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Aya, River debate about speaking out on social, political issues | YSpeak 2.0

Article (news)

Mary Ann Bardinas

In recent years, we have witnessed countless heated discussions on social media regarding the social issues and political controversies confronting the country, as netizens are encouraged to air their sentiments. While there are people who are brave enough to publicly share their opinions, others choose not to get involved for various reasons.Thus, in the second episode of “Y Speak 2.0” that aired on May 16, hosts Aya Fernandez and River Joseph—along with their respective teams comprised of four students each from the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU)—debate the proposition: “Filipinos have to speak out publicly on social and political issues.” Aya led the affirmative side, “Team Y,” while River spearheaded the opposing side, “Team Y Not.”Following the intense and intelligent exchange of arguments between both teams in Phase 1, the host captains took their turns in sharing their personal insights in Phase 2.As their team believes that Filipinos must continue to speak out, Aya firmly maintained that silence is never neutral. For her, refusing to take a stand in times of injustice often means siding with the oppressor.“Our call, be the voice of the voiceless. Amplify the voices of those who are worth to be heard, [and] use your privilege to educate yourself and further speak for those who can’t speak up for themselves. Kung hindi tayo magsasalita, walang pagbabagong mangyayari. Kung mananahimik tayong lahat, hihirap ang mga mahihirap, yayaman lang ang mga mayayaman, magiging [mas] makapangyarihan lang ang mga makapangyarihan. Gusto na natin ng pagbabago. Now is the time to speak up, Pilipinas!” she said.Meanwhile, although River acknowledged Aya’s compelling points, he challenged her assertion that silence necessarily equates complicity or support for the oppressor. According to him, silence may also signify that a person is not yet prepared to express an opinion due to insufficient knowledge about a particular issue. He stressed that some individuals choose to educate themselves first before speaking because, for him, “a voice without knowledge can do more harm than good.”After another fierce yet friendly exchange between the teams, the host captains concluded the discussion through their powerful closing remarks.Aya reiterated her earlier stance on the importance of speaking up, emphasizing that “there is no greater empowerment than being able to empower other people.” While she acknowledged that activism could take many forms beyond verbal expression, she argued that meaningful action often begins with communicating one’s lived experiences and sentiments regarding societal issues.On the other hand, River emphasized that citizens can still contribute to the nation not only through public discourse but also by voting responsibly and actively helping communities. He recapitulated the importance of becoming fully informed before speaking, stressing that what matters most is being knowledgeable, intentional, and mindful of the proper time and manner of engagement. He concluded his synthesis by asserting that “public expression should be a choice, not a requirement.”Catch more inspiring conversations, youth-driven stories, and meaningful discussions on “YSpeak 2.0,” Saturdays at 10:45 PM on ABS-CBN sa ALLTV2, Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL) and <a href="https://app.iwanttfc.com/dFR6MWHAcVb">iWant</a>.

Hosts Aya Fernandez and River Joseph showcase their debating skills in the second episode of “YSpeak 2.0.”

Hosts Aya Fernandez and River Joseph showcase their debating skills in the second episode of “YSpeak 2.0.”