Kasadya. That's the first word that comes to mind every time I look back at the KAWSA Claim Your Space national youth summit. It was my first time joining somet...
Kasadya. That's the first word that comes to mind every time I look back at the KAWSA Claim Your Space national youth summit.
It was my first time joining something that big—delegates from all over the country, all gathered in one virtual space through Microsoft Teams. And yet, despite the screen and the distance, the energy was real. The connection was real. May ma-tig-ab gid ya. The excitement, the learning, the chaos—everything felt alive.
One of my core memories now is that moment after every speaker's session. The chatbox would explode with thank yous, clap emojis, and overflowing appreciation. It was chaotic, yes. But it was the kind of chaos that made you feel seen. Made you feel part of something bigger than yourself.
KAWSA taught me deeply about the Safe Spaces Act. Not just the legal terms or the penalties, but the heart of it—the right to exist without fear, to speak without shame, to claim your space without asking for permission.
And for the first time, I realized: I have never really claimed my space before. Not fully.
But during that summit, I did.
Bilang isang lalaki, mula sa Rehiyon Dose. SOCCSKSARGEN. Cotabato Province. Tulunan National High School. Isang ordinaryong estudyanteng bahagi ng Supreme Secondary Learners Government.
Hindi ako lumaki sa mayaman na pamilya. Hindi rin ako sanay na nasa harapan o laging nagsasalita. Pero sa summit na iyon, na-realize ko na ang liderato ay hindi tungkol sa kung sino ka o saan ka galing. Ito ay tungkol sa pag-claim ng espasyo hindi para sa sarili mo lang, kundi para rin sa mga katulad mong nangangailangan ng boses.
Ang ganda ng experience. Kadamo sang mayunan. Ang dami kong natutunan. Hindi lang tungkol sa batas o sa safe spaces, kundi tungkol sa kung paano maging tao—maunawain, magalang, at handang makinig.
Kanami sa experience. Sadya gid sa Microsoft Teams. At higit sa lahat, naramdaman kong may lugar ako sa usapang ito. Hindi bilang tagasunod lang. Hindi bilang nakikiusyoso lang. Kundi bilang isang kabataang handang kumilos.
Salamat, KAWSA. Hindi lang summit 'to para sa'kin. Isa itong paalala na kahit sino ka, kahit saan ka nanggaling, may karapatan kang mag-claim ng sarili mong espasyo.
Kagaya ko. Kagaya mo.