Youth Council as Saling-Pusa: Part of the Political Arena, But Not as Legitimate Players

Children and youth participation have been institutionalized in Philippine policies, predating the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child’s (UN CRC’s) call of valuing children and youth participation in civic affairs. This research argues that even though children and youth have been highly regarded in Philippine policy and in practice – the inclusion is tokenistic and manipulated, as observed in my research on youth councils. I use a Filipino term, saling-pusa, to describe the youth council’s position in the government. Saling-pusa is a title given to younger kids who tag along in a game with older kids. It is a symbolic position granted by the older ones to the young ones to give an impression of inclusion – so that the young ones will not be upset and cry. I support my argument by critically examining the various framing of youth and youth councils through policy-makers discourse in a historical perspective – from previous administration up to the present. Contradictions between policy and practice are illustrated by comparing policies with experiences of youth council members. In the end, a conjecture of the future of the youth council is made – and it seems that treating the youth council as a political saling-pusa will persist with the current administration.