President Rodrigo Duterte giving a speech during the OYA Mindanaw: State of the Environment Mindanao Day

“I encourage all of the students, be it PolSci or not PolSci to keep on studying and learning the tenets of society. We cannot go out and rampage the streets kung kita mismo walang reaction.”

This was the concluding message of Political Science Students’ Association of the Philippines (PSSAP) Presdient Rameses Javier Casten as one of the speakers during this year’s Post-SONA Analysis last Aug. 3 at the Training Room, Community Center of the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU).

Representatives from AdDU’s political organizations, Bahaghari, Buklat and PIGLASAPAT were composed most of the event’s speakers. Political Science and International Studies students took part in the affair headed by the Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Agham Pampulitika ng Ateneo (SAMAPULA).

SAMAPULA President Remus Ceasar Calicdan, Jr. explained the rationale of the event.

“Ang purpose ng event is to ignite the interest of the people kasi it’s the first time na taga-Mindanao ang president na nasa Malacañang ngayon. Also, it would be good na ang mga tao like the PolSci and IS students will have a knowledge on what Digong is really planning,” he said.

“For example, it can be easy to talk about federalism but to understand its concepts is a different thing,” he added.

The analysis was done through a panel discussion. Several of the topics discussed were on terrorism, change in foreign policy, traffic congestion, urban planning, and federalism, all of which transpired from President Rodrigo Duterte’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA).

The speakers, representing different political groups expressed their views on the said topics, what they think of the president’s plans, and how they think the issues be addressed.

The event caught the interest of various students. Second year International Studies student Kristine Joy Fernandez shared her reason for attending.

“I came here because I want to hear the different perspectives of the different political organizations, and also understand further Duterte’s SONA,” she said.

An open forum was conducted after the panel discussion where the students raised their queries and clarifications on certain points from the SONA. The speakers also encouraged in their closing messages the students as the youth and as Ateneans to actively take part and be involved in the society, and to be critical with its current issues.

“We need to be men of action before we […] of words. That is the real essence of our involvement as youth,” Casten concluded.