Inquirer editorial vs young Aquino is antiyouth, elitist

It is ironic that in its Feb. 2 editorial, which lashed out at “dynastic” names in this year’s senatorial polls, the Inquirer also showed itself to be antiyouth, favoring only the political elite.

It claimed that Bam Aquino, this election season’s youngest senatorial candidate, lacks qualifications in public administration even though Bam’s track record as a student and youth leader, and more recently as a globally acclaimed social entrepreneur, shows otherwise.

In fact, the Inquirer itself has in the past reported how Bam and his social enterprise, Hapinoy, has been winning global awards, “further boosting the Philippines (sic) reputation as a hothouse of sound and innovative micro-venture ideas” (“Hapinoy gets $25,000 grant from Project Inspire,” Inquirer, 9/8/11). Another recent report is “Hapinoy wins award” (Inquirer, 9/22/12).

The editorial was based on the premise that Bam has not held any elective office in spite of his achievements in the private sector and in the global arena. It belittled his contributions as chair of the National Youth Commission and conveniently missed out the last seven years, during which Bam has been recognized as a world leader in poverty alleviation innovation—not to mention his being hailed as one of the world’s most outstanding young persons for 2012 because of his work in microenterprise and microfinance. Conveniently missing out these facts was either malicious or negligent.

Does the Inquirer mean that the Senate is only reserved for those who are already seasoned in government? Does it mean that outstanding citizens, private sector movers, social entrepreneurs, NGO leaders, journalists, academics, Church leaders, scientists, performers, basic sector leaders and other outstanding persons with solid credentials do not have the right to run for office and represent our people? Does it mean that one cannot be young and aspire to represent fellow youth—the largest chunk of the voting population—in national policy-making?

A simple Google search will show Bam’s credentials: outstanding student and youth leader; outstanding social entrepreneur and reformist; world-class Filipino that this country should be proud of. If we are to disallow young men and women like Bam, regardless of their family names, from serving in government, then we truly are doomed to the kind of inutile institutions that we have today.

We, the Filipino youth, deserve better leaders. We deserve a world-class government for a world-class nation. If we can’t let an outstanding Filipino like Bam run, what other choices do we have?

—NIÑA TEROL-ZIALCITA,

coauthor, “[r]evolutionaries: The new generation of Filipino youth and  youth organizations,” [email protected]