SENATOR Kiko Pangilinan expressed optimism that the major corruption issue the country is currently facing could also spark the political awakening of young Filipinos.

Pangilinan acknowledged how today’s youth have begun questioning the rampant corruption in the country.

“Fast forward to today, marami sa ating mga kababayan—lalo na ang kabataan—nakikita na maraming mali sa lipunan at naghahanap ng mga sagot sa kanilang mga tanong,” he said.

“Hindi madali ito, but I guess this is the beginning of the end of ignorance or lack of involvement, of indifference, ‘pag nag-umpisa ka na magtanong,” Pangilinan added.

“At sana tuloy-tuloy sa paghahanap ng mga sagot,” he said.

The senator, who has long advocated for good governance and ethical leadership since his early political years as a Quezon City councilor, emphasized that political awakening does not happen overnight nor does it come early for most people.

“Hindi ka agad mulat. Hindi ka agad malalim ang pananaw. Hindi ka agad politically aware. Kaya ang umpisa is kapag meron ka nang mga tanong,” Pangilinan stressed.

He himself was not always politically active. His own awakening to the realities of the Marcos dictatorship began only when former senator and democracy icon Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. was assassinated, followed by government-sanctioned attempts to cover it up.

“Teka muna, totoo ba ’yan?” he recalled asking when news about Ninoy’s gunman and the massive funeral march attended by millions were suppressed.

These events shaped the senator’s commitment to youth empowerment, often telling young Filipinos what they can do to demand change, accountability, and transparency.

“May mga susunod sa atin. Kailangan lang natin manatiling nagbibigay ng halimbawa para may mga susunod sa ating yapak,” he said.

While he acknowledged that today’s youth may feel “fatigue” because of ongoing hearings and investigations, Pangilinan reminded them of what is at stake.

“We cannot give up on the future of our children and our loved ones. We have to fight,” he stressed.

“Just do your share,” he added. “We are just specks of dust, but we should make a difference—and if we make a difference, then we are no longer just specks of dust.”