In honor of the heroism of Gat Andres Bonifacio, the father of Philippine revolution, and the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 250 youth leaders from all over the country a national youth conference for human rights dubbed as the Heroes Hub Youth Empowerment Summit (HHYES) gathered 250 youth leaders from all over the country last December 1, Saturday at the Hive Hotel in Quezon City to unite the youth sector to demand for a human rights agenda in the 2019 National Elections.
Calling on the youth to rise up and heed the call of times, HHYES is an annual gathering of youth leaders aimed to inspire the youth towards the pursuit of the ideals of heroism. It is designed as a hub that engages young people into a critical discourse on pressing social issues, and it endeavors to be a platform for formulating, exchanging, and collaborating creative ideas, innovations, and practical solutions for societal concerns, and developing strategic actions, towards building a true nation of heroes.
“As we confront plethora of human rights violations, persistent attacks against our democracy, and unrelenting efforts to undermine our rule of law, it is paramount to involve the youth in the struggle against these oppression and injustices,” DAKILA co-founder and Active Vista Executive Director Leni Velasco said. “They have the highest stake on this; they are the ones who shall take brunt of the national trauma our current political and societal turmoil bring.”
HHYES aims for the youth leaders to discuss the prospects and challenges of our current state of the nation towards shaping the future of the Philippines. It serves as a platform to engage youth leaders towards forming a broad youth movement involved in the protection, promotion, and defense of human rights, freedom, and democracy, and to empower them to be advocates for rights-based governance agenda in the 2019 National Elections.
“As we remember Gat Andres’ 155th birth anniversary on November 30, we are reminded that it is during these difficult times when the heroism of the youth is provoked. This tempestuous awakening of the youth’s consciousness is a potent force in social transformation. With an estimated 30 million youth voters in the 2019 National Elections, the youth is a powerful voice in demanding for a human rights agenda in the elections. ” Velasco added.
Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Hon. Chito Gascon opened the summit by highlighting the value of youth involvement in the movement of human rights and human dignity in the country amidst continued attacks against human rights.
“Kung titignan natin ang kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, ang humubog ng kasaysayan natin ay ang mga kabataan. Panahon pa lang ng pananakop ng mga dayuhan, Amerikano man o Kastila, ang mga tumindig [laban sa kanila] ay ang mga bata,” Chairperson Gascon recounted.
“The values that encouraged them [heroes] to fight for the freedom are the same values that we as community today need to re-establish in a period when human rights are under assault. And that can only be done by a new generation of young people like yourselves,” he told HHYES participants.
The first panel discussed the state of human rights in the Philippines with a performance by artist-activist Mae Paner; and talks from Human Rights Watch -‐ Asia Division’s Carlos Conde; former DSWD secretary Judy Taguiwalo; professor former and lawmaker Dr. Walden Bello; visual artist and Thirteen Artists Awardee Carlo Gabuco.
The summit also took on the impact of human rights issues to the youth with talks from feminist group Grrrl Gang and fashion designer Mich Dulce; actor and Fact You host Karl Medina; Center for Youth Advocacy and Networking Executive Director Rafaela David; and Sustainable Development Solutions Network Executive Director Xavier Peredo. Meanwhile, Kabataan Para sa Tribung Pilipino (KATRIBU) Advocates Campaign Director Jessie Barcelon talked about indigenous people’s rights; while Spoken word artist Juan Miguel Severo and artist-designer Leeroy New talked about spaces of engagement for the youth.
The summit highlighted former and first-ever female Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s discussion titled “Reimagining the Philippines: Democracy and Rights-based Governance.” With her talk simultaneous with the UP and Ateneo basketball match, Sereno called for the unity of the two schools and all others in the fight against oppression. She also inspired the audience through imparting words of courage. “The future must not only be proclaimed, but must be fought for,” she asserted. “Fight and you will discover that you will awaken the courage of others.”
Historian Xiao Chua concluded the talks by presenting the historical role of the youth in the movement for heroism, followed with a pledge by the youth participants to pursue the same path of heroism amidst the tumult we confront.
“The Heroes Hub Youth Empowerment Summit held in commemoration of Bonifacio’s patriotism signifies that in times of inequality, oppression, and injustice, it is constantly the youth that steps up to be in the frontline of the battles for the rights of the people and for the freedom of our country. The highest tribute that we can give to our heroes is to pursue the same path of heroism and continue the struggle for rights, freedoms and dignity,” DAKILA OIC-Executive Director Rash Caritativo concluded.
The Heroes Hub Youth Empowerment Summit is an initiative of DAKILA through its Active Vista Center in partnership with the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, the Center for Youth Advocacy and Networking, and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network. The project is supported by the GOJUST Human Rights Project, a joint endeavor of the European Unionand the Spanish Government through the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
