PASSION TO BE COMPASSIONATE

Ryand G. Ugalde

Food, clothing, and shelter: The three human basic needs for survival. But to be a youth advocate, you may want to possess these three things — wit, courage, and compassion. It’s not everyday that we get to meet a person who’s so passionate about addressing massive societal issues within the international setting. But a diamond in the rough, hailing from the North, representing the Stallions, had emerged to represent the youth.

When the opportunity came knocking at her door, Kristel Lyn Salvador didn’t hesitate to grab it. A colleague introduced her to an international conference, she knew then that she just had to do it. The Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program, or SSEAYP, is an annual exchange program organized by the cabinet office of Japan. Attended by 300 youth leaders from 11 different countries, it aims to promote friendship and mutual understanding between and among these youth leaders. It also promotes international cooperation and an avenue to discuss relevant and necessary agendas such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs.

The Delegate Selection Process

Joining an international conference like SSYEAP goes through a certain process of selection. One must meet certain qualification standards to even have a chance to enter. Kristel had to work on an impactful curriculum vitae, and gather certifications and proofs to confirm that she is an active member of existing organizations.This 21-year old youth leader admits that everything did not happen overnight. She had to exert extra efforts to build her credentials, join various seminars and conferences in both national and international settings. She submitted her application last August, and had to wait until September for the results.

When her name was announced as an official delegate, the happiness she experienced was unimaginable, but the hesitation to push through quickly rushed in. This economics major undergrad thought about how this event will compromise her academic responsibilities, especially since she’s already at her most crucial year as a student. But such opportunities may not come twice, and so, it all came down to a sensible decision to pursue her passion, when an alumna told her that the process of choosing representatives for the country is very thorough, and that she was meant to be in that arena.

Passion to address Poverty

When she was asked on what topic of discussion to talk about, she chose the dilemma of poverty and lack of access to food and water— an advocacy close to her heart. The 4th and last year of her economics degree exposed her to different economic and developmental related issues. And when the pandemic struck the world, it added fuel to her fire. The crisis served as a signal to continually pursue what she started as a youth advocate. The conference will commence on the 28th of November, and will happen online. When asked about her plans after the conference, Kristel says that she will utilize the insights and learning that she will obtain from the forum to improve the movements of her current organizations focusing on charity and outreach programs. With great knowledge, comes great responsibility Intelligence and personality are sometimes two separate and distinct qualities that we either have or don’t. These days, its rare for us to see someone to use their knowledge into good use. Her consciousness about poverty and hunger became the foundation of her burning desire to pursue her will to help other individuals. With her promise to contribute to her existing organizations, this youth leader proved that she’s a woman of intellect and character. As of this writing, she is feeding her mind with learnings with the participating delegates all over Southeast asia. She says that this international conference will be one of the last events that she will attend as a college student because commencement exercises is fast approaching. But she has proven that her journey towards her mission is just about to begin They say that diamonds are the most precious thing one could ever own in their entire existence. While its true that we need a roof over our head for comfort, garments to wrap us up when it gets cold, and food and water to satisfy our hunger, all these things can be attained with enough fortune. But none of these things will make a change in the society. At the end of the day, we need kindness. It may be an abstract concept, but it is what the world needs today.

GRAZIEL MAE RAMAT’S ROOTS

OF THE ROOT

“Ayyaket! Minpintas mo metten, ambit!” I first smelled the smoke, then the laughter with a hint of adoration. When I turned my head to look where the voice came from, I saw the three old women puffing tobacco behind me–their missing teeth were outshined by their warm and gentle smiles. Their faces are wrinkled with age, the lines signifying their experiences. I greeted them back with a hesitant smile, unsure of what they had just said, and my mother translated it to me in simpler terms. They said I’m beautiful. My smile grew wider, and

surer–of the fact that these old women were far more beautiful than I am during their young days. I learned that they are one of the elder women here in the community where my mom grew up, and their husbands are one of the men who lead their tribe–the Bago Ethnic Tribe of mountainous Baugen, Ilukos–now called the Municipality of Salcedo, Ilocos Sur. They said that Bagos are the offspring of intermarriages between the mountain tribes of the Cordillera and the Iloko of the lowlands, and have been living in the borders of the two regions even before the Spaniards have colonized the country. Scattered across the archipelago, some of them settled in the provinces of Abra, Kalinga, Apayao, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Ilocos, Pangasinan, La Union, Cagayan, Isabela, and Quirino. They share the same culture and tradition, although rites and ceremonies aren’t celebrated in a uniform manner due to diversities among them. Today, my mom brought us here to attend the tribe’s Begnas–a celebration to thank the deity Kabunian for the people’s productive and fruitful harvest, as well as to drive away bad spirits that may bring misfortune such

as drought, and anxiety among the tribe people. “It’s important to be familiar with our roots,” she said as we were driving along the mountains and green pasture to our destination. I listened attentively as she told us her stories when she was a child. She had an adventurous childhood, I can say. We went to their dap-ayan, a kubo house spacious enough to accommodate the ones who will lead the ceremony, like the chieftain of the tribe and the barangay captain, along with their men. Outside is where the rest of the tribe people were gathered, children playing around here and there with Although I am new here, they made me feel like I belong in their family. “Because you are,” they said. The prayer was led by a tribe elder; their chants sounded like it would really reach the deities. Foods were served for everyone–pork, beef, chicken, and freshly caught fishes of different dishes; bibingka out of cassava and glutinous rice made by the elderlies, they also have tinubong and tupig. It all made my mouth water. The adults were telling their own amusing stories while enjoying their bubod or rice wine, and I couldn’t help but

to laugh with them. Then I heard it. The first, firm strike in a percussion instrument,

their toys made out if indigenous materials like palsuot, sunay, and pilid-pilid. Some of them are with the elders who will be a part of the ritual.

bulikangkang as they call it, producing a soft tone from its bamboo pieces that gave me goosebumps–and then they came in different instruments, —the gansa, one that I am familiar with. They came in series and patterns that made my mind collectively remember their stories –them planting crops in their rice fields under the burning heat of the sun, their wild hunts in the treacherous mountains; them catching fishes and crabs in the roaring rivers; or how they share coffees and tobaccos on dewy mornings. I never thought their music could be this enchanting. It resonated with their rich historical ancestry –and then I remember, I am really one of them, I am of their blood. Their dance sakutik made me imagine the tribe wars that have happened in the past which led to what the tribes have now; and the dance tadek which mimics the movements of a rooster, represented by men in their bahag; and a hen, performed by women–moving rhythmically back and forth, with the colourfully woven clothing allop as a representation of both their wings. They might have been celebrating this for years, but everyone is enjoying it anew. They look as amazed as I am —as entranced as I am. Although their daily lives have been influenced by the dynamic changes of modern living, the sturdy trunk and branches of the people of Bago Tribe are still deeply connected with their ancient roots–hundreds and hundreds of years ago that have been planted. The elderlies and the young ones. The men and the women. From generations to generations, this culture has been passed down to preserve its richness. Here, before my very own eyes, I’ve witnessed it. As a leaf from the newly budded branch of the great tree, when the time will come that I will wither, I know to myself–the roots where I came from will be the same roots that I will be returning to.