Wazzup Pilipinas!?
CHANGES in society starts with initiatives followed by continuous action to boost social awareness and achieve a better system.
It is definitely hard to live in a society where human rights are becoming harder to obtain, and the suppression and greed of the people in power overshadow equality.
However, social activism is a movement that caters to a collective effort from individuals who have the same mission and vision to change society by means of addressing social, political, environmental, and economic issues.
For some people, participating in social activism is the key to progressiveness, while some, on the other hand, choose neutrality.
Regardless, it is true enough that the hope for change will only happen when people start to see deficiency and inaction by the upper-level and start looking for standardized ruling.
Gen Zs’ perspectives on social activism
Daryn Rivera, 21, a 3rd-year BA Communication Research student, has an exceeding passion, and believes in the ability of Gen Z to spark change.
“Malaki ang potensyal ng Gen Z na magkaroon ng makulay at malalim na partisipasyon sa mga ganitong gawain dahil nakikita nila ang kahalagahan na maiangat ang mga panawagan na dapat naman talagang tinutugunan ng pamahalaan.” Rivera said.
He also added that participating in social activism contributes to social impact and general consciousness that can encourage people to leave their comfort zones.
“Ang media at ang gobyerno ang humuhubog sa mga tao upang bigyan ng maling interpretasyon ang pakikibaka ngunit ito rin ang dahilan o hamon kaya tayo nakikibaka upang mas lalo pang pataasin ang kamalayan ng mga tao sa lipunan.” Rivera explains when asked about the reason why people have a bad connotation in social activism and how important it is to keep in touch with reality.
Meanwhile, Rinoa Kate Dela Cruz, 20, a 3rd-year BA Broadcasting, has been actively participating in an organization outside and inside of the school premises because of her advocacy and drive to amplify her platform for social change.
“I put youth activists in high regards kasi ibang klase yung tapang, enerhiya, at pagmamahal na binubuhos nila para ipanawagan nila ‘yong mga adbokasiya nila.” Dela Cruz shared.
She also added that youth activism in general holds a big role in societal change. To perform their respective responsibilities and fight for their rights and others as well.
“Isa sa pinaka esensya ng aktibismo talaga pagdating sa kasalukuyang henerasyon ay yung pagkakaroon ng confrontation sa mga kamaliang nangyayari pagdating sa pamumuno ng ilang mga politiko,” Dela Cruz said.
She expressed: “Sa panahon kasi ngayon kung saan puno ng propaganda, mahalagang may nananawagan o tumutindig para itama at ilathala ‘yong kasalukuyang lagay ng lipunan natin at ano nga ba ang demands natin para maisaayos ito.”
After all, no one wants to settle for a bare minimum treatment by the government or institutions when in the first place they have the competency to exceed their scheme.
The essence of social activism
People tend to judge social activism and paint it as a mere protest. They say that individuals who join these kinds of movements are just hard-headed kids who only want to oppose the government.
However, Kimberly Torralba, 22, graduated as BA in Broadcasting, a former chairperson of ‘Sandigan ng Mag-aaral para sa Sambayanan (SAMASA)—PUP COC, provides her insight about social activism.
“Mayroong iba't ibang porma ng social activism, pero iisa lang ito ng layunin, ang pagsilbihan ang aping masa. Itinataas ng aktibismo ang ideolohiya at pagkilos ng sangkatauhan para makamtan ang kahingiang hindi mabigay ng naghaharing-uri,” Torralbo said.
She also pointed out that, although misconceptions are still existing, they need to be straightened out with informative information. It is not all about doing rallies all over places but being grounded and open-minded with oppression and inequality.
She expressed: “Ang tunguhin ng aktibismo ay ang pag-alalay sa pagsibol ng panibagong lipunang maninilbihan sa masa sa pamamagitan ng rebolusyon. Kung saan walang panginoon ang lupa, may sarili na tayong nasyonal na industriya, at malaya ang bawat Pilipino mula sa inhustisya.”
Furthermore, opposing the government or any institutions that are not doing their responsibilities is not wrong as long as there's a reason to do so, and it is also exercising freedom of expression and democracy.
Roles of social activism
According to Bill Moyer’s Movement Action Plan, there are four roles of social activism in order to create social change. Each role has its own purposes, skills, styles, and needs that can be played effectively and ineffectively.
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1. Citizen. Social activists must be recognized first as a responsible citizen who has the ability to see diverse perspectives and is able to create unbiased verdict. Effective citizens need to be socially aware to identify fundamental principles and values that are good for the society.
They must also need to gain the respect and acceptance of the majority of ordinary people in order for the movement to succeed.
Effective: Foster positive national values, freedom, justice, nonviolence, and democracy.
Ineffective: Super-patriot: Obeys authorities and the nation without question.
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2. Rebel. If there are citizens who know how to say ‘yes’ in each discourse, there must be a rebel who knows how and when to say ‘no’ amidst confrontational discourse. This would help to protest social conditions and institutional policies that are affecting the fundamental core of society.`
Effective: Peaceful direct action; protests, marches, and gatherings, including acts of civil disobedience. The main target is institutions of power, such as the government and companies.
Ineffective: Considers oneself a militant radical and a lone voice on the periphery of society. Self-centered, haughty, and conceited; self needs come before movement needs.
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3. Change Agent. Activists must also be a change agent who has the capability to educate, organize, and involve the general public that can help to filter lapses, provide policies, and present constructive solutions.
Effective: Educate the general public and whole society on the issue, promote paradigm shift, and organize strategies for long-term movement.
Ineffective: Advocate single issue. Leadership is based on patriarchy and control rather than participatory democracy.
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4. Reformer. Finally, to successfully launched the movement, activists must also be a reformer who can work with the official political and judicial structures to integrate the context of the movement and create a solutions into a new laws and practices
This phase is significant for the opportunity to get them accepted and the chance to mainstream it to society with a wide audience.
Effective: Utilizing official mainstream systems and institutions like city hall or legislature to get the movement’s goal.
Ineffective: Organizational maintenance over movement needs. Solely promotes minor reforms rather than social changes.
These four roles of social activism help to navigate the responsibilities of ordinary people, particularly an activist to achieve the higher regards of becoming an effective representation of hope.
The power of Gen Z
Each generation has the ability to create a movement, most especially the Generation Z who has an edge in different fields that can be a sword to sharpen their eagerness and confidence to fight for what is right.
Here are the power and advantages of Gen Z to create social change in society:
● Digital natives.
Gen Z has a wide variety of knowledge and skills in using technologies that can propagate actions, which can be the type of advantage that allows them to communicate and be innovative constantly.
● Power to vote.
Young generation is eligible voters who have the ability to decide about their potential candidates and be able to bring unique solicitude and experiences to electorates. Their votes can possibly bring luck and manifest good leadership. It is a kind of right no one could take away from them.
● Socially Aware
Gen Z is known as socially and politically active nowadays, through the internet they are able to see various data, issues, and opinions that allows them to be socially, politically, and environmentally conscious to seek potential solutions and actions. Their easy access to information will help them to be open minded and knowledgeable enough to fact-check and find credible sources.
● Adaptability and resilience.
They have the ability to quickly adapt to ambiguity and translate it to a movement that can possibly resolve negligence. Gen Z has an immense passion and creativity to make an effective project and solution to a certain issue. They can also use their platforms to disseminate advocacies and spread informative reports.
A Truth to See Beyond Misconception
For some, social activism is viewed as an alliance formed to decimate the established image of an institution, or merely as a collective movement that only rallies and encourages unnecessary disorder.
But is this truly its factual meaning and purpose? Or is this simply how some choose to perceive it?
Perhaps social activism is far from what some people describe it—that it is not a mere protest. Instead, it is a dynamic, multifaceted action undertaken by people fueled by a profound commitment to justice and a vision for a more equitable society.
Indeed, it is the heartbeat of a society striving for progress and equality, refusing to settle for anything less, and hoping to achieve a system that rightfully serves us all.
With reports from Merry Nizza Llanto
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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