Post date: Feb 16, 2010 6:32:48 PM
From: Fr. Chito Palang, Catholic Church of St. Thomas Aquinas, Alpharetta, Georgia, U.S.A.
Subject: The Youth is Our Future
To: Manny Valdehuesa
Date: April 2009
Sir:
I agree with you that we need our youth to start any form of political, moral and spiritual renewal. Let us invite the youth to get involve in the political process where we could find our future political leaders. These youth are still idealistic and are still not deeply imbedded in deep corruption. Their minds are still pure and their conscience is still open to God’s way of knowing the truth, working for the benefits of their fellow human beings, they still have a healthy sense of fear for God and they possess a deep love for the common good. They are not yet corrupted by selfish motives. They have the good of the whole Philippines in mind.
I hope that our youth are well educated, have a sense of what the modern world is all about, have a deep and healthy religious upbringing, have a good sense of justice, fairness, hard work, a mature sense of responsibility and who are courageous. Our youth is who our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, had in mind who would change our corrupt culture and who are proud to be true Filipinos and who are willing to sacrifice so that the rest of us would enjoy true freedom and work for the equality of every human being.
If there is anything I could do to inspire our youth to be true, honest, fair-minded and hard working I would gladly do so. I understand the aspirations of our youth because I lost my own beloved niece, Rachelle Mae Palang who paid the ultimate sacrifice at the age of 21, because she tried to make a positive difference in serving the poorest of the poor. Let us all support our youth who truly wishes to change our corrupt country. Let us start them young, guide them, support them, encourage them and be there for them every time they speak the truth, serve the people sincerely and courageously. I pray our young are getting the best education in all our schools, colleges and universities to help them prepare to transform our sick society. Every generous, intelligent and just youth is the total and absolute contrast to every selfish, dishonest, corrupt and narrow-minded political leader.
Let us educate our general population about the importance and the role of our youth to attain positive changes for the whole country during this very critical moment of our history. Our beloved Philippines need the youth NOW!
Sincerely,
Fr. Chito Palang
Catholic Church of Saint Thomas Aquinas
535 Rucker Road
Alpharetta, Georgia 30004
U.S.A.
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From: Manny Valdehuesa, Cagayan de Oro
Subject: The Youth is Our Future
To: Fr. Chito
Date: April 2009
Hello Father Chito all the way out there:
It is always a bracing thing, hearing someone dilate upon a topic close to one's heart. More so when it's one fresh from the grief of tragedy visited upon one so young and promising as your niece.
I am copying you the text of an initiative we are launching as a way of engaging the youth as they prepare to cast their first act of sovereignty -- voting.
This brainstorm first occurred to me when I witnessed how the youth in New York and Colorado responded in hordes to an inspired affirmation of their vow to be celibate until they marry. It was when Pope John Paul was visiting (I was a long time resident of New York till 1998) and thousands stood up to pronounce a vow in public not to engage in premarital sex.
When I came back and saw how our youth was being corrupted, I thought, why not challenge their innate decency and idealism to make a stand for democracy and reform? Thus we have the FIRST-TIME VOTER'S DECLARATION. See attached.
Feel free to pass it on. Who knows it may catch fire and serve to purify our liberty and democracy as the American youth sought to purify themselves by upholding chastity!
All the best father.
Manny V.