Campus Tour. DLSU students with VJs Robi Domingo and Xian Lim.

When the youth speak, everybody listens.

Knowing how important it is to get the pulse of the young, Y-Speak, the award-winning youth-oriented program aired on Studio 23 launched last Friday its Barkada Gimik Buzz Ride.

The campus tour aims to bring the actual program closer to its target audience, right at the school premises. It also serves as an opportunity for Y Speak to get the first-hand opinion of the youth.

FIRST TRIP

De La Salle University in Dasmariñas, Cavite is the first stop of the Y-Speak’s Barkada Buzz. Held at the Ugnayang La Salle gym, the event gathered around 500 students to listen to the forum and enjoy the mini-concert.

A debate, facilitated by Y-Speak main host Bianca Gonzales, focused on two topics: career and the national elections.

Y-Speak associate producer Mark Salamat was overwhelmed by the response of the students. “We didn’t really know we are this popular among the youth. We are also learning by seeing what our target market wants and how can we give it to them,” he said.

The Y Speak Campus Tour will be taken to various schools in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. “We want to get Julius Rocas defended the automated system, saying that now is the best time to use it because it’s faster and more efficient. “This is the trend and it is one way for us to catch up with other countries that have been using the system for the longest time.”

Rocas said that the automated elections system is the ultimate answer to a more accurate and convenient elections. “With the use of this system, we can veer away from the flaws of transporting the ballot, time delays, cheating through dagdag-bawas. We can finally throw away the slow system,” he stated.

Rocas was positive that there are ways to ensure that no manipulation would take place. “Kaya nga nandiyan ‘yung option na manual counting kasi if hindi nag-tally ‘yung vote mo, you can always double check,” he said.

The country could never move forward if its people are afraid of change, he added. “We always ask for change pero kapag nandiyan na ‘yung opportunity, we don’t want to embrace it. Sana tayo, bilang kabaataan, ay huwag magtago sa kuweba at sana gamitin din natin ang kakayahan nating matuto para sa pagbabago,” he stated.

The second segment on career options featured senior Economics student Gregor Vizcayda and senior Business Management major Celiza Romera debating whether newly graduates should work abroad or not.

While Vizcayda argued that new graduates should stay because they owe the Philippines, Romera countered that working abroad expands a person’s horizons.

Co-facilitator JobsDB communications manager RJ Avelino enumerated the pros and cons of working abroad. According to him, new graduates who plan to work abroad should be ready to adjust to the high cost living abroad and should prepare themselves for the strict passport issuance. “Whatever path you choose — whether working here or abroad — the country will gain from your success,” he ends.

CAMPUS TOUR. DLSU students with VJs Robi Domingo and Xian Lim.

closer to our young audience and we feel that this is one of the best ways to do it,” Salamat added.

For host Bianca Gonzales, the tour was something that they have been planning to do. “This would make us understand our market and of course it is always interesting to get their views and opinions on so many issues that involve them,” she said.

One of the most anticipated parts of the event was the mini-concert featuring the La Sallian Pop Band and Imago, the Barkada Gimik Buzz Ride featured band. The students also enjoyed the fun and games segment hosted by Studio 23 VJ’s Xian Lim and Robi Domingo.

After the event, 43 students rode The Barkada Gimik Buzz which took them to an after-party at Kon Tiki Bar and Restaurant in One Destination Tagaytay where they mingled and partied with the Y Speak hosts.

FOR OR AGAINST?

Following a debate format, selected students debated on the pros and cons of the automated elections in a segment titled “Pro Mano-Mano or Pro-Auto.” Co-facilitating was Jaime Garchitorena of Youth Vote Philippines, with Tagaytay Comelec officer Atty. Winston Gaffud in attendance.

For Charlene De Guinto, a senior Political Science student, the automated system is unreliable and therefore, cannot be trusted. “There is no such thing as a hack-free system,” De Guinto said, adding that the system is prone to lapses and mistakes. “Bakit natin ipagkakatiwala ang future natin sa isang sistema na hindi kayang pagkatiwalaan?”

She also said that people should think twice before finally trusting the system especially amid power shortage.

“How can we ensure that this system would work if there’s problem in electricity?”

De Guinto was also concerned about the lack of proper information being disseminated especially to those in far-flung areas. “Although marami na sa atin ng nakakaalam because we are in school or we live in the cities, paano naman ‘yung mga hindi inaabot sa malalayong areas or provinces?”

Junior Political Science student Julius Rocas defended the automated system, saying that now is the best time to use it because it’s faster and more efficient. “This is the trend and it is one way for us to catch up with other countries that have been using the system for the longest time.”

Rocas said that the automated elections system is the ultimate answer to a more accurate and convenient elections. “With the use of this system, we can veer away from the flaws of transporting the ballot, time delays, cheating through dagdag-bawas. We can finally throw away the slow system,” he stated.

Rocas was positive that there are ways to ensure that no manipulation would take place. “Kaya nga nandiyan ‘yung option na manual counting kasi if hindi nag-tally ‘yung vote mo, you can always double check,” he said.

The country could never move forward if its people are afraid of change, he added. “We always ask for change pero kapag nandiyan na ‘yung opportunity, we don’t want to embrace it. Sana tayo, bilang kabaataan, ay huwag magtago sa kuweba at sana gamitin din natin ang kakayahan nating matuto para sa pagbabago,” he stated.

The second segment on career options featured senior Economics student Gregor Vizcayda and senior Business Management major Celiza Romera debating whether newly graduates should work abroad or not.

While Vizcayda argued that new graduates should stay because they owe the Philippines, Romera countered that working abroad expands a person’s horizons.

Co-facilitator JobsDB communications manager RJ Avelino enumerated the pros and cons of working abroad. According to him, new graduates who plan to work abroad should be ready to adjust to the high cost living abroad and should prepare themselves for the strict passport issuance. “Whatever path you choose — whether working here or abroad — the country will gain from your success,” he ends.