By Chelsea David
An anthropologist encouraged the youth to participate in social and political issues concerning the country by thinking critically as he compared the involvement of people from the history of Cavite’s bloody war to the individual’s voice in social media.
In the fourth episode of the “uSAPan: A Sociopolitical Advocacy Project” on Wednesday, Nov. 10, titled, “Mula kay Aguinaldo hanggang kay Nardong Putik: Ang Pakikisangkot sa Kulturang Kabitenyo,” De La Salle University-Dasmariñas professor and anthropologist Dr. Jeffrey Lubang defined the crucial role of involvement in one’s advocacy and aspiration for the country.
“[Ang] pakikisangkot (involvement) ay [ang] pakikibahagi… isa itong manipestasyon na may pakialam, pagmamalasakit, [at] pag[pa]nig. Pag ikaw nagsangkot, may paninigan ka… Hindi pwedeng maging [neutral]…ito ay seryosong pakikiisa, iisang pinaglalaban,” he mentioned.
Lubang recalled the leaders of Caviteños during the war who fought for freedom through involvement with the use of weapons and armors.
“Hindi naging ganap ang pagtanggap ng mga katutubo sa pagsakop ng mga dayuhan kung kaya’t maraming kaparaanan silang pinairal [at] ipinatupad para maiparamdam ang kanilang hindi pagsang-ayon sa mga nagaganap sa lipunan kagaya ng pagbubuwis, polo y servicio, conversion sa Kristiyano,” he told.
However, he clarified that the youth should not need to emulate the leaders of Caviteños by using weapons and violence to be involved toward a group’s advocacy and aspirations but stressed to use social media instead.
“Tulad ng welga, protesta, paglalaganap ng petisyon, makasining na impresyon pangkalahatan, silent protest… ilan ito sa mga kaparaanan na pwede natin maipakita ang manipestasyon na tayo ay nakikisangkot… May options tayo para makisangkot,” he added.
One of the attendees asked the speaker if the youth can contribute to significant change despite the restrictions of being young.
“Either good or bad, contribution pa rin… Ang dating bida nagiging kontrabida, at ang dating kontrabida ay bida ngayon… maging kritikal… kayo ang boses, kayo ang nakakarami ngayon… be critical in choosing the color that will make the change. Una sa lahat, baka ‘yung pangako ay mapapako nanaman,” Lubang answered.
“Okay lang manahimik lang, [basta] stand sa iyong paniniwala… pero kung kinakailangan pumili ng nararapat batay sa kritikal na pagtingin sa nangyayari, gawin… We’re not talking about colors here, we’re talking about the future. Be critical, maging matiyag… ‘wag magpadalos-dalos,” he added.
As of October 18, more than 32.7 million belonging to the youth sector can already vote in Halalan 2022.
