When the government feels too far

They say the government is distant. “They make decisions in tall buildings,” people whisper, “and we only see the consequences.”

Sometimes I’ve felt that way. As a student, I sit in class hearing about laws, public issues, leaders, and promises. It’s all big words and distant decisions. I used to think: What can I, a 13-year-old from Rizal, do about that?

But then I realized: the government isn’t only for the powerful. It’s for every citizen, even for me.

Every decision made by those in power affects our everyday lives: the roads we walk, the water we drink, the school we attend, the future we hope for. And that means every citizen has a stake. Including us: youth, students, dreamers.

I may not vote yet, but I can still pay attention. I can learn about what’s happening in my city and my country. I can question promises. I can talk with my peers. I can form my own thoughts. I can care.

Because if we remain silent, that’s exactly what they expect: silence. But if even one voice speaks, asks questions, demands honesty, holds leaders accountable, that’s when the government becomes real. That’s when change begins.