Firmly believing in the potential of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials and cadet officers to become agents for national transformation, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano wants to make sure they are equipped to resist the temptation of corruption.
Speaking to reporters in a media interview on November 25, 2023, the independent senator said he is eyeing to instill Biblical values among SK officials and cadet officers across the country to keep them from being “easily corrupted and tempted.”
He said this is “very important” because SK officials and cadet officers will be the ones to lead the country in the next 15 to 30 years.
“Ilang years na lang tayo, but they have their whole life ahead of them,” he said.
Cayetano noted that the youth are normally idealistic while they are in school but the realities of real life can erode this positive outlook.
“If you go to law schools, ‘yan (SK officials and cadet officers) ang pinaka-idealistic, but if you go to court maraming [bad] jokes about lawyers,” he said.
“Ganoon din sa mga pulitiko. In school napaka-idealistic, pero once na nasa konseho, governor’s office, mayor’s office, Congress, parang umiba na,” he added.
Cayetano said this is among the goals of “TransformNation,” an ongoing project he recently organized with other Christian leaders which aims to teach leaders from various sectors, including the youth, public servants, teachers, and church leaders, how to contribute to national transformation aligned with Biblical principles.
He said proper values are needed to create lasting change in the country because it is so easy for people to fall back to their old ways when no one is watching them.
“Sa corruption, akala namin y’ung departamento na y’un nalinis na, ‘yun pala takot lang sa media, or takot lang sa Senate investigation, or takot lang sa kung sinong Presidente. Tapos ‘pag nawala, balik na naman [sa dating gawi],” he said.
Cayetano said TransformNation is still at the starting point but it gives him something to look forward to.
“Infancy pa [ang TransformNation], but for me it’s quite fulfilling kasi nga it gave me new hope na kaya [pang magbago ng bansa],” he said.
