As the world witnesses death after death and loss after loss, it is almost impossible to find glimmers of hope for the future. My nieces, aged 10 and 11, once shared that the coronavirus is taking away most of their years. In their young minds they already perceived the power dynamics among the leaders of the country, which seemed impossible to project through a sketch.

How can they feel the hopelessness I was feeling at their young age? Or maybe I, like other grown adults, have been too overwhelmed with uncertainty and lack of accountability that we forget our role of making a counternarrative for a better future?

At that point, I knew no one is exempted from this collective grief especially children as days become dimmer. We cannot talk about change without taking a humane perspective and for us in Likha Initiative, a volunteer organization focused on co-creating empowered communities in the urban poor of Muntinlupa and parts of Cavite, envisioning a future emanates from whose lens are we using—the children. What kind of leader do they envision?

A leader who vouches for the earth and its riches

It is relevant that environment protection of our resources for the next generation be an agenda of the next leader. For a country like the Philippines with its rich natural resources, food insecurity should not be an issue. But it is, especially in the urban poor where hunger is tangible and the depths of having nothing on the table is real in our homes as streets are in lockdown. This can be attributed to many factors—land conversion that should have urban gardens, loss of jobs to provide food on the table and the least talked about, our waste problem.

The sketch seen above was created by children residing in the informal settlements in Muntinlupa City called Sitio Anahaw at Laguna de Bay. Over the years, residents of Sitio Anahaw have seen the drastic decrease of fish supply in Laguna Lake. This is no surprise as industrial water wastes and plastics dominate the country’s largest source of freshwater. Systemic changes of how solid waste management operates at the local level and more agricultural lands in the urban area be established.

A leader who prioritizes healthcare and education for all

The pandemic revealed the fragility of the healthcare system in the Philippines. The COVID-19 situation should not just be about the numbers game but the protection of all lives so no children will be orphaned again due to the virus.

The next leader for 2022 must face insecurities of healthcare system head on at the barangay, city and national level. Moreover, this crisis situation must be dealt with through appropriate measures—right information, community participation, available infrastructure, effective communication, valued manpower and a comprehensive plan to fully capture the meaning of the whole of nation approach.

The leader that we must have owe to the next generation a kind of normalcy wherein children can at last go to school safely and invest in their future. This will be possible if transport systems can accommodate social distancing, are properly ventilated, and accessible for everyone.

Moreover, teachers and students’ woes and safety must be deliberately prioritized. This will happen if vaccines are provided, schools are sanitized and rooms are well-ventilated. It might be a long shot but a leader must have the guts to at least take the risk.

A leader who provides options for the poor

'The leader that we must have owe to the next generation a kind of normalcy wherein children can at last go to school safely and invest in their future.'

The poor have often been undermined for decades as they are deemed to be resilient in times of suffering. This can be witnessed anywhere we turn to—from the long queues and hours of waiting just to get cash aid to demolition experiences for infrastructure and beautification projects.

The next leader we must vote for should have a sense of justice and accountability for the benefit of the Filipinos. One who acknowledges that power lies in the hands of its people and therefore must serve the interest of the Filipino people, especially the vulnerable masses. We must no longer be threatened by the rhetoric of war against one another in lieu of peace.

The next leader we must have should respect the human rights of every living individual through options for security including affordable homes, employment opportunities, and a dignified minimum wage. Putting social protection in place must not be a nitpicking task of targeting, validation and distribution.

On the contrary, it must be an accessible right for Filipinos to pursue development that genuinely addresses their needs. This can only be done if the roots of poverty are acknowledged and communities are active agents for a change they want to see.

A just and accountable leader for the Filipinos

The next leader we must vote for should have a sense of justice and accountability for the benefit of the Filipinos. One who acknowledges that power lies in the hands of its people and therefore must serve the interest of the Filipino people, especially the vulnerable masses. We must no longer be threatened by the rhetoric of war against one another in lieu of peace.

The leader we deserve is a leader who respects the law and the constitution above him. This goes for every leader we choose from the local captain to the President.

2022 is and must be a turning point not just for Filipinos who get to cast their vote but for the succeeding generations to come. These might just be drawings, a whim of a child’s creativity. However these also remind us of hope that we must carry forward. A dream not only visible through strokes and colors but one that we can touch, breathe into and be proud of.

Your voice matters. Register now! Go to irehistro.comelec.gov.ph.