Angela | 15 | Young public servant | Journalist | Climate action, Education and Global mobility advocate | Founder and Director of Girls’ Allied Empowered Advocacies -GAEA Coalition | Philippines
Instagram: @angelamarielcometa and @gaeacoalitionph
1) THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED TO YOU IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS?
When I got the chance to be featured and interviewed on CNN Global and three other networks here in the Philippines. I’m very overwhelmed by how my parents and friends greeted me after that.
And also when I founded my first ever non-government organization which is so overwhelming because I know that my advocacies are now starting to pave its way.
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2) THE WORST THING THAT HAPPENED TO YOU IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS?
Aside from the Corona Virus Pandemic that we are now facing and surely is suffered by many, I think it’s when I lost my one & only best friend. It’s because of an argument and I guess lack of connection. Sleepless nights and draft messages and voicemails. I guess not all people will stay with us forever. But now, she tried apologize to me and I do forgive her. But I guess, the trust will never be the same.
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3) YOUR BIGGEST WISH FOR THE NEAR FUTURE?
Of course I want to see the future as a more bare-able place for each and everyone, where we don’t have to worry about pollution and other kinds of violation. A place where everyone has their rights and is getting what they deserve.
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4) YOUR BIGGEST WORRY FOR THE NEAR FUTURE?
I’m always worried about how the future generations will see the world because we never really knew what the future will look like. Did we accomplish all the things we have to do? Did we win against all the challenges and finally built a better world for the future generations to come? We never really know.
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5) A CONTEMPORARY WOMAN YOU CURRENTLY ADMIRE?
Greta Thunberg. Why? Because at a very young age, she started to push for climate action. She never was afraid to speak out for what wrong she sees. And that made me more passionate about what I am advocating—which is climate action and media literacy.
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6) A ONE-SENTENCE MESSAGE TO OTHER WOMEN
Never be afraid to speak out just because you are a woman.
A few more questions about the current situation (covid-19, lockdown, black lives matter protests, politics, finances, mental health, health, and so much more):
7) THE WORLD HAS BEEN CHANGING DRAMATICALLY IN RECENT MONTHS, HOW ARE YOU COPING?
Self meditation and proper management of time.
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8) WHICH CHANGE HAS AFFECTED YOU THE MOST / HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU PERSONALLY?
It’s when the Philippine government shut down one of the most trusted networks in their country. It’s clearly a threat to Press Freedom. And as a journalist, it really saddens me how they do not respect our freedom. But at the same time, it ignited ourselves to fight for our rights and never shut up until we have what we deserve.
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9) WHAT ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE MOST
I do have a lot of things to be concerned about but as I’ve answered to the question number 8, it’s Press Freedom I am most concerned about.