The Answer of the Youth to Father Florentino's Call, 121 Years After

"Where are the youth who will concentrate their budding years, their idealism, and enthusiasm for the welfare of their country? Where are the youth who will generously pour their blood to wash away so much shame, so much crime, so much abomination? Where are you, youth who will embody in yourself the vigor of life that has left our veins, the purity of ideas that has been contaminated in our minds, and the fire of enthusiasm that has been extinguished in our hearts? We await you, O youth!"

We are here, the youth of today. We are the youth who will concentrate our budding years, our idealism, and our enthusiasm on the welfare of our country. We are the youth who will generously pour our blood to wash away so much shame, so much crime, so much abomination. We are the youth who will embody in ourselves the vigor of life that has left your veins, the purity of ideas that has been contaminated in your minds, and the fire of enthusiasm that has been extinguished in your hearts.

However, we are falling apart.

Some are too busy to care for the country. They have too little time to think of other matters. They are too focused on studying for their future. They dream of working overseas to earn more money which they say you could not earn here. They dream of becoming rich and having a successful career, and a good life in the future even if it means setting aside the country's welfare.

They are too engaged in modern life. They are already contented with their cellphones, iPads, iPods, laptops, and cameras that they thought complete their lives. Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr eat up most of their time. They don't even bother to open a book and read about their history. What essential would it give them anyway? They rather have fun and be trending than be stuck in the past that they never understand.

Some are taking a step backward. They are too afraid to pursue their aspirations for the country. They might not be heard. They might not succeed. They might end up lying dead and they fear it.

They have already given up. No one cares for them anyway. They did their part and that's enough. They too have life to live by and fighting for something that has no certain positive result wears them off. They rather push themselves for their dream than be held upon by the idealism that isn't given attention.

They surrendered themselves to the wrong system. What else can they do? They are young and weak. Accepting is easier than complaining. They don't want any further arguments. They rather just obey. Their complaints are theirs to keep.

Some lost their paths, consumed by the devil called poverty. They disobeyed their parents and even the law. They run away from the authorities. They committed bad deeds inappropriate for their age. They misused drugs, robbed, killed, and engaged in crimes, sinned. The society neglected them.

They tried politics and led the wrong way. They do what older politicians do--buy votes, win the election, and steal the people's money.

Some remain loyal to the country, however. They are studying hard not only for themselves but also for the betterment of the Motherland. They dream of waking up the sleeping mass from a terrible nightmare. They dream of clearing off the path too. They dream of healing the blinded eyes of society.

They are taking risks to fight for what they know is right. It doesn't matter if many are against them as long as there are still some who believe. Never will they get tired until the welfare of their fellowmen will be secured for the better. They are ready for the consequences even if it is worth their life. The important thing is, that they continue to fight and never surrender.

They run to lead because they believe that the power of the youth in the government is essential for the country. They took positions with the trust of their fellow youth, so they could change the wrong system of the government. They lead for the better even if it requires them to set aside their young life in exchange for greater responsibilities.

The sad thing is they are getting fewer and fewer.

My fellow Filipino youth, you heard it, don't you? The yearnings of the country and our great heroes. They are depending on us!

We shall live up to our thoughts! Let the blood of courage flow in our veins to lighten up our spirit for the sake of the loyalty we pledge and the country we pledge to protect!