Escudero tells youth: Country needs you now

Inquirer
Last updated 07:58am (Mla time) 02/05/2007

BAGUIO CITY — Courting the support of the youth, Sorsogon Representative Francis "Chiz" Escudero spoke at a student forum here and urged the youth to take a more active role in shaping the future of the nation.

"Kalimutan na ang sinabi ni Rizal na ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan. Ang dapat maging sigaw at bagong panawagan ng kabataan ay 'Maaasahan na ako ng bayan — ako, ngayon at dito (Let us forget Rizal's words that the youth is the hope of the motherland. The youth's new call should be 'My country can depend on me — here and now),'" Escudero told some 150 students and members of militant groups at the forum on Saturday at the University of Baguio.

He also discussed the plans and prospects of the political opposition in the 2007 elections.

"Part of being young is wanting to change things even when others tell you to accept things as they are, and believing that even though earlier generations had failed, our generation is different, our generation can do it," said Escudero, a senatorial candidate with the opposition.

He said the youth should not waste their right to vote as it is only during elections that all Filipinos become equal and are given the opportunity to chart the country's future.

He said the youth must be recognized as active partners in the transformation of the country.

Escudero also stressed that Filipinos needed to change and learn how to follow laws.

"The orientation and views of Filipinos must change," he said, noting that change must begin with the top leaders of the country.

He said the solutions to the nation's problems were already in the country's body of laws.

"There is a law for everything that is prohibited. The law just needs to be implemented and followed," Escudero said. Donna Demetillo with reports from Sweden Bognalbal, Inquirer Northern Luzon