I should be thanking Ma'am Borican, my DevJourn professor, who required us to come up with a writing about MDGs on my last semester in PUP MassCom. When I surfed the net, particularly the MDG web, I came across the link of the Voice of the Youth Network. I got the contacts, and since it was a co-globe subscriber (Wow! Unli, itextmate ko kaya? Haha!), I right away sent a text of inquiry.

I can't remember the exact details, but after some few text messages and a number of conversations over the YM for consecutive weeks, I finally decided to see the VOTY people. I felt the strong urge to see them, though I was totally oblivious of the reason then.

Being a volunteer was so new in my system. Of course, I already joined a number of outreach programs, but in all honesty, I never felt that I am a part of them.

The first time I met VOTY, I was so still and silent, kulang na lang sabihin ko, 'Teka, time out, 'di na ko maka-relate. May I go out?' I was so bombarded with continuous flow of information then, and my brain cannot process all of those at that moment. But when I came to know them, particularly those who joined the Cavite escapade, I began to ask myself of what could be the driving forces of these young people to engage on such kind of activities. Most of them are younger than I, but they managed to be active and productive members of several groups and organizations. Most of them has their own careers to manage, but they never made VOTY the last item on their list.

What really amazed me during the Villa Dominga team building was the talent flourished by the members. They need not to be perfect on their abilities, because the confidence they possess is more than enough to make them shine and flicker. And if you'll ask if I felt that I was really a part of that event, yes, I did. Finally. Definitely. For me to go rural, in a place I never reached before, and spend two days and a night with people whom I never really knew? Now, that should be something, I told myself.

Before I knew it, I was like telling my friends the following days, about how wonderful I felt with the VOTY people. I told them that I met younger people than us, and that these younger people are contributing big time to the society by involving themselves on these civic actions. I narrated how I felt when I realized that it seemed that we wasted all our four years in college by simply doing nothing for the society. 'Tas tayo, antatanda na natin, pa-graduate na tayo, parang wala pa din tayong kwenta.' I was not really blaming my friends when they began to giggle and asked what seems so wrong with me. Malamang, hindi nga ako yun. I remembered hearing them blew, 'Tol, nangyare sayu?' But still, I never really got tired of telling them to ask themselves of what could be their purpose, not only for themselves and their own families, but also for the society, or else they'll regret one day, and ask why they ended up choosing being mere 'audience' of life, and not being 'players' of it.

Now, how far does VOTY is taking me? Being a part of VOTY is as if having a unique trophy of 'self respect'. Being respectful to your fellow is totally different from giving respect to yourself. Actually, the latter is more fulfilling. When I joined VOTY, I experienced a point wherein I finalized that I have a lot of abilities and capabilities, some seemed obvious, others are still to be discovered and used in the future. I came to know that once we give a chance to ourselves to use and develop our talents and abilities for the common good of the society, we are actually giving enough respect to ourselves too. We're giving enough justice to the deepest essence of self worth. It's as if burning your energy for a cause by being the moving object on Newton's law of inertia. 'Siguro mukha na s'yang matanda. Matagal na siguro tong mga pictures n'ya. Di lang siguro naaupdate ang website nya.' That was what I thought of Kuya Choy. The first time we met, I contained myself, avoiding to blab how surprised I was to see a young and vibrant Pocholo Gonzales. I read his name and his numerous achievements over the net, and I assumed that he might be a bald man in his 40s (Hehe, peace tayo, Kuya!). Again, I was so wrong because Kuya Choy is still a young man, well driven and action oriented. And maybe, many years from now, I would still see him and the rest of the VOTY people as a 'young' individuals because of their decisions, actions and contributions imparted and will impart to the Filipino youth.

VOTY is not composed of 'perfect' people with 'perfect' personalities. I remembered how Kuya Ian differentiated perfect from EXCELLENT. These two words are as if another two battling words: idealistic and realistic. Excellent is better. Of course, there's nothing wrong with being idealistic, but possessing this character alone is not enough to climb the tree to success. You need not to arrive on your desired and expected outcomes. All you have to be is to be realistic enough to learn that you are not hundred percent in control of what is happening around you. A realistic and excellent person is an individual who is not afraid of failures and can always project a very positive attitude in the midst of seemingly-hopeless situations.

When I think of VOTY, all I can think of is a picture of an excellent and strongly made, but still unfinished wall. Strong, since each building block composing it, stands for every VOTY member possessing an excellent degree of social responsibility and excellently displaying such character. But still unfinished though, since there are still better things to come – more activities, more members, more developments, all in accord with excellence.

I can't be so sure of what the future holds. But I have this stiff assurance that VOTY will continue to be, not just an organization or network, but a virtue to be learned and accepted by every Filipino who wants to move forward to victory.

For the nth time, I'll claim it, VOTY is an eye opener. When I became a part of this organization, I was in full regret at first. I was like blaming myself for the past years I had let passed by without taking few steps towards betterment. But now, I realized that brooding over the past will not do any help. Instead, little by little I am trying to recuperate from the past rotten and stagnant years of my life. I want to be at blast, of help, of excellence. Why am I speaking this way? Because I am a more fulfilled person me now. Changes will not come into your senses at once, but I have my drive to do so, again, the VOTY. And as I continue my journey, I know this organization is still with me.

Though I already spoke of my countless insights about VOTY, those are still insufficient. I can't put into exact words and phrases this sacred and noble feeling I have towards VOTY. I can't give you the concrete details about it. But, I can make you feel what I feel now. Prove it yourself. Be one of us.