by David Lozada
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| FOI FOR ALL. FYI plans to inform as many people as possible of the benefits of having a Freedom of Information Bill. Screen cap from the music video |
MANILA, Philippines - Students and youth leaders have turned to music and online video to push for the passage of the People’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill.
The FOI Youth Initiative (FYI), a national network of 137 youth and student organizations from all over the country, released the song entitled “Tayo na para sa FOI” as part of a broader campaign to lobby for the FOI bill.
Djerilee Medina, who composed the song with fellow FYI member Nic Angeles, said the group thought a music video would reach out to more people.
“We found the need to creatively send out our message to both our fellow youth and our elected policy-makers through the song, which conveys our desire for a government that is transparent and accountable to the people,” Medina said.
FYI co-convener Allan Pangilinan said the song will serve as the official campaign anthem of FYI.
"We found it necessary to create a catchy anthem that will reflect the aspirations of the youth for the government that we will eventually inherit," FYI told Rappler.
Other initiatives
On July 1, FYI joined other members of the Right to Know, Right Now! coalition in filing for the “People's FOI bill" through an indirect initiative - a mechanism in the Constitution that allows any “duly accredited people’s organization” to file a petition in Congress for a law they want passed.
The group also called on President Benigno Aquino III to pass the FOI bill before his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 22. They expressed their disappointment when the FOI was not mentioned in the President’s SONA.
In a related initiative, FYI actively campaigned to scrap the pork barrel system. They also joined the #MillionPeopleMarch in Luneta last National Heroes’ Day, August 26.
On September 27, FYI participated in the Light Up for FOI, a candle lighting protest held in front of the House of Representatives.
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| LIGHT FOR HOPE. Students with other FOI advocates light candles in front of the House of Representatives to push for the bill . Photo from FYI Facebook page |
Angeles, who is a member of the UP Diliman College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (UP CSSP) Student Council, hopes that lawmakers will get the message.
“Some legislators believe that this measure will only serve the interests of the media. However, through our various efforts in our campaign, we want them to realize that FOI is for everyone— it is for each and every freedom-loving Filipino,” Angeles said.
Nationwide spread
FYI continues to recruit more youth and student organizations from schools throughout the country. The group said this strategy will help them win the support of more legislators.
"By strengthening our numbers, we can effectively carry out a legislative lobbying campaign where we will engage legislators, especially the District Representatives of our various organizations in different provinces," FYI told Rappler.
The group established provincial chapters to localize the People's FOI campaign and gather more support from Filipinos.
The chapters also help in the group's education campaigns.
‘Tayo na para sa FOI’
Below are the lyrics of the song. The video was shot and edited by Renz Noveloso. It was released during the International Right to Know Day last September 28.
Nais namin ng pamahalaang may pananagutan.
Bakit ito ipinagkakait, diba't ito ay aming karapatan?
Ito ang aming awitin.
Pakinggan ang tinig namin.
Tayo na, tayo na, tayo na, kabataan.
Tayo na, tayo na, isulong ang panawagan at ipaglaban.
Ang dapat malaman ng mamamayan
ay makakamtan lang kung ating buksan.
Tayo na, ipasa na, para sa bayan.
Nais namin na magkaroon ng bukas na pamahalaan,
'yong walang tinatago at tapat sa mamamayan.
Hayaan kaming silipin,
Impormasyong dapat ay abot namin.
Tayo na, tayo na, tayo na, kabataan.
Tayo na, tayo na, isulong ang panawagan at ipaglaban.
Ang dapat malaman ng mamamayan
ay makakamtan lang kung ating buksan.
Tayo na, ipasa na, para sa bayan.
Kung walang tinatago, wala ring dapat ikatakot.
Tayo na, tayo na, tayo na, kabataan.
Tayo na, tayo na, isulong ang panawagan at ipaglaban.
Tayo na, tayo na, tayo na, kabataan.
Tayo na, tayo na, isulong ang panawagan at ipaglaban.
Ang dapat malaman ng mamamayan
ay makakamtan lang kung ating buksan.
Tayo na, FOI, para sa bayan.
FOI, ipasa na para sa bayan.
-Rappler.com
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