LOOK: Photos from last week's Bangsamoro Youth Parliament (BYP) 2021 closing ceremony where MP Anna gave a message of support

LOOK: Photos from last week’s Bangsamoro Youth Parliament (BYP) 2021 closing ceremony where MP Anna gave a message of support

On December 11, 2021, MP Atty. Anna Tarhata Basman delivered a message of support to the delegates of the Bangsamoro Youth Parliament (BYP) 2021 as the four-day program came to a close.

The BYP 2021 is a capacity-building program of the Bangsamoro Youth Commission (BYC) in Cotabato that equipped 76 selected youth participants with knowledge on parliamentary procedures, resource mobilization, advocacy and policy paper making, and effective lobbying.

“It actually warms my heart to see how far the BYC has come in working its way towards youth empowerment,” MP Anna said, congratulating the Bangsamoro Youth Commission for a job well done in conceptualizing and organizing projects such as the BYP.

MP Anna also emphasized the challenging process of legislative work, and congratulated the delegates on their ability to accomplish all relevant tasks within a short period of time, even compromising hours of sleep just to finish their work. “Lawmaking entails not just coming up with bright ideas, drawing or drafting very good bills or resolutions,” MP Anna added. “It takes a lot of haggling, it takes a lot of compromising on certain things and standing firm on others. It takes a lot of advocating, convincing.”

MP Anna hopes that the youth parliamentarians will bring their learnings home to their respective communities and further their advocacies. She reminds the youth, “nasa kamay na nating kabataan kung maisusulong yung mga gusto nating maabot,” and encourages them to use their experience as motivation to do more and act further.

“This is only the start of your involvement in the Bangsamoro governance. A very significant portion of our success is determined by our rigorous, vigorous, and overall involvement. So congratulations to our 76 parliamentarians, you’ve done a very admirable job being the pioneering Bangsamoro Youth Parliament.”

Watch MP Anna’s full message here: https://fb.watch/9TMOOmVuuZ/