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NATIONAL YOUTH SITUATIONER
National Youth Situationer
The primary objective of this paper is to simply provide an overview of the conditions and problems confronting today’s Filipino youth, government’s various efforts at responding to such conditions and problems, and the gaps or challenges that must be surmounted to effectively undertake measures aimed at enhancing the welfare of the youth. Much of what is written here has already been discussed and written about in government circles; what we have done is to add new data where available, and add a non-government perspective to the issues at hand.
In organizing the first part of paper–sectoral mapping–we decided to use four aspects of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) as levels of analysis. These aspects pertain to the child’s rights to survival, development, protection and participation. The decision to use the CRC is in keeping with the global trend toward mainstreaming children’s rights in all arenas – whether public or private – and in promoting the use of the CRC as operating framework for conceptualizing, formulating and implementing programs that aim at children and youth development. That the Philippine government is a signatory to the Convention makes the operationalization of the CRC an even more pressing concern. In describing the various conditions of the youth, we have cited as examples the specific problems confronting the four youth sub-sectors, namely, In-School, out-of-school, Working Youth, and Youth with Special Needs.
But while this paper focuses on the Filipino youth, a sectoral situationer cannot be divorced from the larger world within which it exists. Hence, the second part of the paper discusses basic external conditions that affect the youth, specifically the national economic situation and the related impact of globalization. In tackling these external conditions, we want to show that while any proposed solution to the youth’s problems must take into account the uniqueness of the sector, larger forces beyond the control of individual stakeholders – youth, government, private sector – impinge on, and frequently shape the responses aimed at providing redress to the youth’s problems. Awareness of these larger forces will hopefully enable the youth – as both subject and object of development – to better comprehend the social and political terrain within which they operate, towards acquiring a clearer view of the potentials as well as limitations in working for their own advancement.
In addition to the research done to complete this Youth Situationer, sixteen (16) Regional Youth Summits were also conducted. Concerns of the youth regarding survival and development, participation and protection issues were culled from the discussions among the 4 categories of children – In School, Out-of-School, Working Youth and Youth with Special Needs in various regions. This situationer, while discussing the efforts done by various sectors and the gaps in their responses, also highlights the commitments and plans of the youth.
The following regions were covered in this research:
Region I - Ilocos
Region II - Cagayan Valley
Region III - Central Luzon
Region IV - Southern Tagalog
Region V - Bicol
Region VI - Western Visayas
Region VII - Central Visayas
Region VIII - Eastern Visayas
Region IX - Western Mindanao
Region X - Northern Mindanao
Region XI - Southern Mindanao
Region XII - Central Mindanao
National Capital Region (NCR)
Cordillera Autonomous Region ( CAR)
Autonomous Regions (ARMM)
CARAGA
Part I: Situation of the Filipino Youth
In its 1998 report on the state of world population, the United Nations Population Fund noted that while the number of people aged 60 and above stood at nearly 600M, young people between the ages of 15-24 numbered 1.05B. Making up 20% of the world population, 85% of these youth lived in developing countries. Globally, Asia had the largest share of adolescents (aged 10-19) and other young age groups, with 60% of the world population. (UNFPA, 1998)
Needless to say, poor societies especially face increasing pressures to provide for the developmental needs of young people. Ironically, for such a large group in such an important phase of their lives, the youth are remarkably absent from the development policies in most societies, both as participants and as beneficiaries of development programs. (Auer, no date)
So much has already been said about the important role of youth as a strong human resource base that can further enhance and sustain a country’s level of development. But, to fulfill this role, the youth must also be able to explore their full potentials and develop themselves individually. They must be able to enjoy their inalienable rights to survival, development, protection and participation.
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PUNK
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PUNK
In 2001 there are nearly 1.2 billion adolescents worldwide, the largest count of teenagers ever, with 85% living in developing countries and the rest in industrialized nations. In 1995, there are 15,506,109 adolescents in the Philippines comprising 23% of the total population.
Survey conducted by Food and Nutrition Research Institute –Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) in 2000 revealed that among the 11-19 age group:
33 out of every 100 were underweight; 24 of them were found to be underweight for their height
Both male and female adolescent have high requirements for iron because of the developing muscle mass during adolescent growth spurt and iron loss during menstruation.
According to UNICEF, the Philippines is ranked 15th on the list of countries with high rates of stunted children (3 out of 10) due to poverty and malnutrition.
Many behavioral patterns acquired during adolescence (sexual conduct, gender relations, use of alcohol and other drugs, eating habits, and dealing with conflicts and risks) will last a lifetime. These acquired patterns are said to cause 70% of premature deaths among adults.
Puberty means intense social pressure for both boys and girls to ascribe to gender norms.
Adolescence is a period of rapid development when young people acquire new capacities and are faced with many situations that present, not only opportunities for progress, but also risks to health and well-being.
A nationwide, school-based 2000 Philippine Global Youth Survey (PGYTS) with 11,630 high school student (sophomores to seniors) respondents reveals that:
42.8% - have tried smoking
21.6% - are current smokers
26.5% - are likely to start smoking next year
30% - adolescents (13-15) in urban areas smoke
tE 40% of boys and 18% of girls are frequent smokerso
Sources: National Census and Statistics Office (NSO)
Child and Adolescent Health and Development, World Health Organization (WHO)
What About Boys, Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development (DCAHD), WHO
National Youth Situationer, presented for the Pambansang Ugong ng Kabataan (PUNK) 2001 National Youth Summit by Maricris R. Valte, Mina T. Malabed (HASIK), Melanie P. Ramos, Didith V. Mendoza, Jerry D. Apolonio and Maritess N. Reyes (ICSI), January 2002
Action for Adolescent Health Towards a Common Agenda, WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF, May 1997
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Transforming the lives of the youth of Aborlan:
Transforming the lives of the youth of Aborlan:
The AAP then and now…
By Joylyn R. Delfin
The concept of the program was simple. To empower the youth with artwork ideas that would secure their future.
The program started out as a two-man team. Artist Charles Wandag and Megan Barella, a peace corps volunteer, searched the municipality of Aborlan to look for possible trainees with a focus on out-of-school youth. The task wasn’t easy at all, for convincing process needs to be coupled with perseverance and patience. Though some are willing, there are youngsters who prefer to work rather than to take the course training. That’s not all, for bringing these teens to the program also demands approval from their parents.
That marked the life of AAP, and the rest is history.
It was a rewarding journey, according to Charles Wandag for things just happen when you least expect it. The training proper turned out to be very surprising, for the students easily catch up the lessons and even before the end of the program, they could already create their own works carrying subjects of their own. “Kahit na kinailangan kung i-adjust ang methods of teaching para mas madali nilang maintindihan, nasisiyahan ako nung nakikita ko nang natututo sila. Isa pa, napakaganda ng samahan nila, nagtutulungan at nailalabas din nila ang mga sarili nilang subject sa paggawa ng kanilang artworks,†Wandag explained.
Today, the AAP is slowly getting recognition for their works and dedication on reinventing the lives of the youth of Aborlan. Armed with a goal to send teens back to school, the AAP is now supporting 27 students from the first batch, four of which are in college. Wandag said that for the second batch 60% were are elementary and the other 40% were composed of high school students before leaving school. He also said that 85% of the program’s population is comprised of indigenous people.
Apart from the program’s success in helping students get their formal education, through the training, they were also able to bring young artists to other places, such as Baguio and its nearby places.
From its first exhibit staged at the Palawan Museum tagged as AAP Art exhibition last May 4-31, 2001, it was immediately followed with invitational exhibits in Baguio from December 2-30, 2001. Dubbed as “Kwento†A Rubber-Cut Print Exhibit housed at IGGY’s House Gallery, South Drive, Baguio City.
Wandag said that it was a great privilege for them to have staged an exhibit in a place like Baguio where folks have much appreciation in art. He explained that it gained recognition from Baguio’s artist circle. “ Masaya dahil habang nagsasabit pa lang kami ng mga gawa nila, may bumibili na. So, na-ma-market at nai-bebenta ang gawa nila sa ibang lugar at opportunity na rin na makapag-exhibit sa labas at sa isang gallery,†he said.
Wandag said that during the exhibit, almost 50% of the Baguio Arts Guild members were present. It was adorned with three former presidents of the guild, he expressed. “Masaya dahil mga mentors ko din sila.â€
Just recently, one of the students, Derrick Pelenia, 20, OSY, had been able to attend the Regional Youth Summit in Southern Tagalog Region (Region IV), entitled PUNK “Pambansang Ugong ng Kabataan†with a theme “Kabataan, Huwaran Ka†sponsored by the DSWD, DES, DILG, DENR, DA, DOLE and NGO’s, last September 27-28, 2001 at GEM’s Hotel & Conference Center, Antipolo City.
Future plans
Wandag said that while all of the AAP alumni are attending school, they maintain the production of the crafts through meeting quotas designated for each to be done. “Monitoring will also be done for them to have continuity in learning, until such time that they can already do it on their own,†he said.
“We’re going to strengthen our Community Outreach Program and Art & Conservation Workshop,†he said. In their outreach program, the AAP members go to the barangays of Aborlan to conduct trainings and lectures. They were able to reach out to 70 participants coming from Plaridel, Poblacion and Tribal Filipino Apostolate. They had started the Art and Conservation Workshop at St. Martin’s School and University of Baguio for Tourism Student. They do this by teaching students about the natural resources of Palawan and environmentally inspired artworks.
Wandag said that while they can now feel the support of the local government unit of Aborlan, they envision the possibility of making a community-run art shop carrying, the principle of skill transfer.
“We also would want to incorporate it to schools, primarily to teach them on how to make environmentally inspired artworks, to be used not only for their adornment but for their possible livelihood,†he said.
“We’re also hoping for a local counterpart, because for some reasons we’re also having difficulty in sourcing out financial sustenance, considering the fact that all the proceeds derived from sold out works automatically goes to the beneficiaries.â€
He likewise urged the government of Palawan, and even school administration, to take notice on endeavors of this nature. “We had done this in other places, so we believe that we can also do it here. All we really need is a chance and support.â€
Wandag however brushed aside rumors that they are doing business through the program. He contended that AAP “belongs to the world of art and was made to find and make use of art to reinvent life and shape future
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This is one of my favorite images
This is my good friend Hal. I took this picture on his birthday. I think he likes to be in pictures. |
This is one of my favorite images
This is my good friend Hal. I took this picture on his birthday. I think he likes to be in pictures. |
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