Digital movement seeks to bring out hero in every Filipino

MANILA, Philippines – There are more than 25 million Filipinos on Facebook and most of them are youth. That’s nearly a quarter of the projected population by the Philippine National Statistics Office. With such figures, one can only imagine the strength and power of digital networking to convey a thought, to influence a character, and to create a change.

A brilliant thought. A nationalistic character. A transformational change.

Three things that the Philippines needs from its people. Three things that every Filipino can afford to give and share. Three things that define a modern-day Filipino hero.

Acknowledging that every Filipino is born a hero, the alumni of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) program created BAYANiBOLUSYON, a digital movement to unleash the bayani (hero) in every Filipino, especially the youth.

Drawing inspiration from simple Juans whose lives are made remarkable by their generosity in spirit, BAYANiBOLUSYON’s stories seek to inspire Filipinos who seemed to have lost hope in heroism. BAYANiBOLUSYON aims to educate Filipinos that heroism is simply an act of doing good, that no act is too small or too big, and that no one is too young or too inept to do something, somehow.

To respond to the different ways of inspiring and educating others, BAYANiBOLUSYON created four simultaneous digital projects all featured on www.facebook.com/bayanibolusyon:

Bagong BAYANi. A feature on inspiring Pinoys who have walked the extra mile. For its initial salvo, 50 TOSP alumni from its birthing in 1961 to the present will be featured, each recapitulating a TOSPian’s life lived with passion, fueled by love.

BAYANiHAN. A feature on modern organizations portraying the bayanihan  (community) spirit. The first run will help acquaint others of the 10 TOSP – Alumni Community Chapters (the National Chapter and the nine Regional Chapters including CAR, NCR, OSOM, R3ACH, Regions 2, 4A, 5, 6 and 7). Each community does its task to mobilize and galvanize the youth towards nation building.

EDGE. A feature on 150 Filipinos from different walks of life. Inspired by the TOSP book entitled “EDGE: Everyday Great Examples,” Filipinos will be posed with a question, “Anong ginawa ko ngayon na nakatulong sa iba/bayan ko?”

BAYANiTAKTAKAN. A social discussion platform which serves to ask questions and conduct survey polls pertaining to current events, modern heroism, and pop culture – to engage every member to speak up, get heard and be counted thru wall posts and mouse clicks.

Yes, we are in an age where our fingers can move and change the world. We are in an age where service can be done and inspiration can be shared virtually, across islands and continents. We are in an age where Filipinos have so much potential to lead, learn, and serve. We are in an age where heroism has evolved from Bagumbayan to streets, from garrote to volunteerism. And we are in an age where a digital revolution can celebrate our being Filipinos, affirm our potentials, and inspire others.

BAYANiBOLUSYON dreams big for the Philippines and it is taking every modern Pepe with it.