To direct students in forming and standing for their own advocacies, Sen. Risa Hontiveros led a discussion for Benildeans wherein she shared her personal experiences in her journey as a senator. The talk was spearheaded by ADLAW Political Party, earlier today, October 29 at the UN Simulation Room, Mutien Hall, Taft Campus.

Benilde as an “ivory tower”

Vice President for Lasallian Mission and Student Life Mr. Neil Pariñas opened the event with a speech emphasizing the Benilde Mission Week, “Our focus of celebration are the formation for the mission and social development […] the topic for discussion jives with our celebration of the Benilde Mission Week.”

He also highlighted in his speech the transformative learning of Benilde’s Social Development Framework.

“Learning is not limited to lectures inside the classroom, your [students’] learnings should resolve to something, and that something is transformation,” Pariñas explained.

Pariñas encouraged Benildeans to be part of societal issues as he compared Benilde with an “ivory tower,” saying “Outside Benilde is the bigger and real world, and as Benildeans we are invited, encouraged and challenged to be part of the real society and to change that society so that it will be more inclusive and innovative,” he ended. 

An advocate for health, children, and women’s rights Senator Risa Hontiveros started her discussion with icebreaker questions, “Sino dito ang magce-celebrate ng malamig na Pasko?” and “Sino dito ang members ng team sawi?” to further engage the Millennial and Generation Z audience. These hugot lines were incorporated in her discussion regarding advocacies.

“If you want to make the world a better place, kailangan ng hugot, at lahat ng may pinanghuhugutan ay may kasamang sakit […] Karamihan ng advocates nararanasan nating masawi sa mga pinaglalaban natin,” Hontiveros expounded, citing mental health and gender equality advocates who had bad experiences inclined with the area they are advocating.

Moreover, Senator Hontiveros shared her journey as an advocate, relating to the theme of “Youth Education on Advocacy, Leadership, and Election,” for today’s talk.

“I was 12 years old when I joined my first noise barrage when Senator Ninoy Aquino was running for the then interim Batasang Pambansa from prison,” citing EDSA People Power as her eye-opener for towards what the people can do. 

“I saw it with my own eyes how through peaceful protest, nabago ng pangkaraniwang tao ang landas ng Pilipinas,” she said.

Embodying advocacies

Senator Hontiveros emphasized how the world is unfair while some are born in tremendous advantages, others are born in poverty. 

“Inequality is an injustice which drives us to do what we [advocates] want,” she said.

Inclined with the welfare of the people she advocates, Senator Hontiveros discussed the bills and laws she passed in the senate. 

“Every measure I file in the Senate over the past few years carries a piece of myself,” she stated. 

Morever, citing the Safe Spaces Law, Hontiveros noted “the dignity of the person is sacred, and to that extent being respectful in language. Hindi lang siya isyu ng [Good Manners and Right Conduct] GMRC, pambabastos sa tao, wolf whistling, cat-calling at pamboboso.”

For the SOGIE Equality Bill, she said “Lahat ng tao may inborn dignity, however this bill affirms the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community to the same rights the we [non-LGBTQIA+] have such as education, health care, basic services and work opportunities.”

Hontiveros also mentioned advocacies that are responses to specific problems such as the Mental Health Act, The Expanded Maternity Leave Law and the Interns’ Rights and Welfare Act.

“Having [an]advocacy is a beautiful thing because it drives social progress,” Hontiveros emphasized.

She encouraged the audience to choose an area where they think they can move the society forward.

“You are student-leaders in one of the most innovative schools in our country, and the most innovative thing you can do is to simply stand for what is right,” she said.

“Our leaders reflect our country, our leaders reflect the hopes and dreams of the Filipino people. And you my dear young ones are our hopes and dreams […] choose your advocacy and fight,” Senator Hontiveros emphasized as she ended her speech.

Meanwhile, ADLAW Chairperson Margaux Reconquista ended the event with a remark for the Benildean community that focused on the youth’s purpose.

“Today’s forum is a reminder that we are all part of something bigger than our community […] My fellow Benildeans, I urge you to take part in building a progressive and more pro-active community in and out of campus,” Reconquista said.

The forum aims to educate the Benildean community on the importance of grassroots leadership, participation on societal issues, advocacy-making, and practicing clean and honest elections, which establishes the essence of celebration of Benilde’s Mission Week.

Photos by Fritz Reyes