“ Youth as the Synthesis Of Virtue And Modernity”

Tenesse H. Gomez

Many moons ago, two great men dreamed about the youth, I am the youth and no ordinary youth. I am a Filipino youth, caught in an awesome volatile-age. The century of Challenger II and micro computers, of population explosion and family planning, of faith healers and miracle drugs, of the third world and the third sex, of women’s liberation and democratic revolution. I am a youth thrown into the overwhelming torrents of progress deeply immersed in the modernity that pervades my world. I am a product of glorious momentous past heir to the immortal legacies and imperishable laurels of myriad leaders and heroes. I possess in my blood stream the lineage if the rich and noble culture.

The new generation has come. The youth are the future, they are the fruits of the long cherished dreams…Yet, and the young has been pouring in the streets, shouting, chanting, crying, asking for changes. And because they are the youth, they lack discipline, ideas and the tactics to get what they are asking for. The result…VIOLENCE. Who are to be blamed now, them or the people up there.

Fellow Youths:

Let us face these challenges with faith and conviction, in the souls, in the hearts with courage to rise from every failure and humility in every success. Let us set our eyes on the future as we develop ourselves and our nation today. Let us make this country of ours not what Jose Rizal feared we would become: A Republic of the greedy ort the needy, a nation without freedom with everything borrowed even our defects. Instead, we should strive to become a nation glowing by the fire set by these two great Asian nationalists.

The Philippines and the Republic of China have something to be proud of. Us, for having a Dr. Jose Rizal, them for having Dr.

Sun Yat Sen and the whole world for having both of them. Because we can only find the likes of them in DREAMS.

No, you cannot find such men likes of them, except in your dreams. But Dr. Jose Rizal and Dr. Sun Yat Sen are dreams of reality. Dreams because they belong to yesterday. Reality because we still remember their works, their ideals, their fights for the right, their writings and teaching they were simply GREAT!!!

In our own ways, let us build no matter if we begin with just he simplest blocks. Let us join hands in observing the laws of the land, in conserving and developing the patrimony of our country and in promoting the ideals and values of nationalistic Filipino. Let us bring out in full force our talents, our hopes, our efforts, our ideals. Let us make this country of ours the embodiment of our dreams of countless patriots and heroes before us. And for our sake, for our children’s sake, we will fail. WE MUST NOT FAIL!

THOUGH DREAMS MUST DIE…

Dreams can also be realized. But let us not live by dreams alone. Let us remember we must work, we must move, we must study. Let us not forget to unite for a common cause. And we shall see this nation can be great again.