Shalene Margrete Joy A.
Cachuela (AB Political Science 1-A)
REFLECTION PAPER
The event today at the cultural center gave me a mixture of a lot of emotions. Although I
admittedly disagree with some of the statements both of the speakers have said, the bottomline
of the discussion was about promoting peace and our roles as the youth and scholars in doing
so. With that in mind, I realized that peace plays an integral role in shaping a progressive
society. Oftentimes, we see a lot of people joining rallies and protests and honestly I thought it’s
the best way to initiate change and demand for progress, but overtime, I’ve realized that real
change begins with oneself. It may sound cliche to say “Peace”, but it’s not just an abstract
concept. I believe it to be a form of personal commitment that each of us must embrace and
carry within ourselves.
In line with this, terrorism contributes no good to the development of our country. It is the
antithesis of peace and poses criminality, corruption and poverty which drags our society to
more challenges. I can still vaguely remember the destruction and lives that have been lost
during tragic events in the past such as the Marawi Siege, Zamboanga Siege, NPA attacks, and
various bombings across the country. All of these remain as painful reminders that violence
regardless of the purpose and what they are fighting for disrupt lives and communities. We may
think that terrorists are fighting for a noble cause or for their principles, while it may be true,
these acts do not bring about justice or solutions. On the contrary, it only deepens suffering and
causes instability for the casualties. A line that was mentioned by Prosecutor Gonzales which
stuck with me at the end of the day was "Violence is not the answer to poverty.". Indeed, it is
never the answer and will never be the answer to anything. Real and sustainable change can
only be achieved through peaceful and lawful means and not acts of violence.
Moreover, the Anti-Terrorism Law (RA 11479) and Executive Order 70, which promotes
the Whole-of-Nation Approach, highlight the importance of collective effort in combating
terrorism. On a personal note, I also believe that criticism and discourse are necessary for a
democratic society, but imposing violence is never justifiable. We as a society must put all our
efforts into learning how to address grievances through constructive dialogue and focus more on
reform rather than destruction.
Shalene Margrete Joy A. Cachuela (AB Political Science 1-A)
Furthermore, the second speaker: Ka Amihan provided a different perspective about the
discussion. I found her back story very interesting and her insights on the recruitment of youth
into the CPP-NPA made me realize how important it is to protect myself and others from
manipulation and being used as a tool to pursue the goals of these groups. As someone who is
very idealistic just like the majority of the youth in the present time, as well as someone who
often searches for answers and is eager to make a difference, I believe this exposes us to be
easy targets of groups such as the NPA who is disguised to share the same ideals as us.
Oftentimes, they make promises that can be deceptive, because what they offer are not real
solutions, rather they create further division, disillusionment, and destruction. It starts in a simple
conversation and not direct combat, which makes it even more crucial for us, especially the
young minds to think critically and stay connected to reality.
In this reflection, I want to put emphasis on personal responsibility in choosing the right
path in advocating for change. We are the ones who will mold our country in the years to come
and we have the power to decide. I realized that embracing peace as a way of life and ensuring
that my actions align with values that promote unity and progress is the best solution to promote
peace within myself and eventually reflect it to the community. Moreover, actively working to
spread awareness and educating others about the importance of peace discussions is also very
important and expected of me as a political science student. I’ll also remain vigilant and
safeguard myself from deceptive and manipulative ideologies. Most importantly, I will strive to
use my voice and platform for the greater good and counter the ongoing spread of
misinformation and extremism.
In conclusion, change is indeed inevitable, but it is within our hands to choose what kind
of change to embrace and spread to the world. As for me, I choose to be a responsible citizen of
the Philippines who seeks solutions through lawful means rather than through violence. I
choose to educate myself and share my knowledge to the best of my ability in order to prevent
the cycle of terror from continuing. In reality, true progress does not come from destruction and
chaos, but from understanding one another, cooperating with those around us, and the
unwavering commitment to attain peace.
Shalene Margrete Joy A. Cachuela (AB Political Science 1-A)
EVIDENCES
