Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso has enjoined the youth to continue believing in the system that the government has established, "as what our national heroes would probably tell us if only they are alive.”
Amid criticisms against government officials in the time of pandemic, Domagoso said the youth must keep faith in the system "that was built by government, which was elected by the people and which was elected by every Filipino."
"Mga kabataan, hinihikayat ko kayo. Maaring pagod na ang iba sa inyo. Pero hinihikayat ko kayo na magpatuloy na maniwala na ang sistemang itinatag ng gobyerno, na itinalaga ng tao, ng bawat Pilipino, ay tatakbong maayos (I'm encouraging all the youth. Maybe some have grown tired, but I encourage you to continue believing in the system built by the government, which is elected by the people, by every Filipino, that it will go well)," Domagoso said in a speech during the commemoration of Andres Bonifacio Day at the Kartilya ng Katipunan on Monday(Nov. 30).
"'Yan, kung nabubuhay lang ang ating mga bayani, ipapa-alala sa atin yan (That's what our heroes would probably tell us if they're still alive)."
The mayor also encouraged the youth to remain "vigilant (magmasid)" and be "critical (magsiyasat)" of their government and social issues. The use of arms and resorting to violence, Mayor Isko said are not necessary in fighting for their cause.
"Hindi kailangan gumamit ng dahas, hindi kailangan gumamit ng armas at labanan ang kapwa natin Pilipino (There is no need for violence, the use of arms and fight fellow Filipinos)," the mayor said, explaining further that our heroes used arms against colonizers.
"Panatilihin natin ang malayang usapin, ang malayang diskurso. Ngunit, sa mga husto naman ang edad at marami na ang karanasan sa buhay, patuloy sana kayong gumabay nang tama, sapagkat lagi na lamang nating sinasabi...na sa kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan (Let's have an open mind, maintain a free discourse. But for those who are of age and experienced, continue to guide the youth in the way they should go because they are the hope of the nation)," Mayor Isko said.
"Paano magiging pag-asa ng bayan kung wala na ang buhay ng isang kabataan (How will they be the hope of the nation if they are already dead)?,” the mayor asked.
Citing his experience, Mayor Isko said it took him 21 "painstaking years" before he could implement things as mayor of Manila.
He said, his concerns about the crooked ways fell on deaf ears during those years. "But during that struggle," he said, he "patiently and continuously" believed "that system will work" until he finally became mayor.
"Yun ang hinihintay ko sa kabataan. Magtiyaga tayo. Patuloy tayong maniwala (That's what I expect from the youth. Let us persevere. Let us continue believing) that someday, somehow, if you're given the opporunity to lead, then you change things. Change accordingly, change fairly and change justly," he said.