With seamless voices weaving together in a shared vision of a brighter and more transparent future, a diverse group of students, guests, and various community sectors across Cebu City gathered for “A Cost of Integrity: Student Forum” last April 14 at Room 212, PHINMA Hall of Southwestern University PHINMA. Organized by Youth for Heidi – Cebu City Chapter, the forum served as a platform to reflect on the value of integrity in leadership, and amplify the call for transparency and good governance.
Drawing from her extensive experience in the government, senatorial candidate Heidi Mendoza, emphasized the essential role of transparency and integrity in public service, as the forum aimed to engage the youth in meaningful discussions and inspire informed participation in the upcoming elections.
In an interview with The Quill, Luegi Mancao, one of the heads of Youth for Heidi – Cebu City Chapter and a student at SWU PHINMA, explained how their forum’s mission aims to connect youth leaders from various universities in Cebu City.
“Our goal is very simple lang gyud kaayo—to let the student leaders know nga these are the cause of upholding integrity and transparency in public service,” Mancao said.
“Also to inspire student leaders na there’s Heidi Mendoza for twenty-seven (27) years of serving the public, now she’s offering herself for the senate and hopefully we can support her na she upholds the transparency in public service,” he added.
When asked about the importance of youth participation in political conversations, Mancao highlighted the need for voters to thoroughly evaluate candidates, understand their motivations, and ensure they remain accountable to the public.“I think the very first step for us to have a better nation or, you know, having a good governor is knowing our candidates—knowing if they’re open for being accountable, if madoulan ba sila or what’s their plan or intentions. I am also working on [an] NGO and one of our goal[s] is to really to have a ‘Votected’ or voter segregation. Votected is not just also choosing the right leader but also scrutinizing them in knowing them more,” he said.
In another interview with The Quill, Carmel Angela Mata, provincial coordinator of Kabataan Partylist Cebu, addressed a significant issue impacting students today.
“Karon, ang akong tan-aw nga gikinahanglan kay ang pag-duso gyud sa student rights and welfares—academic freedom sa mga eskwelahan—nga ang atong pagdefy niya kay freedom to choose what we want to learn according sa atong social reality,” Mata said.
“The context of our social reality and how we apply those learnings in improving our society nga dili bitaw kung tan-aw nato karon sa atoang eskwelahan karon nga nahigutman siya sa capitalist nga framework, nga we are studying for the benefit of foreign countries of other countries; capitalist educators,” she added.
Mata also spoke about recent challenges students face, especially regarding academic freedom and student rights.
“Dapat ang atong education system palang in the first place, ang pag-duso gyud sa academic freedom and pag-protect sa student rights and welfares sa estudyante, nga mao man pud ang dakong papel sa estudyante nga hatagan siya ana nga avenue—nga space, nga freely niya ma-exercise iyahang right, kay kung sa upcoming nga election, dako kaayo ug lanog ang tingog sa kabatan-unang estudyante,” she said.
“So, hatagan nato na siya ana nga (….) nga freely siya maka express ug dili siya i-curtail or like ma-subject to fear nga i-exercise na nga right in the first place,” she added.
Organizers urged all attendees to remain active, informed, and vigilant in their democratic rights as the election approaches, emphasizing that involvement in national issues, especially voting, plays a vital role in shaping the future of the country.
While many youth-oriented forums in past election cycles have struggled to create lasting impact or spark genuine civic change, this event distinguished itself by addressing issues like transparency, integrity, and public accountability, offering a platform for the youth to engage in meaningful discussions about governance.
Despite Mendoza’s established reputation for advocating transparency and integrity, the forum’s blend of advocacy and campaigning raises a complex issue, as it invites scrutiny over how such events balance genuine electoral education with the strategic interests of political figures, all while young voters—who often express frustration with performative politics—are left to determine if their engagement is being utilized for more than just securing votes in the upcoming election.
