With socially-oriented orgs exhausting all means to spread their calls for reform, it now seems impossible, especially for the youth, to turn a blind eye to current issues and events. Enter One Tama, Ako Mismo, Youth Vote, and I am Ninoy—four campaigns that promote youthful nationalism the way we know best (the Internet)—and it would seem the youth is running out of excuses to remain uninvolved.
ONE TAMA
A play on the name of the lazy Filipino folk character Juan Tamad, One Tama does not want the youth to wait for change the same way its namesake stalled and waited for the proverbial bayabas to fall from the tree and into his mouth. Its advocacy is to urge change now.
Former Sanggunian president Boyet Dy came up with the idea of picking August 8, 2008 to be a day for good deeds. “Let’s do eight good actions [which] everyone will do [that day],” he says. But when the project became a joint effort with Jovitt Trinidad, Miguel Encarnacion, and the Ideals Creative team, they redefined heroism using the Internet.
“It’s not just about one day, but beginning with one day and turning it into a habit,” says Boyet. In onetama.com, they identify eight core values, where small actions for betterment stem from.
One Tama shows that there is a good action suitable for all kinds of Filipinos. Holding one’s temper during traffic jams is Jovitt’s favorite good deed. “Things you hate the most [can] turn into your One Tama action,” he says. “[Like] being patient on the road—when the drivers are difficult to handle or when you have to stop yourself from cursing.”
Though such actions seem little, Boyet says, “[They] deserve a place in the Philippines.”
YOUTH VOTE
Laugh, check. Dance, check. Vote—maybe. Though these three are supposed to be the youth’s primary concerns (as Youth Vote’s slogan goes), the last one always seems to fall short.
With the youth comprising 52% of the total number of votes, this nation’s future ultimately rests on these young shoulders. This is where Youth Vote steps in. From the musings of several youth-oriented groups, Youth Vote has since then evolved into an organization. “There has been a lot of response most especially with our regional chapters,” says lead convenor Ching Jorge. “Youth Vote is not only present in Manila but in key cities nationwide.”
Youth Vote utilizes each individual’s strengths through different venues, from mobile information programs to a novel website. But its uniqueness is in the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs). “Not only will we provide information on the presidentiables but the youth will see how each candidate is performing based on the MDGs,” says Ching.
Youthvotephilippines.com features articles, feeds, and videos designed with the youth in mind. Youth Vote also hosts Talakayan Forums where participants can judge a candidate for themselves.
With the assurance of a number of youth registered by October 31, Youth Vote is expected to still be in operation even beyond the 2010. Says Ching, “We will shift from being focused primarily on information to monitoring elected officials.”
I AM NINOY
Founded by the Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Foundation to commemorate the 25th year of Ninoy’s death, I am Ninoy was developed with the hope of bringing Ninoy’s memory to the youth.
The trademark “I am Ninoy” brand has now spread with merchandise such as commemorative shirts and baller IDs made in partnership with Team Manila and Penshoppe. But I am Ninoy is not just the trend of the week. As a movement that helps individuals realize the heroes within them, I am Ninoy has its own answer to the call for moral greatness, beginning with its members who try their best to be public servants.
This was something Trishia Octaviano, I am Ninoy’s communication officer, witnessed herself during Cory Aquino’s wake. “I had to do my part to call volunteers. And the response was overwhelming—the span of five days, I had over 300 to 500 volunteers,” she says. “These individuals were not even asking for anything in return. The experience was great, made them part of history.”
As of now, I am Ninoy is still in its one-year test run. But in their quest for finding their strengths and weaknesses, Trishia says, “I want it to be a movement that is stable enough to reach [even] those who do not want to be involved.”
Ninoy Aquino once said that the Filipino is worth dying for. The 21st century Ninoy, as promoted by I am Ninoy in its website iamninoy.com, brings a new message: I do what I believe is right. I do what I believe is good. I am a hero.
AKO MISMO
Media blitz and cool dog tags aside, Ako Mismo has perked the youth’s attention by unveiling the nation’s core problems: apathy and hopelessness.
An advocacy formed by the PLDT-Smart Foundation, Ako Mismo grounds its motivations on the fact that there are still Filipinos who care about the country. “Ako Mismo is a nonpartisan, inclusive movement that encourages young people to start with themselves to create positive change,” says Susan Dimacali of DDB Cares.
With research from DDB, one of the leading advertising agencies in the Philippines, the organization found that the youth desires to be their own heroes in changing the future. “Ako mismo,” which translates loosely to “I myself,” focuses exactly on that—an individual pledge to start change.
In its website, akomismo,org, are over 250,000 pledges, from abstract ideas like “Ako mismo magpapakabait (I myself will be good)” to concrete issues like “Ako mismo ang boboto nang tama (I myself will vote wisely).”
Aside from pledges, Ako Mismo also spreads its message through its red dog tag—a symbol of being part of an ‘army of hope.’
“If there are people who don’t take it seriously, you will see from Facebook that the members police themselves,” says Susan. “They speak out against counterfeiters who are profiting from the sale of fakes to the detriment of our eleven beneficiary charities whom Ako Mismo supports.”
