When the SK has been brought back again, and now equipped with promising reforms, we felt joy. Joy in the sense that finally, the voice of the youth will be heard again inside the bureaucracy. What overwhelmed us more was when the filing of Certificate of Candidacy began, we saw you, who are some of our most active, proudly posted your COC forms on Facebook.
As a former SK officer, I somehow envy your smooth transition from being a volunteer to a servant leader in the government. Unlike you, I was immediately thrown into the arena of public service then, without having yet the experience and spirit of genuine volunteerism. Lucky enough that somehow, after my SK years, the YFPM Comval has opened its doors to mentor me and revealed my desired purpose in life.
But you are luckier, that as young as you are, the path for public service has already revealed to you inside the organization, which molded you with necessary skills and values to become what you are now - a competent and values-centered youth leader. And to know that you have confidently pursued SK is too overwhelming to imagine.
In connection with your life's new milestone, allow me to share this message which I hope will teach you what a true leader is.
In our four years of advocating peace since the organization's establishment way back in 2014, I could still consider YFPM Comval as a work in progress because of the struggles and shifts it had surpassed, and keep on surpassing, in order to form a clearer path especially in managing its volunteers. With this, I sometimes ask myself whether our leadership approach has really been effective or not; whether we have brought empowerment to you and our other volunteers; and whether we have touched the lives of even one person among you, which made you a better leader today.
A moving message of John Maxwell tells that "a great leader understands that success without a successor is failure." It opens us to the idea that leaders have an obligation to find him/herself someone to mentor and leave his legacy. It is also a revelation that leaving a legacy, somehow, will allow us to pass this life with satisfaction and in peace, because we have fulfilled our mission - just like Jesus who died on the cross with fulfillment saying "it is finished" and not "I am finished," because He has successfully passed on the will and word of God to His disciples that went on up to this generation. Amazing!
So as leaders, it right for us to put in mind that we must not only invest in our own development but also find someone worthy to be invested with the knowledge, skills, and values that we have gained for years so it would continue on the next generations to come; or else, we will only bring it down with us on the grave uselessly.
As a successor, I too am honored that my mentors have taught me well about being passionate, creative, and visionary on the path of our organization. I have a dream, that someday, I too could pass my own share of God-given gifts, the knowledge that I have gained from my mentors, and wisdom from my experiences, to someone worthy of it. Hopefully, I could pass it with you.
Since then, it has been our long desire to empower the Comvalenyo youth in peacebuilding so you may be encouraged to offer your energy and abilities for the development of your own grassroots communities. But now, I could say that you have already grasped that desire.
I have never even thought that our theme “Pakiglambigit sa Kabatan-unan: Enrooting Peacebuilding for an Empowered and Participative Youth in the Grassroots” for this year would suit on what you have achieved now - to participate and serve your communities through SK.
Seeing your happiness after winning in the election overwhelms my heart for the efforts we exerted have finally paid off. It means that somehow, the YFP leadership has made you stood up from mediocrity while you are in the organization, and hopefully, made an impact on your leadership transformation.
On the other hand, it is also commendable that you have chosen the path of helping the government by being with it instead of being against it. Because there are youth leaders out there who proudly say that they are very much awakened of the government's failures, but does not reflect that they are instead being blinded to see the truth; the truth that they have great potentials that could uplift the government from its failures instead of bringing it down more.
Soon, it will be your turn again to make successors. And I pray that you will use the SK as a vessel to empower more youth and transform new peacebuilders. For it is true that there is a success when our vision is for the people.
To all of you, servant leaders, the pride of YFPM Comval, padayon tang kab-uton ang kalinaw pinaagi sa SK! Congratulations!
- Bren Cabatingan
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