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Because the revolution will not be televised, but blogged

by Joey Alarilla, Philippines

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Filipino blogger-turned-legislator on role of youth and New Media in politics

Jun 8, 2009 15:40

It's already a cliche to talk about the apathy of the youth, but blogger and Philippine House of Representatives congressman Raymond "Mong" Palatino would be the first to dispute this.

Not only did Kabataan Partylist, of which he is president and top nominee, make history as the country's first elected youth group to win a seat in Congress under the partylist system, Palatino is also the first blogger to become a national legislator in the Philippines.

Here's an interview I conducted before pro-administration congressmen used their numbers to pass House Resolution No. 1109, which would allow Congress to convene into a constitutional assembly (ConAss) and amend the Philippine Constitution. In light of recent events, his views on the role of the youth and technology in promoting genuine change in the Philippines should all the more be taken to heart by the Filipino youth.

Years ago, Palatino blogged his answer to those critics who have dismissed the youth as apathetic, and his faith in the Filipino youth remains unwavering. In fact, Palatino believes that instead of making the youth apathetic, technology can empower them with digital tools for genuine social change.

"The youth has always been a great force for change in the country. Through their collective actions, the youth could change the course of our history. Young people are inherently idealistic and passionate. We can harness this mentality and transform it into a constructive force for change.

"Today's generation is exposed to different advanced forms of technology. The familiarity of the youth to new technologies can be maximized to force more transparency in Government and accountability of public officers. Technology also plays a role in providing the youth with an alternative outlet to express their political and social sentiments. This is useful in effectively addressing the concerns of young people through the conduct of various virtual actions," he said.

For years, Palatino has been one of the most vocal advocates and examples of youth activism online as a blogger, including being the regional editor for Southeast Asia and Oceania of Global Voices. In the 2007 elections, he ran as the top nominee of Kabataan Partylist, but the more than 220,000 votes that the youth group garnered was not enough to clinch a congressional seat under the old partylist system. The recent Supreme Court ruling, however, devised a new system for partylist representation, and Palatino found himself making history.

Palatino shared that he is eager to raise the concerns of the Philippine blogging community in the House of Representatives. Asked what advantages he sees in being a blogger who became a lawmaker, Palatino replied: "As a legislator I will maximize the Internet to draft bills, resolutions, primers and statements. Blogs will be used not just as reference for statements but also to gauge what our citizens demand from Congress. I will continue to maintain my good relationship with bloggers to effectively advance my advocacies.

"I will consistently blog my activities in the Parliament. I will use different social media applications like Twitter, Plurk and Facebook to update my readers about the status of my work in Congress. Among our initial activities is to teach some of my colleagues in the Parliament about the potential of using social media in improving transparency and governance in the country."

Indeed, Kabataan Partylist is taking advantage of online tools in defending democracy and encouraging the Filipino youth to become politically aware. For instance, it is using social networks such as Facebook and Multiply to make the youth aware of its activities, including the People's Protest vs Cha-Cha (Cha-Cha is short for Charter Change) on June 10 along Ayala Avenue in Makati City, and the Rizal Day Youth Concert vs Cha-Cha on June 19.

Of course, just as some people are only paying lip service to New Media, some sectors may also be seeking to take advantage of the enthusiasm of the youth. Palatino has this to say: "There are various initiatives by politicians who seek the support of young people. These efforts should be welcomed.

"I trust the youth will be more discerning in judging politicians who are sincere and those who are mere trapos (trapo, which is the Filipino word for "rag", stands for traditional politician). The pretenders will be judged harshly by history."

Technology is here to help empower us all, but it's up to us to embrace it.

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About Joey Alarilla

Joey Alarilla is the Multimedia Head a.k.a. The Catalyst of Manila-based Level Up! Inc., the PLDT Group's online gaming company. He is a doting dad, avid gamer, and pro wrestling fan. Visit his personal blog and follow him on Twitter. You may also add him to your Facebook, or follow him on Plurk and Yahoo! Meme.