Why we need to empower the youth of Basilan

Most people think Basilenyos are rebels and terrorists, that war is always waged in our province – that Basilan is a bloody and chaotic place. Very few people realize that there are innocent younger generations who are affected by the stories that history has imposed on our beloved province. Very few realize that there are toddlers and youngsters who are enjoying the bounty of the province and whose stories are yet to start.

Do we all deserve to be called terrorists and rebels? How about us, the innocent youth? How about the youth who have big hopes for Basilan? What do you make of young Basilenyos who feel obliged every day to make the name Basilan better?

This is just another beautiful story to be told and to be shared, a beautiful story that deserves recognition, not because of the way it is written or who wrote it, but because it is one borne out of pain, sadness and frustration – a story that most people will call “hugot” or drawn from within.

Youth power

Who among you would ever think that we have many political leaders who belong to the youth sector such as our councilors from different municipalities and cities? Who would have thought that we have so much young potential leaders who are very much willing to serve Basilan with no hesitation? And I bet, only few of you know that one of our national youth commissioners hails from Basilan.

I bet no one has ever wondered if we, too, like in other provinces have active youth organizations. I bet nobody thought that we have many young professionals who are products of our high schools and colleges, too. I bet no one dared to ask if we have accomplished projects by the youth, that the youth here care for Basilan and how we hope to hear one day that our province is not longer dubbed as the bombing capital of the Philippines.

The youth here in Basilan also have sharp leadership skills and intellect. We have young people sent to different regional and national competitions, and there are some even sent abroad for scholarships. We have young people whose talents and skills deserved to be recognized.

Debunking misconceptions

Filipinos have been blinded by negativity about Basilan, and it is a sad reality. Whether we admit it or not, whenever Basilan is mentioned, the first things that come into our minds are war, killings, and kidnappings. I myself experienced it during a competition in Manila. When I said that I came from Basilan, I knew what their facial expression meant. If only I could bring everyone to Basilan so that the impression of, “kapag pumunta ka ng Basilan, hindi ka na makababalik” would be erased. (When you go to Basilan, you can’t get back home)

But those are just misconceptions because our youth is actually our most powerful weapon. Basilenyos have always believed in the power of the youth to create positive change. Unlike other provinces that said the essence of the quote “The youth is the nation’s hope,” is slowly vanishing due to problems arising in the sector – especially now because of the influence of social media – it is something that we in Basilan still believe in.

The youth has always played a significant role in building Basilan. The leaders that we have at present were once just like us, dreaming and hoping for a better province. They were once just like us who were trying to turn their dreams for Basilan into reality, doing small things that could transform the province in any possible way.

And that is, I believe, what the Basilan Youth Congress, Basilan Junior Jaycees, Basilan Youth Parliament, NAGDILAAB, Lantawan Youth Association, Muslim Youth Union of Basilan, Basilan Young Leaders Program, ABA Trainings and other youth organizations in Basilan are aiming for, to be able to build a better Basilan, one full of hope.

Isn’t this a manifestation of nation-building? How come the youth in our province are still neglected? Why are people so much clouded by their so-called sympathy and unjust views about Basilan that they forget that there are young people here whose mindsets are still innocent? How come people forget to listen to the beautiful stories of the youth?

Again, what we need in Basilan is for people to help us cultivate what we have. We actually have so much – we just need you to see it for you to be able to discern what we really need. We have the youth as our capital, help us experience what other young Filipinos have. Instead of discriminating, why not help us achieve our full potential? From education, to every privilege given to others, I think we must have them, too.

On privilege and hope

What we want is to feel that other Filipinos recognize our presence, acknowledge us because we are part of this country, too. Listen to what we have to say, and respond to our calls for help. If others have tiled and well-built classrooms, so should we.

What we need is for you to see the beauty behind the negative images you have in your minds. We need you to listen to every beautiful story behind the jarring and dreadful news reports. We need you to help us in every possible way to change Basilan. Great things start with small things, and this may be too small, but who knows, by sharing this beautiful story of the youth in Basilan, one or two Filipinos can slowly change whatever negativity about Basilan they had before.

Like many other youth, we too, enjoy modernization. I am using this opportunity of being connected to our fellow youth to help show that it is not true that our everyday music are bombs and gunshots, that we also enjoy playing video games, DOTA, candy crush, COC and etc. – not just hide-and-seek to escape the threats of war. That we also use Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites in a productive way.

Diverse ethnic groups living harmoniously, progressive and developing municipalities – a peaceful Basilan, these are some pictures we imagine Basilan to be in the future. Despite everything, we never lose hope – we never lose hope that one day, we will be able to achieve our dreams for Basilan. We will be able to have what the province has been struggling for over the decades. We will be reaching the dreams of every Basilenyo in the past century. As what one of our leaders said, Basilan is counting on us, the young Basilenyos, and we don’t doubt it, because there is no one that Basilan can count on except us. Not even the president of the Philippines, not even our local leaders, but the youth who will be the future leaders of a new Basilan.

Who knows, sooner or later, Basilan will be featured for its great achievements? Who knows, one day, Basilan’s title as the land of terrorism will be turned into a land of tourism? Who knows, if tomorrow, Basilan won’t be the same Basilan many used to think of?

I and many other youth in Basilan do not lose hope that we will see the province we dream of and you shouldn’t, too. – Rappler.com

Yarah Musa is a student of Ateneo de Zamboanga and a Rappler Mover in Basilan.