With the multi-billion peso flood control scam hounding the country, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is optimistic that this would eventually lead to the political awakening of young Filipinos. 

In the inaugural first episode of the “Kikonek: The Kiko Pangilinan Podcast” which aired on Wednesday, December 3, over the senator’s official Facebook page, Youtube, and Spotify, Pangilinan acknowledged how today’s youth has started to question the rampant corruption issues in the country. 

Pangilinan made his point using the ongoing investigation into the flood control mess, which is currently the latest biggest corruption issue to hit the country.

“Fast forward to today, marami sa ating mga kababayan—lalo na ang kabataan—nakikita na maraming mali sa lipunan at naghahanap ng mga sagot sa kanilang mga tanong (Many of our citizens—especially our youth—are seeing so many anomalies in our society and they are looking for answers to their questions),” Pangilinan said. 

“Hindi madali ito (This is not easy), but I guess this is the beginning of the end of ignorance or lack of involvement in participation, of indifference ‘pag nag umpisa ka na magtanong (when you start asking),” 

“At sana tuloy-tuloy sa paghahanap ng mga sagot (And hopefully, they will continue to search for answers),” he added. 

The senator said he understands that political awakening doesn’t happen overnight nor does it come early to most people. 

“Hindi ka agad mulat. Hindi ka agad malalim ang pananaw. Hindi ka agad politically aware. Kaya ang umpisa is kapag meron ka nang mga tanong (They are not immediately aware. Their understanding isn’t deep. They are not immediately politically aware. But it all starts when they raise questions),” Pangilinan stated. 

The senator pointed out that he himself hasn’t always been politically active.

He said he was only awakened to the realities of the Marcos dictatorship when former senator and democracy icon Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. was gunned down and there were government-sanctioned attempts to cover it up. 

Back then, Pangilinan said he started asking: “Teka muna, totoo ba yan (Wait, is it true),” recalling asking when news about his gunman and the burial procession attended by millions of Filipinos on the streets were swept under the rug. 

It was this event and the succeeding ones that shaped the senator’s role in advocating for youth empowerment, often telling young Filipinos of what they can do to demand change, accountability, and transparency. 

“May mga susunod (sa atin). Kailangan lang natin manatiling nagbibigay ng halimbawa para may mga susunod sa ating yapak (Some will follow us. We just need to remain an example for the next generation),” he mused. 

And while he recognized that there may be “fatigue” among today’s youth because of what has been happening in the hearings and investigations, Pangilinan reminded them of what’s at stake. 

“We cannot give up on the future of our children and our loved ones. We have to fight,” he stressed.