PulitiKabataan: A Forum on Youth Participation in the 2013 Midterm Elections
University of the Philippines People Oriented Leadership in the Interest of Community Awareness- Socio Political Committee Director
Forum on Youth Participation in the 2013 Midterm Elections
Over the past years, the world has seen a burgeoning of the youth’s role in virtually every aspect of public life. In every corner of the world, people have come to realize that the youth, young as they may be, do care about socio-political issues and are doing something to contribute to society. Comprising members of the population aged fifteen to thirty1, they represent the most dynamic and idealistic sector of our country. In Jose Rizal’s words, they are the hope of the future; and they are up the challenge.
Election is one aspect of political life in which the youth plays a vital role. Statistics show that fifty-four percent (54%) of the total voting population comes from the youth bloc. In 2010, there were two million new voters, eighty percent (80%) of which come from the youth sector. Youth-led campaigns also dominated during the 2010 elections. Some, like Youth Vote Philippines and Young Public Servants focused on educating first-time voters by providing essential information regarding candidates and their platforms. Several others focused on campaigning for candidates, like PiNoy Power and YoNoy for Benigno Aquino III, and Kabataang Nasyonalista for Manny Villar, among others.2
With the forthcoming 2013 midterm elections, the youth is once again called upon to challenge the usual plagues of corruption, cheating, vote-buying and violence that the Filipino people have already come to associate with election season. In line with this, the Association of Political Science Organizations of the Philippines (APSOP) will conduct a forum, with the theme: Youth Participation in the 2013 Midterm Elections. The half-day event will be open to member organizations of the APSOP, students of Political Science and other college students who are interested to learn more about their role in the forthcoming elections. Renowned speakers from youth groups, mass media, government and politics will be invited to share their knowledge and to give a multi-perspective view on the said topic. An open forum will also be conducted, so that participants may address their queries to the speakers.
Through this forum, APSOP aims to renew and invigorate the youth’s zeal in participating in the electoral process. Hopefully, this will make the youth realize that we are, indeed, the hope of our nation; we have a voice, and we want it to be heard.
1 The Youth in Nation-Building Act, R.A. 8044, 9th Congress, Section 2, (1994).
2 Senajon, Cristyl Mae B. (2010). Youth’s Participation in 2010. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved from http://blogs.inquirer.net/philippineelections/2009/10/25/youths-participation-in-2010-1/
Forum on Youth Participation in the 2013 Midterm Elections
Over the past years, the world has seen a burgeoning of the youth’s role in virtually every aspect of public life. In every corner of the world, people have come to realize that the youth, young as they may be, do care about socio-political issues and are doing something to contribute to society. Comprising members of the population aged fifteen to thirty1, they represent the most dynamic and idealistic sector of our country. In Jose Rizal’s words, they are the hope of the future; and they are up the challenge.
Election is one aspect of political life in which the youth plays a vital role. Statistics show that fifty-four percent (54%) of the total voting population comes from the youth bloc. In 2010, there were two million new voters, eighty percent (80%) of which come from the youth sector. Youth-led campaigns also dominated during the 2010 elections. Some, like Youth Vote Philippines and Young Public Servants focused on educating first-time voters by providing essential information regarding candidates and their platforms. Several others focused on campaigning for candidates, like PiNoy Power and YoNoy for Benigno Aquino III, and Kabataang Nasyonalista for Manny Villar, among others.2
With the forthcoming 2013 midterm elections, the youth is once again called upon to challenge the usual plagues of corruption, cheating, vote-buying and violence that the Filipino people have already come to associate with election season. In line with this, the Association of Political Science Organizations of the Philippines (APSOP) will conduct a forum, with the theme: Youth Participation in the 2013 Midterm Elections. The half-day event will be open to member organizations of the APSOP, students of Political Science and other college students who are interested to learn more about their role in the forthcoming elections. Renowned speakers from youth groups, mass media, government and politics will be invited to share their knowledge and to give a multi-perspective view on the said topic. An open forum will also be conducted, so that participants may address their queries to the speakers.
Through this forum, APSOP aims to renew and invigorate the youth’s zeal in participating in the electoral process. Hopefully, this will make the youth realize that we are, indeed, the hope of our nation; we have a voice, and we want it to be heard.
1 The Youth in Nation-Building Act, R.A. 8044, 9th Congress, Section 2, (1994).
2 Senajon, Cristyl Mae B. (2010). Youth’s Participation in 2010. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved from http://blogs.inquirer.net/philippineelections/2009/10/25/youths-participation-in-2010-1/