Soulprints - Amyline Quien Ching

SSEAYP: A Journey in Perpetuity

It was the kind of stuff dreams are made of.

It is not everyday that one could travel to a foreign land and see its landmarks in the flesh without having your lifetime savings evaporate into thin air. But more than 300 youths from all over Asia did just that and so much more…

Philippine Delegation Youth Leader Victor Immanuel Cuarto could not have said it better, “This is one of the best experiences that a member of the youth sector could be a part of.” Continuing the 30-year-old tradition, the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP) carried these youth delegates in style for a 53 heaven-filled-day journey in five Asian countries. Aboard the Nippon Maru, participants toured all across the Asian region and docked in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, and of course, the sponsor country Japan, where they would attend the Asian Youth Meeting in Tokyo. Some were also able to visit Myanmar, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia and Laos by air.

Bridging the Gap

More than just a pleasure trip, the program incorporates cultural presentations prepared by the delegates themselves, discussions on various social and cultural topics, and two-day home stays with local families that would help each of them bridge the cultural and geographical distance that divides them.
“This program has been successful in fostering camaraderie among future leaders of Southeast Asia and Japan,” says National Youth Commission and the SSEAYP National Organizing Committee Chairperson Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino.
Conceptualized by the Japanese government in 1974, this cultural exchange program seeks to broaden their perspective in various international issues as well as cultivate the spirit of international cooperation by providing them the opportunity to discover other cultures not only through their eyes but also through their hearts.
Cliché as it is, the phrase “experience is the best teacher” fits this to a T. Culture, according to National Leader Venus Gualdaquever, is “so much more and at times so much different from the way you perceived it in books and in television.” Actual interaction is needed. Virtual reality experiences through chat and MSN would never suffice. “This trip has given me a new understanding on the ways of life of other countries,” comments Japanese delegate Daisuke Yamamoto. Victor is in complete agreement. “Here is a group of people with a completely different take on things. They are thinking thoughts that are not akin to our thoughts. Knowing them has expanded my horizons and changed my thinking.”

Proud to be Pinoy

Fresh from their trip in Bangkok, the delegates proceeded to the Pearl of the Orient- the Philippines and for the pinoys, it was like finally reaching the Garden of Eden. “When you’re in the Philippines, you tend to take everything for granted but try living in another country for a few weeks, you’ll learn to appreciate and love our country,” reveals Victor. They even had goose bumps when they heard the national anthem for the first time since their departure. “Whatever our faults are as a country, we will always be Filipinos,” he impassionedly shares.
Having built quite a reputation for great sights and sounds, the Philippine-sponsored tour is one of the much-awaited ports of call. After docking, foreign delegates strutted their stuff onstage through musical presentations. “Because the Philippines has been known to give great performances, delegates have really put so much into their presentations here,” Commissioner Aves divulges. In a surprisingly subdued performance, the Philippine delegation did a song number with none of the usual pakulos. “They rendered such an explosive performance the night before that they opted to do a simple activity for this [welcome ceremonies],” she adds. Still, with their usual creative and artistic flair, the Filipinos managed to bring the house down with the “SSEAYP Family Song” that a Filipino delegate in 1994 composed. By the time they are halfway through the song, some of the delegates are already humming or swaying in time with the music. This is actually old news for whether one believes it or not, some of the delegates even know how to hum the song “Ewan” by the APO Hiking Society. “They could not understand a word of it obviously but they managed to feel the essence of the song,” relates Victor. According to him, some delegates even cried when they sang some of the really heart-wrenching Filipino songs. “Filipinos are really great performers. We have the talent and the charisma to hold our audience transfixed. No wonder we are such a hit as entertainers,” Commissioner Aves joked, her eyes twinkling in merriment.
Seriously though, Filipinos are almost always the “congeniality awardees” in the bunch, probably because of our personalities. “Filipinos are naturally friendly. Whoever you are, there is instant rapport,” observes Victor. His roommate, Vietnamese Huynh Van Son whole-heartedly agrees. In broken English he conveyed, “I have very good impression pf Filipinos because of him. He is my first Filipino friend.”
But aside from the crazy quirks in our personalities that foreigners love so much, there is also that ability to speak good English, which for some is the greatest challenge. “Conquering the language barrier is probably the most difficult thing that I had to do. Though I am fairly good in English having stayed in Canada for a month, I still have a lot to learn,” tells Daisuke. According to Victor, having an edge in language, Filipinos assume the role of facilitators in group discussions.

Philippines’ Best

Because of time constraints, delegates were grouped into 11 solidarity groups (SGs), where each would visit one institution. Among the government institutions they visited were the Senate of the Philippines, Supreme Court and the House of the Representatives, where they met up with luminaries such as Senator Francis Pangilinan and Congressman Conrado Estrella. They also had a photo session with Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. and the 15 other justices. Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines-Diliman, where they had campus tours and interaction with local youths, were also part of their itinerary. In media corporations ABS-CBN and GMA Network, the delegates were given a glimpse of how TV shows are produced and aired. Filipino visual and musical arts were introduced to some of them through their trip to the Ayala Museum and the Center for Pop Music. Our country’s colorful past was relived once again through their visit to the historic Intramuros, particularly Fort Santiago and Casa Manila. The visit to the Reception and Study Center for Children and Golden Acres, where they interacted with neglected children and old people, served as an eye-opener for most of the delegates. In fact, most of them cried when they saw the abandoned children.

Becoming Part of the Family

Perhaps the soul of the whole program is the home-stays where at least two delegates of the same gender will get to experience how local families live. Sometimes, as much as eight PYs will stay with one family, learning what they do, living as they live.
“This is really one of the best parts of the program. It’s really humbling to know that they have prepared a lot for us not only in the material aspects but also the emotional ones,” expresses Victor. Recounting her experience, Japanese delegate and Human Resources Management student Chalo Sugano reveals, “It really amazes me how they could be so familiar to us. They let us into their homes and treated us like their own children. I am really grateful for all the love and care that they have given me.” Most delegates grow really attach to their foster families. Come departure time, there are a lot of tears shed. “It’s always an emotional parting because it’s like saying goodbye to your second family,” continues he. Commissioner Aves attests to this. “You would really see them crying because they had come to love their families even at a short span of time.” Some even go back to the country for a visit while others receive wedding and birthday invitations as if they are really part of the family.

Heart of the Journey

Beyond the laughter and the tears, the scenic spots and the cultural presentations is the challenge to rise up above prejudices and biases, broaden our perspective on humanity and rediscover our love for our country. “When the youth is given the chance to do something for the country, they will do it. We just have to plant the seeds of nationalism and they will rise above their individual ambitions and promote the national goal,” Bam Aquino stresses. And as the SSEAYP journey draws to a close with its last port of call, Japan, he hopes that they will take back with them the important lessons that they have learned to their countries and may they use it to be better leaders not only of tomorrow but also of today.

And never should they forget that though SSEAYP has ended, their journey of self-discovery would never end.

The journey has barely begun.

posted by Amyline Quien Ching @ 12:25 AM