A Filipino Youth's State of the Nation Address

by Sydelle Erra J. Pana

I stand here before all of you, Filipinos, as a symbol of hope. Hope for a better future,
hope for a better Philippines. The economic recession we are experiencing brought by
the aftermath of the covid-19 lockdown made worse as the war between Ukraine and
Russia affected the production, import and export between countries including
Philippines.

Currently, the continuous increase of gas price, flour and rice, the struggling agricultural
industry, the upcoming school year opening, rising of dengue and covid-19 cases and
the list goes on, Filipinos have seem to feel hopeless more than ever as the future holds
uncertainty for themselves, especially the youth. It brought the people great devastation
as the cost of living is becoming more and more unbearable each day.

I present myself to all of you as a public servant. I am given the position to be the leader
of all leaders to initiate service to the public and to our land. I am no more than you, I
am not one to be worshipped nor to be idolize as I am just another human being,
another Filipino just like you only that I have the power to make change, the power to
give hope. I stand not in front but behind you all, making sure no one gets left behind as
we all progress to a more secured future, to a better Philippines.

The main cause of Philippines' increasing poverty rate is the failure to fully develop the
agricultural sector hence, one of the issues we ought to give attention to is agriculture.
Many farmers and fishermen are still poor despite their harvests being the basic need of
Filipinos. Their harvests are needed for us to keep ourselves healthy and get us through
every day and yet the farmers and fishermen themselves are unable to provide food for
their plate. Research group, IBON estimates that, if based on more reasonable
standards of poverty measurement, at least 90%, if not all farmers and fishermen, are
impoverished.
Firstly, we will suspend the Rice Liberalization Law and support our local farmers and
fishermen instead if depending on imports from other countries. We will also be
monitoring lands and bodies of water farmers and fishermen work in so that
urbanization would not take place on areas they can work in while subsidies for the
agriculture and agrarian reform sectors will also be granted.

The Education system has been keeping the Filipino children from nurturing themselves
both artistically and academically and preventing them from reaching their full potential
as future leaders of our country. Students in public schools of all grade levels will be
granted free education excluding upon enrollment fees not exceeding ₱300 while
subsidies for students in private schools of all grade levels would still be continued.
Furthermore, the use of uniforms both public and private schools will be encouraged to
promote equality and unity among students regardless of social status and financial
income and to avoid further expense on civilian clothing.

The covid-19 lockdown promoted a wider use of online learning. Families especially
those living in provinces and rural areas have experienced limitations in response to the
new modality of learning which includes, and is not limited to, Wi-Fi and data connection
inaccessibility and inability to afford required gadgets like cellphones, hence, nearly
2000 schools, both public and private, were forced to close and more than 25% of pre-
school to high school students did not enroll for the school year 2020 - 2021. In
response to this, we will be improving the country's data infrastructure starting those in
rural areas and gadgets to be used for online learning will be made free for all enrolled
students.

"With great power comes great responsibility," quoted from "Spiderman". I hold myself
responsible, with the power democracy has given me, in restoring hope to all Filipinos
and building a secure future for the Philippines. Alongside the projects stated earlier and
all other projects and activities to be done in the future, our country will also be actively
participating on the sustainable development goals set up by the United Nations
General Assembly on 2015 to be achieved by 2030. To all my Dear Filipinos, work with
me as we progress to a better future, a land free of prejudice and poverty. I present
myself before you, in my first State of the Nation Address, as your newly elected
president, not a leader in front of you but a leader behind you, making sure no Filipino
gets left behind. Mabuhay, Pilipinas!

i. What will you be doing with the ₱10,000 if chosen as a winner?

With the cash price I will be receiving if chosen as a winner, I will use it as my monthly
tuition fee throughout my senior high school journey to relieve some burden on my
hardworking parents' shoulders. I will also be using it to buy materials for studying may
it be papers and pens or mobile data for online learning sessions.