SK and uncertainties

THE future will always be uncertain be cause we will never have absolute control of it. A pundit once said that this is not a world of guarantees but a world of probabilities. Like change, uncertainty in this world is constant. However, extreme or unbridled uncertainty results in fear and anxiety. Even before it is resurrected, the new Sangguniang Kabataan is confronted by many uncertainties. Young Filipinos are feeling anxiety and fear for the institution they defended against forces that sought to abolish it. The institution they struggled to reform.

In the case of the SK and so with other situations in life, fear must be conquered with faith. The new SK has to win back its constituents in particular and the society in general. It should stand on the solid foundation provided by the SK Reform Act and belief in young people's capacity to govern and deliver solutions to many problems and concerns of the sector and the country.

By the way, I responded to the query by encouraging the student leader who raised the concern to register so he can help to elect competent and committed SK officials. I also encouraged him to run for a post in the new SK because his expression of concern is a sign that he could be a good leader.

Anxiety is generally defined as a feeling of nervousness, unease or worry about an uncertain outcome. This accurately captures and describes how young people feel now about the SK elections scheduled in October of this year. Expectations increase anxiety especially for the SK elections that have been postponed thrice already since 2013. The postponements led to a four-year absence of what is probably the first and only communitylevel youth governance mechanism in the world.

Anxiety among concerned young people is high because of pronouncements from authorities that seek to postpone barangay elections anew. This proposal was formalized through House Bill (HB) Number 5359 which allows moving this year's barangay polls to May 25, 2020. If this gets approved, this will be the fourth postponement of the SK polls. It will lead to a seven-year absence of the SK, a de facto abolition.

On the issue of the SK, the anxiety stems from much anticipation. The NYC hopes that it will not end with frustration.