QUEZON City, Philippines (January 28) – “The youth is the hope of the nation” – Jose Rizal
Our national hero once said that the children are our only hope. The youth from “Kalayaan, Atin Ito” movement is one of the great representations of what Dr. Jose Rizal told us.
“If during our voyage we will be encountering the Chinese face to face, we are going to tell them that we are not going to war against them. We are going there because the area belongs to the Philippines,” Misamis Oriental college student Mariel Ipan said.
The planned visit of the youth group to other disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea – while a territorial conflict with China is ongoing no less – is not sanctioned by the government because it may increase the tension between the Philippines and China. But, you know what? Look at the brighter side, the next generation of Filipinos are not cowards. They are like our national heroes who will fight for the freedom of our country without any hesitation.
They hope to inspire Filipinos, especially the youth to unite in preserving the country’s maritime and territorial integrity and show unity against China’s bullying. What if the planned movement of this group will truly help our country to bring back what’s ours? As what the group said “We are gradually losing our maritime domain to China’s aggression. If we are not doing this now, then when?”
The Spratly Island, sooner or later, will eventually be conquered by China without us even noticing it. If the government has slow reaction and solution to this, the said country may invade the Spratly fast, then what’s next to occupy? Island in Luzon? Visayas? Mindanao? Or maybe the whole Philippines itself. If we are not going to act now then when?. If it is already happening? Or if it is too late? It is now or never!
I, myself salute and praise those youth for being nationalistic and patriotic because in their young age they are already concerned over our territory.
These young Filipinos should be an inspiration and an encouragement to each and every one of us to voyage in fulfillment of our duty as a Filipino to defend the country’s sovereignty in a peaceful way. They are not afraid to sacrifice themselves for our country and for the freedom of our territories. They should be called the “Youth Heroes of our Generation” because of their courage, confidence, and will to preserve the country’s maritime and territorial integrity.
(written by Mia Caragay, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Lovely Ann Cruz)
