Youth is ‘wasted’ on the young

A top military official said the University of the Philippines student and other youngsters who were among 15 suspected New People’s Army members killed in Nasugbu, Batangas, last week were in an “immersion” program.

But most likely, they were there to get first-hand experience on the issues of landlessness among peasants in the countryside.

It’s likely a combination of youthful idealism and curiosity that brought them to that remote area. Those youth are not ready for combat; if the NPA was planning to attack the military, it will not risk the lives of the young who had no sufficient training.

Youth is wasted on the young as the song goes. If these bright students only pursued their education and became successful individuals, their dreams of helping their kababayan would not have been in vain. Armed struggle is not the solution, it only aids division.

ELISE BATA, [email protected]