succeeding ones have the power to really make a difference.

We have already seen this happen during the recent elections. Young voters trooped to the polls and made their voices heard, paving the way for some non-trapos or progressives to be elected into office.

In the upcoming 2028 elections, those born in 2010 will also be eligible to vote and they can also add their voice to what could be the most crucial presidential elections in recent Philippine history.

And yet, it’s not just in the elections that we are seeing today’s generation making their presence felt.

In social media, they are using their platforms, speaking truth to power, holding people into account, raising questions on issues that matter, among others.

Remember the EDSA People Power commemoration this year when Malacañang decided not to halt classes and work in what was perceived to be an attempt to erase from this nation’s memory that revolution which toppled the Marcos dictatorship?

The Gen Zs would have none of it. They skipped their classes (some begged their teachers to cancel it altogether), trooped to the EDSA Shrine and made sure to keep that spirit of that four-day bloodless revolution alive.

But as Mayor Vico said, it is not only in the big things that change truly matters. It lies in the small, unseen decisions where, hopefully, this generation will rise to do their part.

Thank you, Mayor, for this timely reminder. To today’s generation, I, too, pin my hopes on you.

And as you take on the fight of your lives – to slay the hulking, hideous ogres that have made the system rotten – may you never become ogres yourselves.

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Email: [email protected]. Follow her on X @eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen on FB.