NEWGENRocks!

NEWGENRocks! is a program that aims to reach, excite and mobilize the country’s young people to register, and vote during elections. It aims to tap the Filipino youth (18-25 years old), which based on the latest statistics number around sixteen (16) million, to create genuine political reform in the country.The program is an institutional advocacy of PUBLiCUS CO. Ltd. with the cooperation of the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation and the different student councils nationwide.

NEWGENRocks! offer college students nationwide a training program on youth empowerment, voter registration and voting on election day. The NEWGENRocks! Secretariat coordinates with the different student councils and NSTP coordinators in a specific area, and together with them come up with a training program for the students in the said area. The trainings are given to student council members and NSTP students. They in turn train other students using the same materials during the course of the schoolyear.

Realizing however that the young people are part of the so-called MTV generation, which are easily influenced by visuals, fashion trends, music, internet and the latest technological craze, NEWGENRocks! ends each training either with a rock concert or a play in the vernacular, and is continuously showered with NEWGENRocks! messages on their cellphones, emails, blogs and other web-based communications.

Since its launch in Baguio on November 2006, NEWGENRocks! has met with over two thousand students nationwide with the help of students from UP Baguio, University of Baguio, and St. Louis University, Silliman University, Negros Oriental State University, Ateneo De Davao University, University of the Immaculate Conception, Holy Cross of Davao College, Holy Child School of Davao, Assumption College of Davao, St. Peter’s College, San Pedro College and Stella Maris Academy, Ateneo De Manila University and University of the Philippines Diliman. We have also met, worked with or teamed up with Newsbreak, Philippine Daily Inquirer, MTV Philippines and various radio stations to promote NEWGENRocks! Stickers and CDs about NEWGENRocks! are also distributed to students.

NEWGENRocks! as a program that has continuously aimed to make the young people aware of his power and responsibility to change the country’s political landscape is no doubt an ambitious project, and although this idea alone may prove daunting and all-consuming at first, coupled with logistical and funding problems, it is the enthusiastic response of each student that make this worthwhile.