Speak up, act, and empower

It would be an understatement to call 2020 an eventful year. From natural disasters and political divide to the impact of the pandemic, 2020 has truly changed lives and societal norms across the world. As the year comes to a close, Filipinos seek to find hope despite the challenges, to restore faith amid loss, and to hold onto the possibility of a better tomorrow.

The Red Circle had the opportunity to speak with Issa Barte and Cat Triviño, two inspiring young Filipinas who utilize their social media platforms to spark insightful and relevant discourses. They share stories on their advocacies, what inspires them to do the work they do, and how they continue to strengthen their advocacies in these uncertain times.

Speaking up on relevant issues

Even before the pandemic, Issa and Cat have been unafraid to voice out their opinions on various issues that are affecting the country. Issa advocates for indigenous empowerment and youth action, while Cat advocates for the environment and mental health.

Issa is the co-founder of For the Future, a youth-led and Filipino focused organization fueled by storytelling that aims to make helping fellow Filipinos accessible to anyone from anywhere. For the Future provides avenues and projects that support indigenous and vulnerable groups, victims of natural calamities, and the country’s reforestation, among others. She is also an artist, and her art becomes an avenue for anyone to tell their story without fear of being judged. For Issa, speaking up is the first step in making a difference.

“Speaking up creates a ripple in the narrative of our story— a story that desperately needs to change for the better. Through both my art and my advocacy work, I have seen first hand the real power of sharing stories,” Issa shared. “Being generous with our voice has helped strangers connect and not feel alone, brought the needed support to the most far-flung communities, and has shown me that you don’t need to be anyone else to be a person that can make a difference.”

Cat is one of the founders of MindNation, a mental health care organization. MindNation provides services that support the emotional well-being of teams and organizations. It uses social media to open hearts and minds to the importance of mental health through 24/7 Chat Assistance with a Friend via Facebook Messenger, mental health campaigns, and free teletherapy services.

Cat believes that it is vital for everyone, especially the youth, to let their voice be heard. She emphasized, “We have to be able to stop with the thinking that, ‘Oh, someone else is going to do it. Someone’s going to speak for me. Someone’s going to take action. Someone is better and more qualified.’ You are that someone and you are very much capable. If you get to change a life or two because you spoke up, because you did the work — imagine the domino effect that has on the lives of the other people they come across.”

And while it will require all hands on deck, namely the private and public sectors, to make immediate changes in society, the youth must not be indifferent to the role they have to create a brighter and more sustainable future. They have the power to make it happen, but they must take action now. It is not just about the future anymore; it’s also about the challenging reality they are facing.

Acting on important advocacies

Besides speaking up on relevant issues, Issa and Cat put emphasis on the importance of acting on the things that matter to them, and the things they want to fight for.

For Cat, the need to take action only hit differently in 2017 when she was diagnosed with depression. She realized that she needed to look beyond herself and see the bigger picture: that she is worthy and capable, and that capacity that she has within her (and the skills that she has been blessed with) can change the narrative for others. So, in 2019, Cat and her partners launched MindNation in an effort to release the stigma on mental health and call for immediate action and investment towards holistic well-being.

She is also a proud volunteer and partner of Communities Organized for Resource Allocation (CORA) Philippines, a non-government organization that advocates human welfare, environmentalism, and volunteerism. This entails educating, informing, and involving both the public and private sectors on key issues, the Sustainable Development Goals, and solutions for climate change. This year, and also through CORA, she has helped lead relief work and fundraising drives for communities hardest hit by the recent calamities.

“It’s not a walk in the park to do something that will hopefully move the needle. Your advocacy must always come from your heart, whatever you’re most passionate about, and something that you can commit to and be consistent with. It is what will anchor your projects and organizations for the rough journey ahead,” Cat said.

Likewise, Issa knows that a project or organization on one’s advocacy takes time and commitment. Although it’s important for the youth, or for anyone, to act, they must first reflect and look within themselves to have a better understanding of what change they want to spark.

“I reiterate this to myself and my team very often: reflect on your intent. Why do you do the things you do? What is your message? When these things became clear to me, the work became less intimidating. Suddenly, I had a clear goal in mind,” Issa shared.

For Issa, collaboration is also an important part of being able to drive change. For the Future has collaborated with various organizations, such as the Youth Engaged in Wetlands to provide water and raincoats for a community in Agusan del Sur. They also collaborated with Artdrop to gather different creatives and raise funds for the organization’s partner communities. “I’ve learned so much from the friends I’ve met on the way— so many things become possible when relationships of trust and respect are built. Go together, and don’t forget to enjoy yourselves on the way,” she said.

Empowering the new generation

Coming from the events that occurred in 2020, individuals, communities, and organizations alike have gained a lot of learnings. But what’s most important is how everyone will apply these learnings in the coming year.

The hardships of the past months have shown that Filipinos deserve better. Issa hopes that having this in mind, the youth can move toward a collective that is passionate about loving and protecting the environment, the country, and its people. “I hope this kind of togetherness stays — this sense of community for others and for things bigger than ourselves. Our country deserves so much more, and our collective action will be the guiding light into the hope for ourselves and for our future generations,” she said.

Issa also wants to remind the youth that their action need not be fueled by anger. “I’m not saying don’t be angry, don’t be disappointed, rather, be fueled with love — a love for our country. When there is love, there is hope, and there is light. There is so much to love in our home, and my hope is that the youth discover it like I have, then use it to act. And when we act, when we commit to making change, there will continue to be hope.”

Similarly, Cat hopes everyone, especially the new generation, realizes that each of us has a unique and important role to play for the greater good. In protecting our three homes: the mind we dwell in, body we move with, and the planet we live in. She implores that we redefine resiliency to be better versions of ourselves and for each other every single day instead of simply “bouncing back to normal.”

Because if there is at least one lesson the past year taught the entire world, it is that at any given point, life as we know it, can change. We can lose the things and people we love almost instantly. But at the same time, with action and intention, we can make amazing things happen as well.

“It’s easy to get distraught and feel helpless – but doing the work, finding a community that lives and breathes the advocacy as much as I do inspires me to keep going and gives me hope,” Cat shared, “Keep learning and connecting. Don’t be limited to your own reality and put yourself out there.”

As the year comes to a close, Cat encourages everyone to commit to acting with empathy for themselves, for others, and for the planet. As for what’s in store for her in 2021? She is looking forward to more partnerships with youth groups, LGUs, and communities, as well as traveling to continue learning from others. On the other hand, Issa hopes to break the echo chamber of these important conversations, and bring these discussions about the future with more concrete action instead of potential.

As role models of the youth, both Issa and Cat encourage this generation and the next to speak up, act, and empower one another for a future they can look forward to and be proud of. These two women show that the path toward change may not be easy, but what it entails is well worth it.

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