- 12 hours ago
As the nation marks EDSA, how do young Filipinos remember—and reinterpret—its legacy today?
On Beyond the Headlines, student activists Hans Noel Balila and Maui Azarraga Cruz join the conversation to reflect on EDSA’s relevance, youth activism, and why civic engagement still matters decades after the historic uprising.
What does people power mean in 2026?
Watch live and join the discussion.
On Beyond the Headlines, student activists Hans Noel Balila and Maui Azarraga Cruz join the conversation to reflect on EDSA’s relevance, youth activism, and why civic engagement still matters decades after the historic uprising.
What does people power mean in 2026?
Watch live and join the discussion.
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NewsTranscript
00:00:26Thank you so much for joining us.
00:00:37Good afternoon and welcome to Beyond the Headlines. I'm DJ Moises.
00:00:42Today we're not just revisiting a date in history. We are revisiting a question.
00:00:49What does EDSA mean to a generation that did not live through it?
00:00:54For many young Filipinos today, it is something they inherited, not something they experienced.
00:01:02This afternoon, we sit down with two young voices, Hans Balila and Maui Cruz from Generation Z.
00:01:10Because history is not only written by those who fought in it, it is also interpreted by those who inherit
00:01:17it.
00:01:18So, hi Hans and Maui. Welcome back to the show.
00:01:22Hi, sir. Good morning.
00:01:24Hi.
00:01:24You seem to be more than you are this time.
00:01:28For now.
00:01:29For now.
00:01:29For now.
00:01:31Maybe you'd like to greet your friends.
00:01:33Hi.
00:01:34Particularly my parents.
00:01:36Hello to my mom, my siblings, my friends.
00:01:45So, when you hear EDSA, what comes into your mind? Is it a street? Is it a name of a
00:01:54person? Or is it a part of the Philippines' history?
00:02:00I would say it's more of like the part of the Philippine history for me. I always associate it with
00:02:05the EDSA revolution and the efforts of the Filipino people to uprising against a government that was oppressive and authoritarian.
00:02:16How about you, Maui?
00:02:16Ako rin.
00:02:17It reminds me.
00:02:18Why are you laughing?
00:02:20It reminds me of history as well.
00:02:23Well, I feel like EDSA was one of my first few mobs as an activist. So, it will always hold
00:02:31a very special meaning for me.
00:02:34So, that's it.
00:02:34So, how would you explain it to people your age? Because this is like 1986.
00:02:43Maybe, I think your parents were also still young at that time.
00:02:49So, how would you explain this at least to people your age today?
00:02:53I think a majority of the people who were involved in the EDSA revolution were the youth. It was the
00:03:00political participation that enabled the doubling down of a dictator.
00:03:05And I think if I were to talk about the EDSA revolution to people of my age, I would say
00:03:10that it's one of the proof that with collective effort and with the youth's ambition, we can achieve things, even
00:03:17achieving a proper and clean government.
00:03:20That's true.
00:03:21That's true. And what was it like to live as a student back then during the EDSA revolution, even before
00:03:28that, during martial law?
00:03:30This is something that we often talk about, especially in STAND, in the Student Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy.
00:03:37We talk about how during EDSA, before that, the first quarter storm, the three conduits of student political participation were
00:03:50banned.
00:03:52This is the student publications, our student organizations, and our student councils, but it is the youth primarily that really
00:04:01fought collectively to bring back our councils, our student pubs, and our student orgs.
00:04:07And it is something that we must continuously continue to fight for, until now.
00:04:14And I feel like a lot of people nowadays, a lot of the youth, they don't really realize that a
00:04:21lot of the things that we experienced back then, it's still happening right now.
00:04:25That's true.
00:04:26And there's still a reason to continue fighting.
00:04:28There's still a reason to continue commemorating EDSA.
00:04:31It shouldn't be just a holiday.
00:04:34It's not just something that we mark on our calendars, but it's continuously remembered and fought for.
00:04:40So some people believe, some Filipinos believe, that democracy was restored in 1986.
00:04:46In your view, has democracy been protected since then?
00:04:52To some extent, I would say yes.
00:04:54Because of that effort, we basically bolstered the political participation of the youth, as mentioned by Maui, because of the
00:05:02Filipino people's struggle against the dictator.
00:05:06We were able to re-institutionalize student councils, publications, and other organizations, for that matter.
00:05:12And even political participation by the Filipino people in general as a whole, were basically enabled in light of the
00:05:19removal of Marcos from his presidency, and of course, the removal also of the martial law.
00:05:25But of course, still, there are some struggles when it comes to our current status of democracy.
00:05:30And that's why I would personally support Maui's statement that the Edza revolution, it wasn't just a one-time thing.
00:05:37In fact, we still face the same struggles nowadays, and therefore, we struggle to the same extent as past youth
00:05:42did.
00:05:44And then maybe Maui can comment on this one, because not everybody also considers silence as just silence.
00:05:53Some people will consider silence as neutral, but some people would also read silence as a statement already.
00:06:01So what are your thoughts about silence?
00:06:04I feel like it depends on the context of the situation.
00:06:08Of course, silence for me, because as someone who has a platform, even Hans, as someone who has a platform,
00:06:17when we're silent about things,
00:06:20of course, it also makes a statement.
00:06:23It's not important.
00:06:24Yeah, that it's not important.
00:06:26It's not relevant enough to talk about.
00:06:30But there are people, especially in youth, that they don't know well enough about the issue.
00:06:39And that's why they're silent.
00:06:40Because so many people, they don't talk about things that they're uncomfortable with sharing in public,
00:06:47because it might lead to more backlash.
00:06:49It might lead to so much more conversations that they're not ready to handle.
00:06:55And so I think that that's why it's so, so important to continue to make sure that everyone is aware
00:07:01of what's going on politically, socially.
00:07:03It's so, so important for people who have a platform to continue to speak up on these issues,
00:07:11to continue to, especially right now,
00:07:12daghan kayong isyo sa Cebu, daghan kayong isyo sa Philippines.
00:07:16And as people with platforms, it is also our responsibility to be able to share these para inform po ang
00:07:24mga tao,
00:07:25so that they too can be inspired to also make noise, take part, do something about it.
00:07:34So speaking of platform, and speaking of speaking up, so we are going to play a game, no?
00:07:43So what we have you are hearts, and if I am to explain, it's because hearts represent love of country.
00:07:50Love of country, okay.
00:07:53And so if the viewers would see, so the hearts actually have two sides.
00:07:58So one side, letter A, and the other side is letter B.
00:08:02And what we will be doing is, I would be reading statements here,
00:08:07and then Hans and Maui will actually tell us what are their thoughts,
00:08:15whether they favor statement A or statement B.
00:08:19So let's start with something easy.
00:08:21A, reply instantly, or B, mentally reply and forget.
00:08:31Sorry, inside joke.
00:08:33Sige, tell us about reply instantly.
00:08:38Why do you prefer that?
00:08:40I, oh actually,
00:08:45Gwen is also laughing in the background.
00:08:48I'm someone who, I try to respond as soon as I can.
00:08:52I feel like my friends are going to say, nah, that's not true.
00:08:56But when I can, I try to respond.
00:09:00You guys have to believe me.
00:09:01Why do you, why do I sense like you're trying to convince me?
00:09:05No, no, I'm trying to, no.
00:09:08Okay, I think it's very important to respond to the people around you.
00:09:11So let's preface it with that.
00:09:14And I try my best to be able to respond immediately.
00:09:19Pero kapag hindi makakaya, edi...
00:09:24Did you forget that you didn't respond to Gwen and I for like fireball?
00:09:28Did I?
00:09:28During the weekend?
00:09:29Can't laugh. OMG.
00:09:30Oh, sige.
00:09:31Wait.
00:09:32Sige, ano na lang.
00:09:33So, which one is more common?
00:09:38Ang hindi makakaya or ang makakaya?
00:09:41Hindi.
00:09:42To respond.
00:09:44Okay, can I just say, nah, I'm not always on my phone.
00:09:49Okay, sige.
00:09:50Kasi marami akong ganap sa buhay.
00:09:54Ayun.
00:09:55But when it comes to the people that I really, really value and care about, ayun,
00:09:59I try to respond as soon as possible.
00:10:02So for those that Maui actually care about, now you know.
00:10:05Okay, now Hans, let's move to you.
00:10:08Why do you delay and eventually forget?
00:10:11Ayun.
00:10:12Honestly, when I was still young, still young, I was still a teenager, I used to like respond instantaneously to
00:10:19people like even like late at night.
00:10:20But I've reached a point in life where sometimes it takes a lot of me to respond to people.
00:10:25Now just because I'm free, that doesn't necessarily mean that I am available.
00:10:29So sometimes I try to respond a little bit later when I feel like I'm emotionally ready to respond or
00:10:36like I'm in the zone to respond to people.
00:10:38But sometimes I also forget.
00:10:40That's why I really, really profusely apologize to people sometimes when I just notice, oh, it's been days since I've
00:10:46responded to you.
00:10:46I am so sorry.
00:10:48Do you also, is this an alibi or is this a reality when people would say that, oh, I was
00:10:54already responding, but I forgot to send it?
00:10:58I haven't experienced that before because I feel like if I'm already writing a response, then I should respond right
00:11:04after that.
00:11:06I've experienced it before because there are times I'm in meetings or I'm doing something for council or something and
00:11:13then I see the no tip and then I can't message right away.
00:11:18So I think of a response and then sometimes it just doesn't really happen.
00:11:23Which happens to you?
00:11:26Just kidding.
00:11:27Not kidding.
00:11:28Just kidding.
00:11:29Sige, now let's move into something related to EDSA.
00:11:34I'm hopeful, letter A, I'm hopeful about the Philippines or B, I am worried about the Philippines.
00:11:43Hopeful.
00:11:44Wow.
00:11:46I'm liking it.
00:11:47So let's start with you, Hans.
00:11:48Why are you hopeful about the Philippines?
00:11:51I think it really is in the youth spirit to be optimistic about things because the thing about the future
00:11:58is, as you've mentioned, it's also something that we might inherit.
00:12:01And when it comes to that, I believe we really need the youth to be visionaries, to envision a future
00:12:10that they want to have.
00:12:12And part of that comes with being optimistic about the future.
00:12:15And of course, being optimistic about things, believing that things will be better for you, that you will be getting
00:12:21a better future.
00:12:21That motivates you to also do better by extension.
00:12:26And that's why I really don't like losing hope for the nation because as someone who fought for the nation
00:12:33for the past few years as a student activist, as a youth leader, it really comes with it.
00:12:40Like, I mean, the campaigns that you do, it comes with it.
00:12:43An ambition in which everyone's interests are upheld.
00:12:46So therefore, you need to be optimistic about things to fight for things in the first place.
00:12:51That's right. That's true.
00:12:53Maybe, as an activist, we don't have a chance if we don't have hope for the nation for the nation.
00:13:04For the nation!
00:13:08It's not just the youth that can enact social change, but we have to link arms with the rest of
00:13:22the sectors of society.
00:13:23And there's so much potential in this country and the people.
00:13:28And sa lahat ng tao, it is the Filipinos who are deserving talaga of a bright future ahead.
00:13:36So, ayun.
00:13:37And speaking of issues, let's see, no?
00:13:41What type of reaction do you normally kill?
00:13:45Letter A, confront immediately?
00:13:48Or letter B, overthink for three days?
00:13:56Oh, you also, both of you, are the type of young leaders who confront the issues immediately.
00:14:05So, tell us more, Maui.
00:14:07Hindi naman siguro na sobrang immediately.
00:14:10I think na we should give ourselves time to really assess the situation.
00:14:15Depende siya sa sitwasyon.
00:14:17And I think na, I like to give myself time to think and to really see if this is worth
00:14:23my time or not.
00:14:26If what I'm feeling is valid kung kamusta yung situation.
00:14:30And if I've thought it through, doon ako mag co-confront sa problem.
00:14:37I think, ayun.
00:14:39I feel like a lot of people do this as well.
00:14:41So, hindi naman siya, hindi naman siya uncommon.
00:14:43Yan lang yung ginagawa ko.
00:14:44Because I don't like it.
00:14:45I don't like dwelling on things as much as possible.
00:14:49I don't like giving myself room to overthink.
00:14:53So, if may problema, I'd much rather ka nang, what's it called?
00:14:58Why are you laughing?
00:15:00Why am I feeling that this is more of a personal hugot?
00:15:04No, I'm just kidding.
00:15:05Oh my God!
00:15:06No, I'm just kidding.
00:15:07I'm just kidding.
00:15:07Continue, continue, continue.
00:15:09No, I'm thinking about it like sa aking mga friends, sa orgs.
00:15:14If my problema, ayun, sasabihin ko agad.
00:15:17Like, I'm not gonna wait for things to settle.
00:15:19Because I feel like if you wait.
00:15:21To linger.
00:15:22Yeah, if you linger.
00:15:24Ayun, it harbors a lot of subject.
00:15:27Yeah, resentment, subjectivism.
00:15:29And I don't like carrying subjectivism.
00:15:31And before you know it, the issue is already very big.
00:15:33Like, para sa akin, like, this could have been an email.
00:15:37Yeah.
00:15:39Yeah, ayun.
00:15:40So, talk it out lang.
00:15:41It's just one conversation.
00:15:42And why were you laughing, Hans?
00:15:45Wala.
00:15:45I was just laughing at the part where you said, you don't want to be anxious about things.
00:15:50Oh, bakit naman?
00:15:51Ayun, kasi very, like, grabe talaga yung anxiety ko.
00:15:54Like, I have a lot of anxiety.
00:15:57I think it's built up talaga from everything that I've experienced in the past.
00:16:03And instead of bottling them up?
00:16:05Yeah, I cannot bottle them up talaga.
00:16:09You want to resolve them?
00:16:09Yeah, I want to resolve them right away.
00:16:11Kasi hindi ka makakayo ng anxiety ko eh.
00:16:14Like, it eats me up.
00:16:15So, ayun.
00:16:16And Hans knows this.
00:16:17Because there's so many times na I called him.
00:16:19Yeah.
00:16:22To react immediately, na?
00:16:24Oh, to vent.
00:16:26Whether it be through council.
00:16:29Personal.
00:16:30Council.
00:16:31Council.
00:16:32Sige.
00:16:32This one, letter A.
00:16:34Now, because both of them are heroes now.
00:16:38And well-admired also by Filipinos.
00:16:41But I need you to pick just one.
00:16:44Letter A, Jose Rizal.
00:16:46Letter B, Andres Bonifacio.
00:16:48I know what you're going to pick.
00:16:50Very good.
00:16:51I like that you have two different answers.
00:16:53So, let's go with Jose Rizal first.
00:16:55I think I resonate with Rizal more closely because I know a lot of people subject him to debate.
00:17:01Now, like, all he did was write things.
00:17:03And that, for them, it did not make tangible impact.
00:17:06But as someone who wrote a lot of statements, a lot of speeches, a lot of flyers throughout my student
00:17:13governance and University of St. Carlson, being a student activist in general, words have a lot of impact on people.
00:17:20It elicits emotions, emotional reactions to people.
00:17:23And by extension, it allows them to empathize more closely with the constituents that we represent.
00:17:29And that's why I feel like I would rightfully assert that Rizal is still a hero and someone that I
00:17:37resonate more closely as well.
00:17:40Because the work that he did, I think it's also one of the things that I did a lot when
00:17:46I was in college.
00:17:48I wrote a lot of things that persuaded the masses towards a particular cause to represent the interests of the
00:17:55students.
00:17:55And I would agree that he made as much of an impact as Andres did.
00:18:01Although I still agree that Andres is also a hero.
00:18:04It's just that I feel like Jose Rizal was also influential in his own means.
00:18:10Yeah, so Rizal was really more about reforms, more about communication, more about education, about equality, equal treatment, rather than
00:18:21revolution.
00:18:22Which is usually associated with Andres Bonifacio.
00:18:26So tell us about Andres Bonifacio.
00:18:28It's really about what I've known.
00:18:31No, but why do you prefer Andres Bonifacio?
00:18:36We're mutuals on Instagram.
00:18:39This is very genuine.
00:18:40They're mutuals on Instagram on IG.
00:18:43I agree with Hans's what he said.
00:18:46Actually, when he wrote the flyers, I was there helping Rizal.
00:18:51So, of course, I get the sentiments of Hans.
00:18:55I chose Jose Rizal.
00:18:57Andres Bonifacio.
00:18:58I chose Andres Bonifacio.
00:19:00Because I feel like growing up reading about the Filipino revolution, I grew up really idolizing.
00:19:09Idolizing!
00:19:09Idolizing!
00:19:11Close friend.
00:19:12And I grew up really admiring bravery to that extent.
00:19:19I feel like it takes a lot of guts to be willing to die for the Filipinos.
00:19:25And I think na that's something that we should also, you know, be passionate about.
00:19:32Yeah, embody.
00:19:33Ayun.
00:19:34I think na, ayun, yun lang siguro yung masasabi ko.
00:19:38So my next question actually is related to that.
00:19:40Because Ninoy Aquino said this statement to.
00:19:44Letter A, Filipinos are worth dying for.
00:19:47Or, letter B, Filipinos are worth living for.
00:19:53Okay.
00:19:55Oh.
00:19:55Sige, let's start with living for.
00:19:58Living for?
00:19:59Um, I think it takes a lot, siguro.
00:20:05When you do political work, I'm speaking as an activist.
00:20:10It's not easy.
00:20:11Um, especially since hindi naman ako full-time na activist.
00:20:15Um, um, I'm a student.
00:20:17Um, but it takes a lot of guts.
00:20:19It takes a lot of, um, determination.
00:20:22It takes a lot of courage, strength, um, to do.
00:20:25Or to really fight for the Filipino people.
00:20:29And gets naman na to some extent, like, there's, um, um, a huge, like, symbolic ayo to be able to
00:20:36die.
00:20:36Um, but to want to consistently and continuously, um, live, um, working for the Filipino.
00:20:45I think that's something na, it's worth admiring talaga.
00:20:50Actually, we had this conversation, Dibana.
00:20:52In the youth sector, um, mental illnesses are very common.
00:20:56Like, some people are very suicidal.
00:20:58And we thought that there was something so beautiful about being suicidal while still fighting for a life that you
00:21:03want.
00:21:03Sorry.
00:21:04Sugar warning.
00:21:05Sugar warning.
00:21:06Sorry.
00:21:06Ayun.
00:21:08Like the irony of it.
00:21:09Yeah, that's what I was thinking about.
00:21:10I, I didn't know if it was okay to talk about.
00:21:13It's pretty.
00:21:14Yeah.
00:21:15Ayun.
00:21:15I, I, as someone who was diagnosed before, um, um, I think na, personally lang.
00:21:26You would advocate for those who would fight to live.
00:21:29It was, it was, this is getting personal, but it was the movement that really inspired me to keep going.
00:21:36And I don't think na, I would have, I would have, I would be where I am right now.
00:21:40I don't think na, I'd be doing this interview right now, um, if it weren't for, um, the strength to
00:21:46live.
00:21:46Yes.
00:21:47And my love for the movement, ayun.
00:21:49And it gives you the will talaga to fight.
00:21:51Okay.
00:21:52Sige.
00:21:52Now, speaking of mental health, because this is also related to this one.
00:21:57Are you the type, letter A, small, tight circle, or letter B, many acquaintances?
00:22:05Small, tight circle, letter A, or B, many acquaintances?
00:22:10Okay, three, two, one, chik.
00:22:13Ah, really?
00:22:14Really.
00:22:14Sige, let's start with many acquaintances.
00:22:16I was like, I'm just forced to pick this choice because I love, I have a lot of friend groups.
00:22:22Like, I have a different friend group for my program in psychology.
00:22:25I have a different program for my friends in the council.
00:22:28I have a different friend group, uh, friends, a different group of friends for my work in activism.
00:22:33And just to give you context of just how big my friend groups are,
00:22:36for example, in my program in psychology, my friend group is 14 people.
00:22:42Like, it's half of a classroom.
00:22:44Okay.
00:22:44And I think, um, part of the reason why I have a lot of friend groups is because different friend
00:22:48groups represent different parts of me.
00:22:50Like, when it comes to my backada in psychology, it's more of, you know, the typical leisure line, like, um,
00:22:57being teenagers.
00:22:58And then when it comes to my friends and activism, it's mostly about politics or having ambitions in our life
00:23:06to better the lives of other people and fighting for a future that we deserve.
00:23:11And of course, when it comes to council work, it's mostly people who share the same ambitions for the Carolyn
00:23:16community.
00:23:17And that's just some of the examples, but I guess that's one of the reasons why some people have a
00:23:21lot of acquaintances.
00:23:23Basically, different people represent different parts of themselves and they try to basically show different versions of themselves to different
00:23:31people.
00:23:32And let's talk about tight circle.
00:23:35I'm the type of person I don't really open up to a lot of people.
00:23:39I think, um, same kami ni Hans in a sense that I feel like I also have different groups for,
00:23:44um, different, um, activities that I'm doing.
00:23:47I have different friend groups.
00:23:49Um, I think I have a lot of acquaintances as well, but I don't think na, um, um, when it
00:23:57comes to personal matters, kasi I don't really share with other people.
00:24:01And I prefer keeping things like really, really close, like with, I think, two, three, four, five people max.
00:24:09So, ayun, that's, that's just, I, I, I like privacy.
00:24:14Now let's go back to the Philippines.
00:24:17Sounds like a cool show, no?
00:24:19Okay.
00:24:20Letter A, a nation is defended by its heroes.
00:24:25Or letter B, a nation is strengthened by its people.
00:24:32See, yeah.
00:24:34Strengthened by its people.
00:24:35Because both of you have the same answer, but I'll ask Hans to elaborate on this.
00:24:40Oh, in our political work, we really don't subscribe to messianism.
00:24:45True.
00:24:45And messianism is basically just putting all of your trust and belief in one person.
00:24:52Like making the masses believe that it's this one person who's going to resolve everything.
00:24:56In fact, when we run for positions, we never tell them, no, I'm going to solve everything.
00:25:01We tell them, we're going to solve everything.
00:25:03Yeah.
00:25:03Because it is only through collective action, collective power that we can achieve things.
00:25:07And Edson is a proof of that.
00:25:09True.
00:25:09If it weren't for the united effort of the church, the different sectors of society,
00:25:13we would not be able to topple down a dictator who weaponized the government's resources against its people.
00:25:19And that's why I believe that there is power in collective action.
00:25:22And now I would like you to elaborate more on this, but let's see if you still have the same
00:25:28answer now.
00:25:29It's something to do with how we speak up on things that matter like our advocacy or the causes that
00:25:37we believe in.
00:25:38Letter A, posting is a participation.
00:25:43Letter B, showing up is a participation.
00:25:47So this is like online or virtual or physical presence?
00:25:53I feel like...
00:25:55Ah, okay.
00:25:56Showing up matters more than just posting on social media.
00:26:00I feel like both of them matter.
00:26:03Pero at the end of the day, we need people to show up because that's how campaigns are won.
00:26:10That's how campaigns are won.
00:26:13Like for example, right now, so many universities across the nation, so many universities in Cebu are currently undergoing a
00:26:26tuition and other fees increase, private institutions.
00:26:30In USC in particular, that's something that we are strongly against.
00:26:37We are for livable wages for our professors.
00:26:44Siyempre, we've already contacted our faculty union.
00:26:49We've already had arranged meetings with them.
00:26:53Pero at the end of the day, yung tuition and other fees increase, it does not benefit anyone else but
00:27:02the institutions.
00:27:03And especially right now, in the middle of so many calamities, bumabangon lang ang Cebu, gikan sa earthquakes, gikan sa
00:27:13kanang Typhoon Tino.
00:27:17And so many students, because of that, so many students have had to drop out.
00:27:22So many students have had to work multiple jobs in order to stay afloat, in order to stay in school.
00:27:29And now, yung mga schools natin, they're increasing the tuition even more.
00:27:35And if you think about it, everyone, every student is deserving of quality and accessible na education.
00:27:43And ayun, that's one example of a campaign that's recently like ongoing siya ngayon, not just in USC but also
00:27:50in CIT.
00:27:51It's also in Southwest.
00:27:53And the only way for us to win these campaigns is for the students to be able to show up.
00:28:00Yes, I think that it is so important to be able to speak up about it online.
00:28:06But we have to go beyond that.
00:28:08There comes a point na we need to really, really extend efforts, Jude, into these campaigns.
00:28:15Otherwise, our efforts will be futile.
00:28:17All in echo chambers.
00:28:19Ayun, magiging echo chamber na lang sila.
00:28:22So, we're encouraging students to sign petitions.
00:28:26We're encouraging students to join mobilizations.
00:28:31To even answer yung surveys that their councils are releasing regarding TOFI.
00:28:38That's a good way to join in these campaigns.
00:28:41And it also, same siya sa spirit ng EDSA, na the students really fought during their campaigns.
00:28:48Just because EDSA happened years ago, does not mean that we're not facing the same realities.
00:28:55Ayun.
00:28:55But actually, I must admit that that's a surprise answer to me.
00:29:00Ah, yeah, di ba?
00:29:00You can raise the TOFI.
00:29:02No, no, no, no, not that, not that, not the raising of the fee, but more of the context of
00:29:08virtual slash online and physical presence.
00:29:12Because I can see already the movements in terms of from the physical world to the virtual world.
00:29:19But there are still issues after all that matters to everyone, especially to the young generation that you would still
00:29:27prefer to do face-to-face rather than just posting online.
00:29:33Sige, kanil.
00:29:34Let's go back to Yunasad.
00:29:36Sige.
00:29:37Letter A, I can survive without my phone.
00:29:40Letter B, if it dies, I die.
00:29:43What?
00:29:45I think, okay.
00:29:46Letter A, I can survive without my phone.
00:29:48Letter B, if it dies, I die.
00:29:53That's also another surprise to me.
00:29:57Sige, talk about now.
00:29:59Sige, okay, wait.
00:30:00Sige, hanta lang kasi parang ready na ready siya.
00:30:03Are you sure you can survive without my phone?
00:30:05No.
00:30:05Sige.
00:30:06I'm, I'm, but that's a pleasant surprise.
00:30:08A is like, I can survive without my phone.
00:30:10Yeah.
00:30:13Sige, tell us more.
00:30:14Because I think this is educational also for the Gen Ys, Gen X, and Baby Boomers who are watching.
00:30:20My laptop here na ko, guys.
00:30:24Sige.
00:30:24Sige.
00:30:25Kala nyo, BDO, we find Wayne.
00:30:28I'm kidding.
00:30:29No, but like, I feel like, um, right now, um, marami kasing ganaps sa buhay.
00:30:37I feel like, um, there's so much more to life than just, like, being on the screen.
00:30:43On your phone.
00:30:44Yeah, on your phone.
00:30:44All the time.
00:30:45Yeah, I swear.
00:30:47I swear to God.
00:30:48Um, I keep this charged that, actually, no, 15% ako ngayon.
00:30:51I try to keep it charged at all times for emergency purposes.
00:30:56Pero, ayun, there's, there's more to life than being glued onto one's phone.
00:31:02But I think that's also very important to be able to adapt to, um, modernization ngayon.
00:31:07Um, pero, ayun, I think, personal lang siya na parati akong busy.
00:31:12So, hindi ako nakakapag-phone.
00:31:14If my meeting's on my phone, then dun.
00:31:16Pero.
00:31:17Now, sige, because, no, but this is, this is refreshingly new, no?
00:31:21For non-Gen Z like me, you know?
00:31:24So, sige, if there is something that you would tell the other Gen Zs, kaya, di ba?
00:31:28It's usually the older generation would say, oh my goodness, you're always on your phone.
00:31:32Di ba?
00:31:32And the way it's communicated can sometimes, uh, have a negative effect instead of positive.
00:31:37So, now, from a Gen Z to another fellow Gen Z, how would you advocate into not being too consumed?
00:31:45Uh, uh, not allowing the phone to actually rule the day's schedule?
00:31:49Honestly, as someone who used to be on his phone a lot, I think one of the things that actually
00:31:54cut me away from my phone is finding things to be productive about.
00:31:57Sure.
00:31:57Like, finding hobbies to do.
00:31:58Like, uh, in my case, uh, ever since I had work and I joined organizations, I've been reducing my screen
00:32:05time and spending my time more on interacting with people physically.
00:32:10And honestly, um, one thing that I noticed as to why our generation is more inclined to using our phone
00:32:15is because entertainment is so commercialized.
00:32:18Like, it's so hard for us to find third spaces.
00:32:21Sauna, also, pag-a-dug plaza para mang-laag with a barcada and stuff.
00:32:24Or watch movies in a movie house.
00:32:26Yes, and barato pa siya sauna.
00:32:27And karoon among third spaces, mahal na kayo.
00:32:29Like, our third spaces, our laags, they always have to involve going to a mall and buying food that are
00:32:34overpriced.
00:32:36So now we're left with interacting on our phones, na libre.
00:32:39And more affordable compared to face-to-face interactions.
00:32:43Good point.
00:32:43No, actually, I'm glad that we also touched on that topic because you have provided another context.
00:32:50Why some people in your generation are always in their phone.
00:32:55And you've raised an important question that it's because at the end of the day, it may even be more
00:33:01cost-effective for them to be just on their phone.
00:33:04Rather than go out and buy coffee or go out and watch movies.
00:33:10That's an added perspective also on how Gen Ys and Gen X and Baby Boomers react with Gen Zs' perceived
00:33:20preference on their phones.
00:33:24Sige, now, let's go back.
00:33:26This is still social media related.
00:33:28Letter A, social media empowers my generation.
00:33:32Or letter B, social media pressures my generation.
00:33:38Letter A, empowers my generation.
00:33:41Letter B, pressures my generation.
00:33:45Let's start with the pressure.
00:33:47I think that also, okay, let's start by saying that empowering rin naman yung social media.
00:33:55I worked in PR naman, especially in the council.
00:33:58So very empowering siya.
00:34:00But if we're talking about mga personal accounts, I feel like social media has become a space where,
00:34:06our profiles online are very heavily curated.
00:34:11I feel like a lot of what we see on social media nowadays, sometimes it doesn't really reflect everyday life.
00:34:19And people don't post everyday life because that's not what other people want to see.
00:34:23So nakaka-pressure siya.
00:34:24But it is also empowering because it allows for more communication.
00:34:30It allows for information dissemination.
00:34:33In fact, so many of the campaigns we have going on, our campaigns on TOFI, our campaigns against recent corruption
00:34:44issues,
00:34:45they would never have gone as far as it did if it weren't for social media, if it weren't for
00:34:51apps like Facebook, TikTok, even Instagram.
00:34:56But that's all in moderation.
00:34:58And that is why people, I think that's why sometimes we need to touch grass.
00:35:06Sometimes we need to go outside and remember that life is not just social media, although it is a very,
00:35:12very big aspect of life.
00:35:16Actually, this conversation is really refreshing for me because as you may have heard that a lot of generations have
00:35:24that perception.
00:35:25Not that Gen Z are always on their phone or Gen Z are always in social media, but these are
00:35:32also food for thought that would allow us to see the different side of Gen Z.
00:35:37So you can tell us more about this.
00:35:39In my case, I agree with Mami that to some extent it can be pressuring.
00:35:42But I think at the end of the day, it depends on the type of media that you consume and
00:35:47it depends on the people that you surround yourself with.
00:35:49Because on a personal aspect, I really like it when I get to see versions of people that they put
00:35:55out there to celebrate wins in their life, no matter how small or big.
00:35:59I think there's something so beautiful about people sharing their personal milestones and victories to you and them letting you
00:36:06know that they've actually improved in life or have had something better in life and the fact that they want
00:36:13to celebrate it with you in social media.
00:36:15And on a political aspect, I think it is very empowering in the part where people often share their stories
00:36:23when it comes to political issues.
00:36:25I agree.
00:36:26To share why they fight for certain things, why they resist oppression, why they are against a certain thing.
00:36:34Like these type of contents, they expose live realities.
00:36:38They humanize issues beyond just numbers.
00:36:41Because I think sometimes in social media, rather in the news or any type of information dissemination systems, we sometimes
00:36:49reduce issues to just numbers.
00:36:51But when you get to interact with people and know about their lives beyond the numbers, it humanizes them to
00:36:57you.
00:36:57It reminds you why these people are also human and why they want to fight for better things.
00:37:03And by extension, that empowers me.
00:37:05And if I captured it correctly, what you're advocating, it depends on the information that we consume.
00:37:12Because if we spend more time with it and then it's educational, then yes, you end up becoming better.
00:37:19You know more, you become more.
00:37:20But if you don't consume educational stuff, then yes, that's when it becomes pressure.
00:37:28Especially that I know a lot of people are supposed to be aware of this in the space of the
00:37:35dangers of comparison.
00:37:37What we just see are snapshots.
00:37:39That's true.
00:37:40And then there's the tendency to compare a snapshot with our whole life story, which will never be equitable.
00:37:47Comparison is the theme of joy.
00:37:50Not just plunder.
00:37:52Okay, sige.
00:37:54Now, let's go.
00:37:56So, this one are both correct.
00:37:58But just pick which one is better for you.
00:38:02Okay.
00:38:02Passion builds success, letter A.
00:38:05Letter B, discipline builds success.
00:38:12Let's talk about passion.
00:38:15Who did?
00:38:16Am I passion?
00:38:17Yes.
00:38:17Okay, passion.
00:38:18Okay.
00:38:18Sorry.
00:38:19Suck that.
00:38:20Okay, so.
00:38:22At least in my case, I've built my recent successes out of passion.
00:38:27They weren't exactly things that I had to discipline myself for because I always felt like I was born to
00:38:32do it.
00:38:33I never...
00:38:34The main character.
00:38:35It's not like you.
00:38:36It's not like to toot my own horn.
00:38:39It's not like to toot my own horn.
00:38:40It's just that I felt like I always had it in me to be in the positions where I was
00:38:46and I'm in right now.
00:38:48It wasn't something that I had to compel myself to be in.
00:38:51And I guess that's why I would say it builds success because like passion builds success.
00:38:55Because in my personal case, I never had to pressure myself to do things to be successful.
00:39:03I just feel like those are things that felt like they already came with the obligations that I was entrusted
00:39:11with.
00:39:12Let's talk about discipline.
00:39:14I feel like you do need to have a certain amount of passion in order to achieve success.
00:39:22But I think that you have to have a stronger sense of discipline.
00:39:27Personally, because it's a success in career.
00:39:33A lot of people like nowadays, at least it's good.
00:39:38Especially if you're not coming from an affluent family, if you're not very privileged, you need a lot of discipline.
00:39:47Para makaangat kayo sa buhay.
00:39:51It takes a lot of determination talaga.
00:39:54And if you don't have that sense of discipline, then it might be difficult for you moving forward.
00:40:02Because you need discipline in order to study, in order to persist, in order to graduate, to finish college.
00:40:15Kayo, not everyone has the same opportunities.
00:40:19So it really is important to have a sense of discipline talaga.
00:40:22But ayun, like passion, passion rin.
00:40:25Passion statement.
00:40:27Tama.
00:40:28You know what?
00:40:29Passion statement.
00:40:30Yes.
00:40:31But to some extent, I don't think there's an interplay, Bia.
00:40:33Because I don't think you can have discipline on something if you don't have the passion for it.
00:40:37Tama, tama, tama.
00:40:39But you can be passionate about something, but not discipline.
00:40:42So both of them are actually good.
00:40:45It's just that where you think you can be your best.
00:40:50Also, siguro sa mga campaigns.
00:40:52Like a lot of us are very passionate about the campaigns.
00:40:55Pero it takes a lot of discipline talaga to stick with them.
00:40:59Like, I'm so passionate about this.
00:41:03Because campaigns, running campaigns are very difficult.
00:41:06Like, against, like, very anti-student, student policies.
00:41:11There used to be times now.
00:41:12We'd have meetings until 1am.
00:41:141am.
00:41:14At the meeting started at 8am.
00:41:16Oo, oo.
00:41:19Maluya ka ba?
00:41:20So, discipline is also essential in campaigns.
00:41:22Too essential, yes.
00:41:23Even campaigns like New York Passion Week.
00:41:27Yes.
00:41:28Oo, oo.
00:41:28Tama.
00:41:28Tama-tama.
00:41:30Sige.
00:41:31I'm down to my last statement here.
00:41:37Let's see if you have the same answer.
00:41:42A, anger fuels change
00:41:45Or B, discipline fuels change
00:41:50Let's see
00:41:52A for anger
00:41:54Let's talk about anger
00:41:58I wouldn't really say that anger is an initial reaction
00:42:02I feel like it's something that happens after a series of things
00:42:07That has made someone uncomfortable or feel disrespected or feel violated
00:42:11And in the context of politics
00:42:13The masses easily feel angered against things
00:42:18That they feel as if it causes injustice towards them
00:42:21And this anger, this righteous indignation against injustices inflicted on them
00:42:27It's what pushes people to pressure governments
00:42:29To pressure authorities to do something about things that are affecting them
00:42:33Because, for example, EDSA
00:42:36I think EDSA is the best example when it comes to saying
00:42:39Anger is what pushes change or success
00:42:43Because if it weren't for the people's anger towards a system
00:42:46That has deprived them of living wages
00:42:49Deprived them of political participation
00:42:51Deprived them of avenues to express themselves
00:42:54There wouldn't be a process in which there would have been no toppling of a dictator
00:43:04They wouldn't have removed marcas from the helm of our country
00:43:07And by extension, we wouldn't see the extent of democracy that we are enjoying still as of today
00:43:14On a more local scale, for example, when it came to the matter of corruption
00:43:20If people didn't feel so mad, seeing families behind the corruption schemes
00:43:27Living luxurious lives
00:43:28While people suffer from floods, from traffic, and substandard government infrastructure
00:43:35We wouldn't have exposed the deep-seated issue of corruption in our country
00:43:40And our government officials probably would not have done something about it
00:43:43So you've already been saying, Tama, so I will not
00:43:47But maybe I will ask you for this one
00:43:49Maybe this is your turn
00:43:51Letter A, I would run for public office someday
00:43:55Or letter B, I'd rather stay outside and pressure those who do
00:44:02Letter A, I'd run for public office someday
00:44:05Letter B, I'd rather stay outside and pressure those who do
00:44:11Let's talk to our future mayor
00:44:13I'm not the future mayor
00:44:15No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, okay
00:44:20Okay, this is not to say that I will run
00:44:24No, it's more of if you're capable of it
00:44:28But are you?
00:44:28If you're capable of it
00:44:29I think that we'll cross the bridge when we get there
00:44:34Right now, calling for, what's it called?
00:44:38Pressuring those in power, important siya.
00:44:42But I think that if you're capable, it's also like stepping into office in student government.
00:44:47If you're able to do it, then do it.
00:44:52Because you owe it to the people.
00:44:55You owe it to you.
00:44:58And if you really, really want to serve, then if you know where you are, you're standing for what is
00:45:07right.
00:45:13So, we have somebody here who is open.
00:45:15No, can I just, okay, B, B, B.
00:45:18No, I'm just saying, hypothetically, if it were someone else, if you're able to do it, then run, do it.
00:45:35Siga, B, because that's your original answer.
00:45:40In my case, I've always told them about this.
00:45:43Because a lot of people would always tell me, do you have plans to do local politics?
00:45:47I guess that's because of my stint in student governance.
00:45:49Now, they would project me into local governance as well.
00:45:52But I've always told them that, as of the moment, I don't exactly have a perspective for it.
00:45:57Mainly because of how exhausting student governance was for me.
00:46:03It was very exhausting to me.
00:46:05And I'm pretty sure local governance is so much worse.
00:46:07And also, partly because of the current status of our government.
00:46:12Now, corruption is basically incentivized.
00:46:15And that's why, for the most part, I know it's very important that you involve yourself in the government.
00:46:21Because if nobody is going to change the government by being in the government, then who will?
00:46:27Or those who can, don't.
00:46:30Then how will the change also can happen?
00:46:34Yes, exactly.
00:46:35Those who can, they don't.
00:46:36And then those who can't, they do.
00:46:39Exactly.
00:46:40They're just prepared for the same system.
00:46:41As of now, I don't have a perspective of running for local government.
00:46:45So that's why I'm at the footing right now, where I would still prefer to pressure incumbents of the government.
00:46:51Now, this one, this is not actually something that's a choice between good or better.
00:46:55But this one is something that's polarizing.
00:46:58So I'd like to hear your thoughts about this.
00:47:00So, letter A, schools should be neutral spaces.
00:47:07Yes, or letter B, schools should actively shape social values.
00:47:16Okay, tell me about schools shaping social values.
00:47:20Go, go.
00:47:22Well, by my reaction, you can tell what's my stand.
00:47:25Yes.
00:47:26Well, you are my guest.
00:47:28So, be my guest.
00:47:29I guess, despite the current political situation in my alma mater right now, University of San Carlos, it actually is
00:47:38very impressive knowing how, during martial law, SVD priests sheltered student activists.
00:47:46And, I guess, one of those, I think that's a testament of how, like, even priests themselves, they recognize the
00:47:53importance of universities, strongholds of the academe, to take a stand when it comes to political issues.
00:47:59Because, at that point, one of those are the schools of arts and sciences, one of those are the scholars
00:48:05of politics, if you don't use the platform that the university has to take a stand when it comes to
00:48:11political issues.
00:48:12And, not to mention, universities are so influential.
00:48:15You have thousands of students under your leadership, and it is very important that you also try to make use
00:48:21of the education that you have with your instructors, with your professors, to further educate students when it comes to
00:48:29social realities.
00:48:30Because, at the end of the day, I believe that we should not limit ourselves to textbooks, we should not
00:48:34limit ourselves within the four walls of our classrooms, but, in fact, we should apply whatever we learn in our
00:48:39textbooks towards that to society.
00:48:42And, that basically is the principle of USC, that we share what we have, we seek to learn what we
00:48:49do not know, among many other principles that USC envishes.
00:48:53So, I will not ask you anymore to elaborate on it, but I would rather ask you this time, also
00:49:00from the perspective of, how about for a particular issue, both of you would say that schools should shape or
00:49:10influence the thinking.
00:49:12So, especially if it's perceived to be the correct one, but what if there are also students who don't share
00:49:17that, and then the school is actually advocating for it, what would be your thoughts, also, of how that should
00:49:26be better managed?
00:49:27That's also a reality, right?
00:49:29In what sense?
00:49:30So, for example, the school is advocating for this particular political direction, but there may be students also studying in
00:49:38the school that do not share that, but their teachers, their deans, their presidents are clearly not aligned to their
00:49:46thoughts.
00:49:46So, how will that, how, what's your suggestion to manage those instances?
00:49:52Have discourse gap one.
00:49:54I feel like, at the end of the day, it's the responsibility of our universities, of our schools, to promote
00:50:02environments where the students themselves are not afraid of political participation.
00:50:08They're not afraid of speaking out, because the only way we can be able to achieve unities, maybe, or the
00:50:20middle ground is through discourse, right?
00:50:26No, I like it, actually.
00:50:28I think that's the beauty of democracy.
00:50:31If it's upheld, we are open to critical discourse, and we consider different perspectives.
00:50:36So, I think we covered this also offline on a personal note, rather than political, but as they say, differences
00:50:43will always come, because all of us are individuals to begin with, but it's communication or discourse that will surpass
00:50:50that conversation and come up with a better direction.
00:50:54The anger, maybe, is if schools actively repress their students to a point where students are no longer speaking out,
00:51:05if they're scared to talk about these issues.
00:51:08Okay, if the school thinks this way, and the students think that way, at least, we cannot stifle voices.
00:51:19Like, it's not, it's not, it's 2016, ah, 2026 na.
00:51:24Just like an ingredient for a dictatorship.
00:51:26Yeah, we should not allow censorship to take place in our schools.
00:51:30We should not allow our schools to stifle this political dissent.
00:51:36It is the jobs of our universities to really foster the minds of our students.
00:51:44And how will they be able to do that if they're not going to do that, if they're not going
00:51:47to do it, they're not going to do it.
00:51:50That's true.
00:51:51Sige, now this is the last one, and we'll go back to the spirit of EDSA.
00:51:55Now, this one, both of these statements are true, but which one would you choose?
00:51:59EDSA was about courage, letter A, or letter B, EDSA was about unity.
00:52:08Yes.
00:52:09Consistent.
00:52:10Courage.
00:52:11Courage.
00:52:12Okay, let's talk about courage, which is aligned to anger earlier, instead of discipline.
00:52:17Let's go.
00:52:17Do you want to go?
00:52:18Oh, yes, again.
00:52:19Okay.
00:52:21I think it takes a lot of guts to stand up to a dictatorship that has weaponized the military and
00:52:27other government resources against its own people.
00:52:30And that's why when it comes to EDSA, I always look at it from a perspective where I look up
00:52:35so much to the people who actually mustered up the courage to stand up to such a government system.
00:52:42And I always make it as my reminder of the things that we are fighting for.
00:52:49Because to trace back the history of universities here in Cebu City, for example, our political party, Stand USA, it
00:52:56used to be one of the underground organizations during martial law.
00:53:01Because student organizations, fraternities, were prohibited back then.
00:53:04So the Carolinians made an underground organization.
00:53:07And from that underground organization, they made political participations and they brewed protests.
00:53:16And for that matter, I think it serves as a good reminder now, when it comes to oppressive systems, you
00:53:24need to have the bravery to face it up front or else you will not see anything change.
00:53:31Because, Ayun, like it really took so many deaths.
00:53:35I feel like it's such a disservice to the martyrs of EDSA for people in media.
00:53:42I'm not sure if you guys have noticed that, but there's this overwhelming sentiment by people that EDSA was a
00:53:46peaceful protest now.
00:53:47Which I really don't agree because it took a lot of blood for people to conclude a dictatorship.
00:53:54And that's when it's very important to emphasize just how tumultuous the time was.
00:53:59And how it took a lot of courage just to realize democracy in our nation.
00:54:05So what you're saying is it took a lot of death prior to that.
00:54:09Yes.
00:54:09That brought people to have courage to be there.
00:54:13Yes.
00:54:14And to make themselves heard, you know, and to fight for what they believed.
00:54:20Sige.
00:54:20Now, do we still have a lot of time pa ba?
00:54:22Yes.
00:54:22Or like I'm really having time?
00:54:24My time pa tayo.
00:54:25Ah, okay.
00:54:26Oh my goodness.
00:54:27Five minutes.
00:54:28Five minutes.
00:54:28Sige, sige, sige.
00:54:29Sorry, offers.
00:54:30No, no, no.
00:54:30But I'm enjoying this so much.
00:54:32Because what I have here supposedly are a few hypothetical statements.
00:54:36Just in case we are given the chance to rewrite our history.
00:54:43So the first one, I wasn't born during this time.
00:54:47But this was a statement that was made by Manuel L. Quezon, the first president of the Commonwealth of the
00:54:55Philippines.
00:54:56And I'd like to hear your thoughts about this one.
00:54:59He said, I would rather have a government run like hell by Filipinos than a government run like heaven by
00:55:06Americans.
00:55:06So let's just change Americans to foreigners.
00:55:09So what are your thoughts about this one?
00:55:12Would you rather have a government run like hell by Filipinos or run like heaven by foreigners?
00:55:20A hell like Filipinos.
00:55:22Okay, let's talk about.
00:55:23Now, it's your turn, Maui.
00:55:24Ayun, feel ko, um, imperialism.
00:55:28Yeah, exactly.
00:55:30Right now, like, graphe ka ayo, n'yapon ang imperialism.
00:55:34It still seeps through our country.
00:55:36And we can see it even right now in our education, in our healthcare, the way that our government is
00:55:43run, the way na kanang life is like here in the Philippines.
00:55:49Daghan ka ayo.
00:55:50You can see little tidbits of imperialism everywhere.
00:55:55I feel like Hans can better explain.
00:55:59I think when it comes to imperialism, it's even now, like, as what Maui mentioned, it's very notable just how
00:56:06there is, like, American in particular influence when it comes to the way we run things.
00:56:10For example, when it comes to our senior high school curriculum, we always say that we implemented it to create
00:56:17students who are globally competitive.
00:56:19But in reality, that phrase, globally competitive, is just sugarcoating the fact that we want to create students who can
00:56:25be marketed towards the global market.
00:56:27And instead of these students working to better our nation, they're forced to travel to other countries to work for
00:56:33them.
00:56:34And the best example for this is our healthcare workers.
00:56:36Now, because they're not very compensated well here in our country, instead of them serving fellow Filipinos, they're forced to
00:56:42work abroad under different living conditions just because they're not compensated well.
00:56:47And because our education system is modeled such that we can easily trade skilled workers to other nations, then that
00:56:54happens.
00:56:54And another thing, Segura, is when it comes to our academic calendars.
00:56:59For example, the government decided to move our school calendars in accordance with the U.S.'s academic calendars.
00:57:08I think that's a big representation of how the government tends to make decisions that are not representative of the
00:57:13interests of our people.
00:57:14And it becomes harmful because our classes and very late people are subject to intense heat during summers.
00:57:22And I think those are just some of the examples of which foreign control of our government can make way
00:57:28for policies that are not representative of the concrete conditions of their constituents.
00:57:33It's also how the academic curriculum, how the science and STEM courses are more prioritized.
00:57:41Or they're given more weight because it's easier to get workers from STEM fields to export them to other countries.
00:57:51That's why.
00:57:51Healthcare, so on and so forth.
00:57:53And what happens when you prioritize STEM fields, STEM courses more than the social sciences, it limits critical thinking.
00:58:02There's no preservation of heritage.
00:58:04And there is no discourse on very, very important matters like EDSA.
00:58:09Sige, how I wish, and it looks like because in our first conversation, we mentioned there's going to be a
00:58:14part two.
00:58:14But the way things are going, there's going to be a part three because I actually skipped so many questions
00:58:21here.
00:58:21But let's jump to this before we close.
00:58:27Beyond activism, what do you hope Filipinos should become?
00:58:36Dang, dang, dang.
00:58:37Deep question.
00:58:39Thinking time.
00:58:41Loading.
00:58:44Beyond activism, because now you have already clearly advanced that there's an advantage.
00:58:49You know, to speak up, to have courage, to have this healthy anger, you know, demanding for change.
00:58:55But beyond that, what would you also want Filipinos to be?
00:59:02I would say, I would want Filipinos to have more belief in themselves.
00:59:07Because I believe it's such an overbearing sentiment for so many Filipinos that they're so much more inferior to our
00:59:15neighboring countries, which I do not think is true.
00:59:20Because I feel like, I mean, at least in our economic conditions, Filipinos have to work so much harder than
00:59:26the rest of our neighboring countries just to be compensated so much lower than other countries.
00:59:31And the fact that Filipinos have to work twice as hard just to be able to get food on their
00:59:36table, that's a testament of just how capable Filipinos are.
00:59:40It's just that our government has made it seem as if we're worth the measly wages that were compensated right
00:59:47now.
00:59:48Because we don't believe so much in our skills, we accept minimum wages, we accept substandard government services, and poor
00:59:57transportation, among so many other things.
00:59:59Because I believe because we look down upon ourselves so much, it also translates into us thinking that we don't
01:00:09deserve better things.
01:00:11And last, no, second to the last, I'm sorry, second to the last, and this is for Maui.
01:00:18If there are parents who are watching, and they also have Gen Z as children, or activists as children, what
01:00:29do you want them to understand why you do what you do?
01:00:35Personally, it took a lot of time for my mom to accept, or not really accept, to be supportive of
01:00:42what I'm doing, of my activism.
01:00:44Because I can say that as a child, it took a lot of talking, a lot of explaining, a lot
01:00:52of arguing, persuasion.
01:00:55So I really can say that it takes a lot of mass working, it takes a lot of ceaseless and
01:01:01tireless persuasion to explain to our parents that activism, number one, it's not terrorism.
01:01:10Number two, it is born out of love.
01:01:14And recently, valentines, this month is the month of valentines.
01:01:21And that's why you have hearts there.
01:01:23Yeah, exactly.
01:01:24One of my favorite things is, ano ba yun, ang pag-ibig ay pakikibaka?
01:01:32To love is to struggle.
01:01:34I thought cow.
01:01:36Nag-joke siya guys, nag-joke siya.
01:01:38Nag-joke siya.
01:01:38Okay, continue, continue.
01:01:39Okay, pag-ibig ay pakikibaka.
01:01:41Ayun, pakikibaka.
01:01:42And it's the month of love naman.
01:01:45And I think the strongest form of love is to struggle for a world, for our parents, for our families,
01:01:54for our loved ones, for a better society, for a better future for them.
01:01:58Yung ginagawa namin, at least ako personally, I don't do anything without thinking of my parents first, without thinking of
01:02:08my family, how it affects them.
01:02:11And ayun, lahat ng ginagawa ko para talaga sa pamilya ko.
01:02:15And it took them a lot of time to really understand it.
01:02:20But I'm glad na now they do.
01:02:22And now they support the movement.
01:02:25And they support our fight for change, collective change.
01:02:28And I hope na for activists with parents who are not as receptive as my mom, God bless her soul,
01:02:40is ceaseless and tireless persuasion talaga yan.
01:02:45It's not going to happen in a snap.
01:02:48It takes a lot of passion.
01:02:50It takes a lot of courage.
01:02:51Discipline.
01:02:52It takes a lot of discipline.
01:02:55But you will get there.
01:02:57Kasi the more na they understand kung ano yung pinaglalaban natin, the more na they'll be able to support.
01:03:08And final question, and this is for both of you, and this is still going back to why we are
01:03:14having this conversation, the main topic, which is EDSA.
01:03:16If there's anything that, one each, no, if there's anything that EDSA taught us, what should it be and why
01:03:24we should not forget it?
01:03:27I would say one thing that we should learn from EDSA is just, it's not to just bear witness to
01:03:33history, but also take part in it.
01:03:35Because as people who are also stakeholders of whatever political changes happen in our country, we bear the responsibility of
01:03:42making sure that they represent our interests.
01:03:45And part of that is also knowing what things are happening and doing something about it.
01:03:51It's not enough that we just sit and stare at things unfolding in front of us.
01:03:55We also must have the sense of accountability and the sense of duty to make sure that anything that happens
01:04:01under our watch is still well within the rights that we have as citizens of this country.
01:04:09And Maui?
01:04:09Tama.
01:04:10Tama.
01:04:12Yeah, I see that a lot.
01:04:13Because I agree with you a lot.
01:04:16I think that if there's anything that I learned from EDSA, it's that a lot of the realities that they
01:04:21experience, it's still happening right now.
01:04:24We may not see it in plain sight, but I think that this conversation is a testament that we have
01:04:33so much reason to continue to fight.
01:04:37Like what Han says, it is our responsibility to ensure the future that we are equally deserving of, Judd.
01:04:45So, bilang kabataan, of course, since part of the youth, it's our responsibility to be able to speak up, to
01:04:56show up.
01:04:57Kasi right now, we are at, like, Marcos, we are in a era of another Marcos regime.
01:05:09It took so long for me to say that.
01:05:12We are at an era of another Marcos regime.
01:05:15We just finished.
01:05:17We're still, bumabangon pa tayo sa floods, sa earthquakes, sa corruption na issues.
01:05:24Students right now are facing inaccessible education.
01:05:28We have so many reasons to be able to stand and to be able to fight.
01:05:34So, ayun, why not?
01:05:37So, I think going back to history by then, correct me if I'm wrong, what we're trying to say here
01:05:43is it's not just enough for us to study history.
01:05:46Oo, tama.
01:05:47And we should go beyond its academic sense.
01:05:51The question actually is, what should we learn from history?
01:05:54In its context, what should we learn from EDSA?
01:05:58So, it looks like there's going to be a parts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, because just like the
01:06:04first, I'm enjoying so much this conversation.
01:06:07And thank you very much for your willingness to engage in another thoughtful conversation.
01:06:12I think I'll use your jargon.
01:06:14Thoughtful discourse.
01:06:16So, today we did not attempt to write history.
01:06:19We simply asked how a new generation understands it.
01:06:24Because history does not end with one generation.
01:06:28It is carried forward by the next.
01:06:31I am DJ Moises.
01:06:33This has been Beyond the Headlines.
01:06:35Have a good afternoon.
01:07:04Have a good afternoon.
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