Audhu billahi minashaytan nir rajim. Bismillahi rahmanir raheem.
Assalamu ’alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuhu!
Greetings of peace and solidarity to all.
Allow me to start by sending my appreciation and courtesy to our delegates, dignitaries and guests who are joining us today:
Read names, positions and offices of VIP attendees here.
The last five days of parliament simulation utilized much of the energy of our Bangsamoro Youth Parliamentarians — mentally, physically, and emotionally for being so emersed with all of the activities, in fact some of them finished their deliberation at more or less 4am today, so I would say may mga kasama akong sabaw sa umaga. But I know these experience and sleepless nights were spent fruitfully as it resulted to bills and resolutions relevant not only to the youth in our region, but to Bangsamoro as a whole.
Initially, there were 11 Bills and 7 Resolutions filed to this year’s Youth Parliament but after 5days of series of debates and deliberation it is now down to “ 8 Bills and 7 Resolutions thoroughly discussed and scrutinized by each committee and youth parliamentarian.
After almost a week of hardwork, we are now culminating this program, the Bangsamoro Youth Parliament 2022.
Alhamdulillah, it is worth noting that these Youth Parliamentarian invested much of their selves and poured their heart in to crafting these bills within a very short, hectic and activity-packed schedule.
Congratulations, you now have the first-hand knowledge and experience in crafting a policy. All of you now knows how bills and resolutions develop into a law that affects the lives of the Bangsamoro for the better. You have participated in a simulation of creating something meaningful and impactful and saw the wonders teamwork and mutual understanding could bring.
Young people around the world are at a critical juncture as they inherit an array of complex challenges, and at the same time, their socioeconomic opportunities are increasingly limited, and they must contend with entrenched political power holders who are often inaccessible and unresponsive.
Yet, together with the Government of the Day, the Bangsamoro Youth Commission provides an avenue for our Bangsamoro youth to realize their full potential.
The purpose of the BYP is to create a model of youth empowerment through direct participation in the Parliament. When youth develop useful skills and build self-confidence, we establish capable, effective leaders for Bangsamoro’s next generation.
But you know what, one time, I had this conversation with someone who told me two striking myths that steers me to continue empowering the youth. He told me that 1) Youth do not have the ability to lead and 2) Youth contributions to policy and programs are unnecessary.
Youth are too often limited from policymaking, community decision-making where entrenched hierarchies that persist. However, a proactive Bangsamoro can only be advanced by listening to you and allowing you to be in the process of developing solutions and advocating for their rights and needs. Youth-driven interventions shape future policy, improve community resiliency and drive innovation.
I know most of you know about Greta Thunberg, she is just like you – proving to the world that youth are leaders with transformational ideas and profound passion.
As we work to overcome these myths, during the BYP, aside from allowing the 80 youth parliamentarians to experience drafting and filing bills, lobbying, and initiating initiatives, we also have lectures tackling Leadership in Islam, Women Leaders’ Role in the Transition, and the History of the Bangsamoro Peace Process, during the Conversation with the MPs, Young Executives & Policy Movers, which is anchored on this year’s BYP’s theme, “Bangsamoro Youth in the Transition: Upholding the Gains of Peace and Moral Governance”.
And now, as the Chairperson of the Bangsamoro Youth Commission, I am elated or somehow humbled and yet proud, I am having mixed emotions about this culmination as I have been with them since Day 1- “day and night. (From dusk till dawn ika nga nila- hehe)” I am very happy to officially accept the products of your labor. I have seen how all of you defied exhaustion and resolved many issues thrown to you on your own with great care and determination.
Rest assured your efforts will be forwarded to BYC En Banc and In Shaa Allah lobby it to different MPs for sponsorship to its eventual filing, may Allah grant us the strength and vigor to make good of all your efforts. I implore my fellow MPs to help us give life to their work.
Always remember, your participation in the political landscape has always been very significant in nation and peace-building. As cliché as it may sound, our leaders were once the young movers of their generation who fought against injustices, inequalities and oppression.
Before we end, I would like to express our gratitude to our partner, the National Youth Commission or NYC; our co-presenter, the United Nations Children’s Fund or UNICEF;
And to our several ministries and offices, and Members of the BTA Parliament who sponsored tickets and travel fares of our delegates, those who supported the program financially to offer a better parliament experience; Those who provided tokens and honoraria for our resource speakers, and tokens for our delegates; And those who sponsored meals and venues and other logistics.
We would also like to thank our facilitators and volunteers, and especially our Resident Parliamentarian.
Maraming, maraming salamat po.
To the Bangsamoro Youth, I would like to encourage you to never stop learning and growing, busy yourselves with something that would mold you holistically, and strive hard in becoming the best versions of yourselves for the sake of ALLAH, for yourself, for the youth, and for the Bangsamoro. Again congratulations everyone for the success of this program.
To our Kabataang Mambabatas, kayo ang pag-asa ng ating bukas!
Wa billahi tawfeeq wal hidayah, wassalamu ’alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuhu!
