Many things about the remarkable campaign that made Barack Obama the firstblack president of the United States have been noted and commented upon, but anaspect that is particularly relevant to the Philippine political situation is the role playedby the youth vote.

Obama himself spoke about this at the Youth Ball, one of 10 official balls held on the night of hisinauguration. He thanked the legions of young Americans who worked to make sure that he be-came the 44th president of the United States. He said:

“I’ve been looking forward to this ball for quite some time because, when you look at the history ofthis campaign, what started out as an improbable journey when nobody gave us a chance wascarried forward, was inspired by, was energized by young people all across America. “I can’t tellyou how many people have come to us and said, ‘I was kind of skeptical, but then my daughter—she wouldn’t budge. She told me I needed to vote for Obama.’ Suddenly I saw my son and he wasout volunteering and getting involved like never before.’ And so a new generation inspired a previ-ous generation and that’s how change happens in America.

“It doesn’t just happen in the election and campaign. It has happened in service all across America.As this is broadcast all around the world we know that young people everywhere are in the processof imagining something different than what has come before us: Where there is war they imaginepeace. Where there is hunger they imagine people being able to feed themselves. Where there isbigotry they imagine togetherness. The future will be in your hands if you are able to sustain thekind of energy and focus you showed on this campaign.”

There have been many attempts to reform electoral politics in the Philippines but they have all fiz-zled out and failed. Various organizations have been formed and various movements have beenstarted; prominent, progressive-thinking people have led these campaigns but they have failed tobreak the stranglehold of traditional politics on elections in the country. One big reason for this,perhaps, is the failure of these movements and organizations to harness the energy and idealismof the millions of young Filipinos.

In the United States, Obama, a former community organizer, saw the potential of the youth, har-nessed them in his campaign, and thus made history and became the first black president of thecountry. Can’t we make a similar thing happen in the Philippines?

The old generation is already set in its ways; it will be very hard to change old habits and ways ofthinking. The old political dynasties and families will continue to try to keep their political hold onthe life of the nation so that they can continue to promote their selfish personal and familial inter-ests.

The potential of the youth for change, and particularly for political and social change, has largelybeen untapped. Henrietta de Villa, chair of the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel),recently said the movement expected an increase of two million youth voters added to the esti-mated nine million who participated in the 2007 elections. She said that with young voters number-ing 11 million, they could be a formidable bloc in 2010. About 13 million supposedly voted for Glo-ria Macapagal-Arroyo in the 2004 presidential election. “If you have 10 million votes, you alreadyhave a base,” De Villa noted. “It would be difficult for your opponents to catch up.”

If a candidate gets the majority of the youth vote, he or she can win the presidency, De Villa said.“I’m telling the youth that they can install a president in Malacañang, if they vote responsibly andthey vote as a group. In the United States, they were the swing vote. They really made a differ-ence.”

But the work of the youth should not be limited to voting. They can conduct a voter education pro-gram, and, we hope, they can change the ways of thinking of some old voters. It will be a case ofthe young teaching and leading the old into new pathways that would improve the politics of thecountry. Many of them can campaign for progressive candidates who have the welfare of the na-tion at heart. All of them can vote for candidates who will bring about change in the Philippines.

Obama and his legions of young supporters showed that it could be done in America. Can’t we dothe same in the Philippines?

Many things about the remarkable campaign that made Barack Obama the firstblack president of the United States have been noted and commented upon, but anaspect that is particularly relevant to the Philippine political situation is the role playedby the youth vote.

Obama himself spoke about this at the Youth Ball, one of 10 official balls held on the night of hisinauguration. He thanked the legions of young Americans who worked to make sure that he be-came the 44th president of the United States. He said:

“I’ve been looking forward to this ball for quite some time because, when you look at the history ofthis campaign, what started out as an improbable journey when nobody gave us a chance wascarried forward, was inspired by, was energized by young people all across America. “I can’t tellyou how many people have come to us and said, ‘I was kind of skeptical, but then my daughter—she wouldn’t budge. She told me I needed to vote for Obama.’ Suddenly I saw my son and he wasout volunteering and getting involved like never before.’ And so a new generation inspired a previ-ous generation and that’s how change happens in America.

“It doesn’t just happen in the election and campaign. It has happened in service all across America.As this is broadcast all around the world we know that young people everywhere are in the processof imagining something different than what has come before us: Where there is war they imaginepeace. Where there is hunger they imagine people being able to feed themselves. Where there isbigotry they imagine togetherness. The future will be in your hands if you are able to sustain thekind of energy and focus you showed on this campaign.”

There have been many attempts to reform electoral politics in the Philippines but they have all fiz-zled out and failed. Various organizations have been formed and various movements have beenstarted; prominent, progressive-thinking people have led these campaigns but they have failed tobreak the stranglehold of traditional politics on elections in the country. One big reason for this,perhaps, is the failure of these movements and organizations to harness the energy and idealismof the millions of young Filipinos.

In the United States, Obama, a former community organizer, saw the potential of the youth, har-nessed them in his campaign, and thus made history and became the first black president of thecountry. Can’t we make a similar thing happen in the Philippines?

The old generation is already set in its ways; it will be very hard to change old habits and ways ofthinking. The old political dynasties and families will continue to try to keep their political hold onthe life of the nation so that they can continue to promote their selfish personal and familial inter-ests.

The potential of the youth for change, and particularly for political and social change, has largelybeen untapped. Henrietta de Villa, chair of the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel),recently said the movement expected an increase of two million youth voters added to the esti-mated nine million who participated in the 2007 elections. She said that with young voters number-ing 11 million, they could be a formidable bloc in 2010. About 13 million supposedly voted for Glo-ria Macapagal-Arroyo in the 2004 presidential election. “If you have 10 million votes, you alreadyhave a base,” De Villa noted. “It would be difficult for your opponents to catch up.”

If a candidate gets the majority of the youth vote, he or she can win the presidency, De Villa said.“I’m telling the youth that they can install a president in Malacañang, if they vote responsibly andthey vote as a group. In the United States, they were the swing vote. They really made a differ-ence.”

But the work of the youth should not be limited to voting. They can conduct a voter education pro-gram, and, we hope, they can change the ways of thinking of some old voters. It will be a case ofthe young teaching and leading the old into new pathways that would improve the politics of thecountry. Many of them can campaign for progressive candidates who have the welfare of the na-tion at heart. All of them can vote for candidates who will bring about change in the Philippines.

Obama and his legions of young supporters showed that it could be done in America. Can’t we dothe same in the Philippines?

Such memories, he said, were the besteducation, and might one day be themeans of our salvation.

For as we grow older, we are prone tomake mistakes, do wicked things. We sellout. We become jaded and cynical, belit-tling the fervor and idealism of thoseyounger than ourselves who continue tobelieve in and work for meaningfulchange.

But in those moments when character istested, one sacred memory from youthcan keep us from going completely bad,one memory of joy can remind us of atime when life was better, when we werebetter, kinder, braver, more honest andtrue. Such memories remind us of all weonce were and all we could be again.

Time of remembrance

These nine days since the passing of ourbeloved President Cory Aquino havebeen a time of remembrance, a time forrecalling the struggle that united us duringthe Marcos years, the struggle that

brought out the best in so many ofus, and made the name “Filipino”synonymous with the word “hero”throughout the world.

The spontaneous outbursts of af-fection that flooded the streetswith thousands of people thisweek, have united us once again,not just in love and grief, but moreso in gratitude for the woman whoawakened the hero within each ofus. As we watched her wake onTV, braved the rains and the longhours waiting in line to view herremains, or trudged from ManilaCathedral to Manila Memorial Parkin the middle of a typhoon, I wouldlike to believe that something re-awakened again in each of us, thedesire to live in such a way as tobe worthy of Tita Cory’s courageand sacrifice.

What was her secret, this womanwho shunned power and thusproved herself most worthy towield it? From whence came the

strength to journey, like Elijah theprophet, through dark and dangeroustimes, with spirit unbroken and faithundimmed?

Today’s gospel speaks of the sourceof her power. In today’s gospel, Jesussays, “I am the Bread of Life, theBread that comes down from heaven.Those who partake of me shall neverdie.”

Cory partook of the Bread of Life. Butwhat does that mean? On the surface,we may think it has to do with devo-tion to the Mass, with seeking everyopportunity to receive the Body ofChrist in the holy communion. And wewould be partly right.

But to partake of the Bread of Lifemeans not only to consume theEucharist, but even more it means tolive the Eucharist, which is to make ofone’s life an offering to God for thesake of the world....

Loving God and others

This is the truth at the very heart of the Christian life –that life is about loving God and others enough to want topersist in integrity, goodness and mercy even when it ismost difficult, even when it costs us our lives.

There were times when adversity and tragedy broughtCory to her knees, times when she had to stagger alonebeneath the burdens of widowhood and later on with thepainful birth pangs of a new democracy.

In recent years, when events led her to call for Arroyo’sresignation, to oppose charter change, and to support thefight for truth, she had to deal with insults, brickbats andbetrayals from some of the very people who had oncesought her help and favor.

Perhaps one of the unkindest cuts she received was theeffort on the part of some people a couple of years ago torevise history by absolvingthe Marcos regime of its rolein his (Ninoy’s) assassination.But she never allowed theseto cow or embitter her. In-stead, as Paul advises today,she uprooted bitterness andanger from her heart, andstrove for kindness, compas-sion and forgiveness.

To say “yes” to God is hardenough in the best of times.Cory continued not only tospeak her yes, but to live itwhenever she saw the nationthreatened by corruption, pov-erty, or lack of faith and hope....

Moral compass

Perhaps more poignant for me today than the image ofCory’s triumph at Edsa is the image of Cory on herdeathbed, uniting her sufferings to the sufferings of Je-sus, for the sake of the nation to which she had becomea moral compass and a spiritual mother. She made of herlife a living sacrifice to liberate and heal a broken people.Therein lies her sanctity.

Let me tell you something many don’t know. I think at thetime of her death, Cory believed herself to be largely for-gotten. In one private conversation, she shared with afriend rather matter-of-factly how short people’s memo-ries were and how one mustn’t be upset but just acceptthat people were like that. She said this without resent-ment, but with the knowledge that comes from personalexperience.

In fact, so convinced was she of people’s short memoriesthat when the choice of a venue for the wake came up,the Aquinos said their mother had wanted a small church,because she didn’t think enough people would come tofill a large one.

As everyone knows, Cory was proved wrong. LastWednesday (Aug. 5), the streets became her church.

Let the memory of Cory and what we were with her atEdsa continue to guide us and challenge us to be worthyof her sacrifice and worthy of the name Filipino. As wepartake of the Bread of Life today, let us resolve to live asshe did, with integrity, kindness, compassion and cour-age. May we be bread for one another as Jesus becamebread for us.

Writes Aguilar: “My President is she who freed me from aMarcos prison in 1986. I know that she alone is not re-sponsible for 1986, for the millions were, as well as thethousands who died in the years before that, including myhusband, and the tens of thousands who fought the dicta-torship and led the revolution, including me.

“Yet it was she whofreed me from prison...”

It was also Cory who,while seeking justice forNinoy, rallied millions,who gave them hope,who restored fundamen-tal freedoms, and whocontinued to show anexample of engagementeven in her decliningyears.

This is why the peopleclaimed her as their own,why they held their

places in the winding queue outside the Manila Cathedraleven in the dark of night under howling rain, to be able topay their respects.

And why, in the nanosecond it took to brush past her cas-ket in the cavernous cathedral, one found that one’s finalglimpse of her mortal remains was blurred by tears.

Ninoy and Cory were not destined to solve the problem ofa people, but to inspire a people to solve their problems.So, to Noynoy if you feel destiny knock on the doors ofTimes Street, look to the people and ask yourself if youcan be the powerful light of truth, of courage, of honor.Whatever your answer, destiny takes over.

She is a symbol, a rallying point, a mobilizing factor thatmay greatly assist in reshaping the subverted Philippinedemocracy. She will accomplish more in death than inlife. President Cory Aquino, maraming salamat po.

“…There were times when adver-sity and tragedy brought Cory toher knees, times when she had tostagger alone beneath the bur-dens of widowhood and later onwith the painful birth pangs of anew democracy…”

Such memories, he said, were the besteducation, and might one day be themeans of our salvation.

For as we grow older, we are prone tomake mistakes, do wicked things. We sellout. We become jaded and cynical, belit-tling the fervor and idealism of thoseyounger than ourselves who continue tobelieve in and work for meaningfulchange.

But in those moments when character istested, one sacred memory from youthcan keep us from going completely bad,one memory of joy can remind us of atime when life was better, when we werebetter, kinder, braver, more honest andtrue. Such memories remind us of all weonce were and all we could be again.

Time of remembrance

These nine days since the passing of ourbeloved President Cory Aquino havebeen a time of remembrance, a time forrecalling the struggle that united us duringthe Marcos years, the struggle that

brought out the best in so many ofus, and made the name “Filipino”synonymous with the word “hero”throughout the world.

The spontaneous outbursts of af-fection that flooded the streetswith thousands of people thisweek, have united us once again,not just in love and grief, but moreso in gratitude for the woman whoawakened the hero within each ofus. As we watched her wake onTV, braved the rains and the longhours waiting in line to view herremains, or trudged from ManilaCathedral to Manila Memorial Parkin the middle of a typhoon, I wouldlike to believe that something re-awakened again in each of us, thedesire to live in such a way as tobe worthy of Tita Cory’s courageand sacrifice.

What was her secret, this womanwho shunned power and thusproved herself most worthy towield it? From whence came the

strength to journey, like Elijah theprophet, through dark and dangeroustimes, with spirit unbroken and faithundimmed?

Today’s gospel speaks of the sourceof her power. In today’s gospel, Jesussays, “I am the Bread of Life, theBread that comes down from heaven.Those who partake of me shall neverdie.”

Cory partook of the Bread of Life. Butwhat does that mean? On the surface,we may think it has to do with devo-tion to the Mass, with seeking everyopportunity to receive the Body ofChrist in the holy communion. And wewould be partly right.

But to partake of the Bread of Lifemeans not only to consume theEucharist, but even more it means tolive the Eucharist, which is to make ofone’s life an offering to God for thesake of the world....

Loving God and others

This is the truth at the very heart of the Christian life –that life is about loving God and others enough to want topersist in integrity, goodness and mercy even when it ismost difficult, even when it costs us our lives.

There were times when adversity and tragedy broughtCory to her knees, times when she had to stagger alonebeneath the burdens of widowhood and later on with thepainful birth pangs of a new democracy.

In recent years, when events led her to call for Arroyo’sresignation, to oppose charter change, and to support thefight for truth, she had to deal with insults, brickbats andbetrayals from some of the very people who had oncesought her help and favor.

Perhaps one of the unkindest cuts she received was theeffort on the part of some people a couple of years ago torevise history by absolvingthe Marcos regime of its rolein his (Ninoy’s) assassination.But she never allowed theseto cow or embitter her. In-stead, as Paul advises today,she uprooted bitterness andanger from her heart, andstrove for kindness, compas-sion and forgiveness.

To say “yes” to God is hardenough in the best of times.Cory continued not only tospeak her yes, but to live itwhenever she saw the nationthreatened by corruption, pov-erty, or lack of faith and hope....

Moral compass

Perhaps more poignant for me today than the image ofCory’s triumph at Edsa is the image of Cory on herdeathbed, uniting her sufferings to the sufferings of Je-sus, for the sake of the nation to which she had becomea moral compass and a spiritual mother. She made of herlife a living sacrifice to liberate and heal a broken people.Therein lies her sanctity.

Let me tell you something many don’t know. I think at thetime of her death, Cory believed herself to be largely for-gotten. In one private conversation, she shared with afriend rather matter-of-factly how short people’s memo-ries were and how one mustn’t be upset but just acceptthat people were like that. She said this without resent-ment, but with the knowledge that comes from personalexperience.

In fact, so convinced was she of people’s short memoriesthat when the choice of a venue for the wake came up,the Aquinos said their mother had wanted a small church,because she didn’t think enough people would come tofill a large one.

As everyone knows, Cory was proved wrong. LastWednesday (Aug. 5), the streets became her church.

Let the memory of Cory and what we were with her atEdsa continue to guide us and challenge us to be worthyof her sacrifice and worthy of the name Filipino. As wepartake of the Bread of Life today, let us resolve to live asshe did, with integrity, kindness, compassion and cour-age. May we be bread for one another as Jesus becamebread for us.

Writes Aguilar: “My President is she who freed me from aMarcos prison in 1986. I know that she alone is not re-sponsible for 1986, for the millions were, as well as thethousands who died in the years before that, including myhusband, and the tens of thousands who fought the dicta-torship and led the revolution, including me.

“Yet it was she whofreed me from prison...”

It was also Cory who,while seeking justice forNinoy, rallied millions,who gave them hope,who restored fundamen-tal freedoms, and whocontinued to show anexample of engagementeven in her decliningyears.

This is why the peopleclaimed her as their own,why they held their

places in the winding queue outside the Manila Cathedraleven in the dark of night under howling rain, to be able topay their respects.

And why, in the nanosecond it took to brush past her cas-ket in the cavernous cathedral, one found that one’s finalglimpse of her mortal remains was blurred by tears.

Ninoy and Cory were not destined to solve the problem ofa people, but to inspire a people to solve their problems.So, to Noynoy if you feel destiny knock on the doors ofTimes Street, look to the people and ask yourself if youcan be the powerful light of truth, of courage, of honor.Whatever your answer, destiny takes over.

She is a symbol, a rallying point, a mobilizing factor thatmay greatly assist in reshaping the subverted Philippinedemocracy. She will accomplish more in death than inlife. President Cory Aquino, maraming salamat po.

“…There were times when adver-sity and tragedy brought Cory toher knees, times when she had tostagger alone beneath the bur-dens of widowhood and later onwith the painful birth pangs of anew democracy…”

I thought -- if I just wished hardenough and was good enough, I'dwake up on Christmas morning withsnow outside my window andfreckles across my nose!

More than four centuries underwestern domination does that toyou.I have sixteen cousins. In a couple ofyears, there will just befive of us left in the Philippines, therest will have gone abroadin search of "greener pastures." It'snot just an anomaly; it's atrend; the Filipino diaspora. Today,about eight million Filipinosare scattered around the world.

There are those who disapprove ofFilipinos who choose to leave. Iused to. Maybe this is a natural re-action of someone who was leftbehind, smiling for family picturesthat get emptier with eachsucceeding year. Desertion, I calledit. My country is a land thathas perpetually fought for the free-

dom to be itself. Our heroesoffered their lives in the struggleagainst the Spanish, theJapanese, the Americans. To packup and deny that identity istantamount to spitting on thatsacrifice.

Or is it? I don't think so, not any-more. True, there is no denyingthis phenomenon, aided by thefact that what was once the othersideof the world is now a twelve-hourplane ride away. But this is aborderless world, where no indi-vidual can claim to be purely fromwhere he is now. My mother is ofChinese descent, my father is aquarter Spanish, and I call myself apure Filipino-a hybrid of sortsresulting from a combination ofcultures.

Each square mile anywhere in theworld is made up of people ofdifferent ethnicities, with nationalidentities and individual

personalities. Because of this, each square mile is alreadyamicrocosm of the world. In as much as this blessed spotthat isEngland is the world, so is my neighbourhood back home.Seen this way, the Filipino Diaspora, or any sort of dis-persal ofpopulations, is not as ominous as so many claim. It mustbeunderstood. I come from aThird World country, onethat is stilltrying mightily to get back onits feet after many years ofdictatorship. But we shallmake it, given more time. Es-pecially now,when we have thousands ofeager young minds whograduate fromcollege every year. They have skills. They need jobs. Wecannotabsorb them all.

A borderless world presents a bigger opportunity, yetone that isnot so much abandonment but an extension of identity.Even as wetake, we give back. We are the 40,000 skilled nurses whosupport the UK's National Health Service. We are thequarter-of-a-millionseafarers manning most of the world's commercial ships.We are your software engineers in Ireland, your con-struction workers in theMiddle East, your doctors and caregivers in North Amer-

ica, and, your musical artists in Lon-don's West End.

Nationalism isn't bound by time orplace. People from other nationsmigrate to create new nations, yet stillremain essentially who theyare. British society is itself an exampleof a multi-cultural nation, a melting potof races, religions, arts and cultures.We are, indeed, in a borderless world!

Leaving sometimes isn't a matter ofchoice. It's coming back thatis. The Hobbits of the shiretravelled all over Middle-Earth, but they chose tocome home, richer in everysense of the word. We callpeople like these balikbayansor the 'returnees' -- thosewho followed their dream,yet choose to return andshare their mature

talents and good fortune.

In a few years, I may take advantage ofwhatever opportunities come my way.But I will come home. A borderlessworld doesn't preclude the idea of ahome. I'm a Filipino, and I'll always beone. It isn't about just geography; it isn'tabout boundaries. It's about giving backto the country that shaped me.

And that's going to be more importantto me than seeing snow outside mywindows on a bright Christmas morn-ing.

I thought -- if I just wished hardenough and was good enough, I'dwake up on Christmas morning withsnow outside my window andfreckles across my nose!

More than four centuries underwestern domination does that toyou.I have sixteen cousins. In a couple ofyears, there will just befive of us left in the Philippines, therest will have gone abroadin search of "greener pastures." It'snot just an anomaly; it's atrend; the Filipino diaspora. Today,about eight million Filipinosare scattered around the world.

There are those who disapprove ofFilipinos who choose to leave. Iused to. Maybe this is a natural re-action of someone who was leftbehind, smiling for family picturesthat get emptier with eachsucceeding year. Desertion, I calledit. My country is a land thathas perpetually fought for the free-

dom to be itself. Our heroesoffered their lives in the struggleagainst the Spanish, theJapanese, the Americans. To packup and deny that identity istantamount to spitting on thatsacrifice.

Or is it? I don't think so, not any-more. True, there is no denyingthis phenomenon, aided by thefact that what was once the othersideof the world is now a twelve-hourplane ride away. But this is aborderless world, where no indi-vidual can claim to be purely fromwhere he is now. My mother is ofChinese descent, my father is aquarter Spanish, and I call myself apure Filipino-a hybrid of sortsresulting from a combination ofcultures.

Each square mile anywhere in theworld is made up of people ofdifferent ethnicities, with nationalidentities and individual

personalities. Because of this, each square mile is alreadyamicrocosm of the world. In as much as this blessed spotthat isEngland is the world, so is my neighbourhood back home.Seen this way, the Filipino Diaspora, or any sort of dis-persal ofpopulations, is not as ominous as so many claim. It mustbeunderstood. I come from aThird World country, onethat is stilltrying mightily to get back onits feet after many years ofdictatorship. But we shallmake it, given more time. Es-pecially now,when we have thousands ofeager young minds whograduate fromcollege every year. They have skills. They need jobs. Wecannotabsorb them all.

A borderless world presents a bigger opportunity, yetone that isnot so much abandonment but an extension of identity.Even as wetake, we give back. We are the 40,000 skilled nurses whosupport the UK's National Health Service. We are thequarter-of-a-millionseafarers manning most of the world's commercial ships.We are your software engineers in Ireland, your con-struction workers in theMiddle East, your doctors and caregivers in North Amer-

ica, and, your musical artists in Lon-don's West End.

Nationalism isn't bound by time orplace. People from other nationsmigrate to create new nations, yet stillremain essentially who theyare. British society is itself an exampleof a multi-cultural nation, a melting potof races, religions, arts and cultures.We are, indeed, in a borderless world!

Leaving sometimes isn't a matter ofchoice. It's coming back thatis. The Hobbits of the shiretravelled all over Middle-Earth, but they chose tocome home, richer in everysense of the word. We callpeople like these balikbayansor the 'returnees' -- thosewho followed their dream,yet choose to return andshare their mature

talents and good fortune.

In a few years, I may take advantage ofwhatever opportunities come my way.But I will come home. A borderlessworld doesn't preclude the idea of ahome. I'm a Filipino, and I'll always beone. It isn't about just geography; it isn'tabout boundaries. It's about giving backto the country that shaped me.

And that's going to be more importantto me than seeing snow outside mywindows on a bright Christmas morn-ing.