A Story of Hope and Resilience: Matnog Youth Volunteers Welcome Dr. Tricia Robredo
Several social issues and unprecedented events in our nation have put a spotlight on the capability of our political leaders to lead. Being the most vulnerable sector, youths undeniably bear the brunt of every bad decision made by our politicians.
Every decision they make does not leave us unscathed, but rather, the reverse is true. Every decision made has a perceptible influence on us, especially on our future.
This is the premise by which these youth volunteers considered when they answered the call to lead. Having found themselves at a crossroads of treading the old path of letting politicians whose sole concern is their own interests take the most coveted seats in the government between a new road leading to a newfound hope, these kids chose not to unwittingly seal their faith through apathy and over-dependence on decisions being made for them, instead, through their own initiative, these venturesome and brave souls decided that they would do away with maintaining a by-stander stance on important issues on which their futures depend on.
On April 10, 2022, Kakampink Matnog Chapter Youth Volunteers organized an event to welcome the presidential aspirant’s daughter, Dr. Tricia Robredo. This is along with 1Sambayan, Sorsogon Doctors for Leni, Solid-Leni Bicol and other groups within Sorsogon.
The event was mainly organized and facilitated by the youth volunteers of Kakampink Matnog Chapter. However, like all other noble endeavors, standing up for what is right is never an easy thing to do. It is beset with challenges. These youth volunteers were no strangers to this.
The night before the event, they were welcomed by torn tarpaulins and damaged props. Days and nights of labor were reduced to scraps that were beyond repair. And on the day of the event, heavy rainfall intervened.
However, despite these challenges, the resilience of these youth volunteers shined through. The torn tarpaulins never cowered them to fear, the heavy rainfall did not dampen their resolute drive to carry on. The event was a success… everyone went home with a smile on their faces and a renewed strength to fight.
The true value of volunteerism, as what can be learned from these youth volunteers from Matnog is not the outcome, but rather the type of behavior they inspire.
The concerted act of these youth volunteers encouraged a fertile ground for the formation of friendships that transcends the bounds of age and location.
To have seen people of all ages standing up because these children have initiated the act is such an empowering scene to marvel at and one will be left in awe thinking that these young minds, these young hands, and limbs have been able to pull off an event this big and successful.
On a last note, it is enough that at the end of the day one is able to fight, but to have known that you have fought alongside others who share the same principles and aspirations, would be a sweeter memory to go back to, and that is the beauty of volunteerism manifested by these resilient and brave youth volunteers of Matnog.
