At the sidelines of my public engagements with local government, university and community leaders in Southern Philippines recently, I had the opportunity to interact with Gen Z (18-20 years old) youth who completed and passed their senior high school education or A Level equivalent. They could not pursue for higher education due to poor household income. They signed up to do various odd jobs in their cities, especially one of challenging casual, domestic or manual nature, often of a low-paying daily income.
A case in point, AbdulHan Amil, 19 of Kalibugan-Tausug ethnicity, born in Siraway. He attended Baliwasan Senior High School and graduated with GPA, 89 won Leadership Award in 2024. He was orphaned at a very early age, he didn't see his father and his mother left when he was just a toddler. His grandparents supported him to the senior high school level.
Another bright youth, Alsar U. Samsi, 19 of Sama-Tausug, a native of Isabela City de Basilan, attended the Qorban Institute of Technology Training and Assessment Centre, obtained a GPA of 93, won Honour Leadership Award, in 2024. His father is a fisherman and his mother is just a housewife. His parents are struggling to ensure the family of seven to survive.
I found a similar poor household background with Jihad Kahbata Alin, 19 who studied hard and passed with a good GPA from the Basilan National High School in Isabela City.
I became convinced that there is much to be hope for, because of the responsive and responsible young Gen Z leaders who have embraced community-building as a mission and passion. They are actually being formed out there in trenches of various battles being waged against poverty and inequality across their country, especially in the rural countryside.
They define Gen Z as having balanced personal qualities including compassion, emotional intelligence, integrity, competence, respect for the eldest, consistency and humbleness.
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