MANILA, Philippines - Karen Davila and Abner Mercado challenged a crowd of students to take action and be active agents of change as The Correspondents DOCUniversity Tour went full swing at the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UP CMC) last month.
The tour is a roving symposium which brings the program’s anchors with its whole team to go out on campuses to inspire the youth to get involved in national and world issues.
Since its launch in February, it is fast gaining popularity and has already gone to the University of Sto. Tomas, Colegio San Agustin, Colegio de San Juan de Letran and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
UP alumni Karen and Abner showed their fellow Iskolar ng Bayan that through a small initiative like telling a story on another person’s plight can affect policy-making and bring about change in society.
Karen’s feature on children in jail titled Batang Preso paved the way for the signing of the Juvenile Justice Law, which prohibits the incarceration of minor offenders.
Abner’s piece on Mt. Everest, on the other hand, became a source of inspiration for many people as it showed how Filipinos Leo Oracion and Pastour Emata disproved naysayers when they conquered the cold and intimidating Everest.
Another highlight was the Boto Mo, iPatrol Mo: Ako ang Simula segment, where Anna Rodriguez, program manager and officer-in-charge of the ABS-CBN Current Affairs Division, urged the students to participate in the 2010 polls and join the movement for clean and honest elections.