By Bianca Nathalie Y. Llamis
February 10, 2012, 9:37 pm
From the toppling down of dictators in the Arab world to Occupy Wall Street in New York, the protests would not have gathered much attention and support if it were not for social media. Yet while it began online, the people did not stay there. Instead of just posting status updates one after another, they walked their talk. They fought for the change they wanted on the streets.
In Cagayan de Oro, we are seeing our own uprising against the man who ruled the City for 13 years. He has been criticized for his slow ‘Sendong’ response, for placing the unidentified bodies in the landfill, for allowing the settlers to stay in geo-hazardous areas despite repeated warnings of the DENR, and for general incompetence. He has fought back against the allegations tooth and nail, and the battle rages on–in print, on air, online and on the streets.
It began online, because that’s where the people are. But they did not stay there.
What started out as verbal attacks on Facebook are being silently translated into a signature campaign at Kiosko Kagawasan in Divisoria, the heart of the city. Daily protests, led by the same individuals who are vocal on Facebook, are ongoing in a move to raise awareness of the people’s dissatisfaction. On Twitter, non-Kagay-anons who are on either side of the issue tweet their support.
As we have seen in other places before, and as we are seeing in our own now, social media is what sustains protests and counter-protests. It does not let the people forget. It does not let the flame die out. Instead, it creates a wildfire out of a spark.
But the youth of Cagayan de Oro are mostly silent. We post the occasional status criticizing Emano, right at the heels of our status on the latest love quote we could relate to. We also find in our feeds the occasional defense of Emano supporters, like that of his nephew’s, a little below the link to Lady Gaga’s latest video. Yet while it starts there, it also ends there.
What’s our stand? We are the youth, the powerful youth–and yet we don’t let our voices be heard. We let the grown-ups do the work while we wait for outcomes. We ignore what is brewing outside our classrooms and houses.
Cagayan de Oro is, for better or for worse, on the beginning of the brink of change. Will we remain as silent witnesses only? Will we have all the resources but none of the courage?
I dare you to move.
Take a stand. Know which side you’re on. You don’t have to take to the streets in between classes. You don’t have to skip PE to rally outside the City Hall. But when the opportunity comes to translate your Facebook statuses into actions, take it. Throw in your support. Move. And change will come swifter, thanks to you.
