Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Thursday, Dec. 15, encouraged the Filipino youth to be “ambassadors” to their fellow youth to spread the importance of education and lure them away from the dangers of drugs and extremism as she also called them to be inspired by Dr. Jose Rizal’s patriotism and courage.
Speaking as a guest speaker before the Knights of Rizal and the National Rizal Youth Leadership Institute’s 60th anniversary in Baguio City, the official underscored the need for the youth to become the government’s partner in promoting education.
“We need ambassadors who can influence fellow youth to resist the lure of drug addiction or see through the deceitful rhetoric of recruitment to terrorism and violent extremism,” she said.
Just like the national hero who fought in bloodless battles for Filipinos and the country, Duterte said she was hopeful that many would get inspired and uphold Rizal’s values in protecting the country and the people.
“I trust that as you finish this learning experience, you will go home to your families, schools, and communities eager to share Rizal’s values - patriotism, social discipline, civic virtues, and love of justice,” Duterte stressed.
The event gathered some members of the Sangguniang Kabataan, students, members of the Knights of Rizal, National Rizal Youth Leadership Institute delegates, teachers, and members of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.
It featured the life of Rizal in Dapitan where he was exiled.
“But despite being exiled in Dapitan, our national hero refused to be defeated,” she said.
“He made sure that his four-year stay in exile was productive and worthwhile – he was not only a visionary or a writer of stirring stories that inspired people to revolt, but he was also a brilliant systems thinker,” Duterte added.
The Vice President shared Rizal’s active community engagement in Dapitan, such as building his own house, a school, a clinic, and homes for his learners and patients, when he won in a Spanish lottery and bought a parcel of land with the winnings.
“He also created a farm system that allowed the community self-sustainable by producing their crops and earning from regular harvests. From such a simple initiative was born the Association of Dapitan Farmers,” she cited.
But aside from Rizal’s community- and nation-building efforts, the lady official also took note of how be put premium emphasis on education.
“He valued knowledge and generously took in students to learn from him the basic academic teachings that were otherwise not accessible to the intelligent but marginalized people in his community,” she said.
“In Dapitan, even in isolation, Rizal would continue to liberate the Filipinos,” Duterte added.
The Vice President likewise noted Rizal’s role in encouraging the youth to participate in governance by convening Filipino youth leaders.
She said the civic organization “open avenues towards greater civic consciousness and social empowerment.”