IVY BETALMOS
About the Author: Ivy Betalmos is a Criminology student at Bohol Island State University – Balilihan Campus. She is a youth journalist for Kabataan For Change (KFC) and currently serves as the President of Batch Bagwis, the 4th-year graduating class of Criminology students. She is the former President of the Supreme Student Government (SSG), the Campus Student Organization (CSO), and the Aspiring Criminologists of the Philippines Society (ACOPS) of BISU–Balilihan. Ivy is also a TRAILER under YouthLead Philippines and a member of the Local Youth Development Council of Balilihan. She continues to use her voice and platform to represent the youth, promote civic awareness, and advocate for purposeful and transformative leadership.
“Are the Youth Ready to Take a Stand?”
by: Ivy M. Betalmos
The Philippines today faces a multitude of challenges—corruption, poverty, unemployment, climate change, education gaps, and inadequate disaster preparedness. These issues continue to shape the nation’s destiny, and in the middle of it all stands one powerful question: Are the youth ready to take a stand?
The answer is clear. The younger generation is no longer blind nor deaf to the realities of the country. They see the effects of mismanagement, they hear the voices of those left behind, and they feel the urgency to act. Far from being passive bystanders, young Filipinos are beginning to step forward as active participants in nation-building.
One of the greatest challenges the country faces today is not only the problems themselves but also the kind of leaders chosen to solve them. Too often, public office is treated as a privilege for personal gain rather than a responsibility to serve. The youth, however, are calling for change.
They are demanding leaders who truly love the people, not the money that comes from them—leaders who put the nation’s welfare above self-interest and corruption. This awareness is shaping the way young Filipinos view elections and governance, as they recognize that their voices and votes hold the power to reshape the future.
Across the country, youth groups, student leaders, and ordinary young citizens are showing that they are not afraid to be heard. From community clean-up drives to climate advocacy, from school-based awareness campaigns to social media movements demanding transparency, the youth are proving their capacity to lead. They are not only asking questions of their leaders but are also proposing solutions and taking action within their own communities.
Here in Bohol, this spirit is alive as student organizations and youth advocates continue to organize initiatives that reflect awareness and responsibility. Their involvement in environmental protection, civic activities, and local governance discussions shows that the youth are not silent—they are watching, they are listening, and they are acting.
As the nation continues to grapple with its problems, it becomes evident that the voice of the youth is no longer optional—it is essential. The future of the Philippines lies in their hands, and their determination to be involved today ensures that tomorrow will not simply be inherited, but shaped. The time has come to recognize that the youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow—they are leaders now, ready to take a stand.
And so, we ask: will you still act blind, or will you speak up and stand? Is this the Philippines our ancestors fought hard to free from conquerors—or will it become a country that makes its own people suffer because of wrong choices? The choice is ours. Now, we choose.