Is there hope for the hope of the nation?

The National Youth Commission (NYC) recently appointed two new commissioners-at-large and a chairperson, sparking hope. However, the NYC, established in 1995 under the Youth in Nation-Building Act (RA 8044), has struggled to align government efforts with the real needs of Filipino youth.

The coming years will be challenging as the NYC tackles issues like the financial pressures youth face—72% aim to support their families, and many prioritize independence, education, entrepreneurship, and meaningful work. A silent mental health crisis also persists, with a significant rise in depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation since 2013, worsened by the pandemic and poor mental health support. Not even mentioning our education crisis.

Despite limited attention to the State of the Youth report, the media often portrays youth as “entitled,” “outspoken,” or “apathetic.” To foster real progress, we must rethink “youth citizenship” and “youth participation” in their broader contexts.

Youth as Citizens: Beyond Definitions

Citizenship concerns our relationship with the state. We become citizens by law, blood, or residency, but becoming an “active” citizen involves a different conversation—whether we are represented, and whether we participate in exercising our rights and fulfilling our duties. This is different in the context of youth.

A citizenship course from the University of Geneva notes that “youth” is a social construct, a social category rather than a natural object. Different countries define youth in various ways—some grant voting rights at 16, while others hold individuals criminally liable as young as ten. Therefore, understanding “youth” must consider their social, cultural, and economic contexts.

In the Philippines, RA 8044 defines youth as those aged 18-30. In some areas, young people as young as nine or ten shoulder adult responsibilities, such as caring for family, becoming parents, even engage in crime, or working, rather than attending school or enjoying childhood. Conversely, some young adults have fewer responsibilities and more leisure time. As I often explained in my political science classes, an individual’s freedom is constrained by their political and economic context. Our understanding of youth is more economic than cultural, which challenges how the media represents us.

Debunking Myths: Youth, Participation, and Economic Contexts

It’s not that younger people—whether millennials or Gen Z—are lazy, entitled, or apathetic. Our generations have diverse economic and social experiences. Those with more leisure time and a higher economic background may view political interest as optional, while those with less leisure time, often from middle and lower-income classes, are more likely to be politically engaged.

Youth who are directly affected by rising prices may be unable to afford moving to cities to study or work, choosing instead to remain in the countryside. Those with more income are more likely to join protests because they can afford transportation. Those working while studying are more concerned about tuition increases. Those with political connections may feel freer to take risks in political activism than those without such connections. Understanding these daily lived experiences is crucial to determining youth participation, as government policies directly impact them.

Broadening the Scope of Youth Participation

Our understanding of youth participation is often limited to the exercise of their electoral rights. In the May 2022 elections, 52% of registered voters were aged 18-40. Issues prioritized by this age group were diverse, including good governance, sustainable practices, education, healthcare, and disaster management.

While their voting power is significant, voting is only one aspect of youth participation. More can be seen in their political socialization. Contrary to media portrayals of a “lazy generation,” many youth avoid participating in politics not because they are apathetic, but because they feel unqualified. Even if they are qualified, there is a lack of platforms and mechanisms for their participation. This is what the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) is supposed to address, but it has not yet matured into its intended purpose—where youth are seen as active agents rather than passive recipients. Given the aforementioned challenges, who could blame them for focusing on survival instead of becoming agents of change?

As noted in the survey, many young people want to help improve their household income, but many remain unqualified for employment without formal education. Many want to attend school but face financial constraints. Those who can attend school encounter other challenges such as bullying, harassment, and learning disabilities. Many want to serve in politics but lack opportunities, especially without connections to political dynasties.

The politics of our youth are confined in economy of choices and opportunities available to them.

A Call to Action for NYC

The overview of the matter is that so much is expected from young generations as the future of this nation, yet little has been done to help them meet these expectations. Corruption and government mismanagement in housing, internet access, transportation, rising prices, and unemployment widen the economic gap, confining more youth to personal obligations and leaving little room for political participation. For those who can participate, it remains optional.

This is a wake-up call to the new leadership of NYC to focus on more impactful programs and build stronger relations with agencies that deliver basic services to include youth’s views in public policies.

These insights also changed my perception of youth work – to achieve youth participation is to invest in youth development, by improving and equalizing the economic background and opportunities for the Filipino youth. Promote and advocate for affordable and recognizable microcredentials for employment. Include youth in unemployment benefits, connect them with overseas opportunities, and fight frequent tuition increases. Advocate for safer spaces for students and encourage urban SKs to map out affordable transient accommodations for students and young workers. Help them upskill and promote better rural connectivity and coordinate with investors to generate high-paying remote opportunities.

There is so much to be done, and I hope for a brighter future for the youth of this nation