IN A bid to increase youth participation throughout the electoral process, Senator Miriam  Defensor-Santiago stood before the Ateneo community at a forum held on November 14 at the Ricardo and Dr. Rosita Leong Hall auditorium.

Titled “MIRIAM on Leadership and Sovereignty,” the forum was organized by Ateneo student political party Christian Union for Socialist and Democratic Advancement (Crusada) in partnership with the Ateneo School of Government (ASOG).

According to Crusada Premier Abbo Hernandez, Defensor-Santiago’s inaugural speech is part of a series of talks sponsored by the political party as a means of forwarding “the lifestyle of politics” to Ateneans.

Active participation

In her speech, Defensor-Santiago talked about the importance of political participation of the youth—youth activism, in particular—as it helps “develop the entire society or community” and promotes “the civic and political life of young people.”

Youth activism, according to Defensor-Santiago, “serves as a vehicle for expressions of dissent, attempts to effect change, or efforts to place issues on the political agenda.”

She singled out the generational approach of youth activism which, she said, focuses on events and social movements.

“Activism does not involve as many people as other civic activities, such as voting. But it has been correctly pointed out that the importance of youth activism cannot be measured by participation rates alone,” she said.

She added, “Activism has peer effects, raising young people’s awareness of issues and expanding their perceptions of what may be achieved.”

Defensor-Santiago also noted the evolution of activism in new media and specifically, social media.

“The contemporary history of new media began in 2009, during the presidential campaign in Iran, when the so-called ‘Twitter Revolution’ emerged. It inaugurated the new phenomenon called ‘citizen journalism,’” she said.

While she sees both the strengths and the weaknesses of new media when it comes to activism, Defensor-Santiago said she noticed that new media is “strong on rapid mobilization, but it is weak in long-term strategic thinking.”

As an instance of this, she cited the Million People March that took place in Luneta Park on August 26, 2013.

“What has the Million People March in Luneta achieved with respect to government reforms?”she asked.

In her effort to change the landscape of Philippine politics, Defensor-Santiago organized and registered the People’s Reform political party in 1992, with hopes that it would “become a genuine agent of change in Philippine politics.” She ran under the party’s banner during the presidential elections that same year.

“In the 2016 presidential elections, when I am rid of my lung cancer, I intend to claim the presidency I won in 1992, so that I can impose in Philippine politics what we need so badly: Internal discipline, a defined vision and policy agenda, internal exercise of democracy and a mass, cross-sectoral base,” she declared.

The 1992 presidential race ended in controversial circumstances. Defensor-Santiago filed an electoral protest which was eventually overturned.

With her support for youth empowerment, Defensor-Santiago added in her speech that half of her Cabinet would come from the youth sector should she be elected president. The rest would be senior officials.

“As young people, you represent nothing less than a force for transformative social change,” she said.

When asked by The GUIDON about her preference for the youth in her plans of reform, she said that the youth has a “cheerful insouciance.”

“[The youth is] not illuminated by powerful people or people with big names in politics, because that is the natural attitude of young people. So, I hope to re-energize the executive department that way. Plus, they would have much more energy than old people,” she said.

Youth-oriented

Hernandez acknowledged the value of Defensor-Santiago’s speech and the impact it had in relation to the political atmosphere inside the Ateneo.

“I think [the forum] shows that it’s not that the political atmosphere in the Ateneo is completely dead or it’s non-existent. The fact is that there needs to be a compelling reason on why things have to happen or why people have to participate,” he said.

He mentions that this “compelling reason” could come in the form of a political leader like Defensor-Santiago or in the form of advocacies.

“I think Crusada has proven time and time again that… there is a way to make people participate [in political issues]. It’s just how compelling and how well you organize these advocacies or these political activities,” he said.

ASOG Dean Tony La Viña said Defensor-Santiago “ignited” the crowd even though she was not at full health. He added that her visit gave the Ateneo community a chance to see a national leader in the flesh.

With regard to Defensor-Santiago’s speech, he said, “I think it is a very good message. It should resonate to all of you that you are the hope of the country, that you really have to make a difference to these people to make things happen.”

With reports from Carlos L. Arcenas and Joline S. Acampado.

Check out photos from the event here.

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