A NEWLY formed youth organization clarified it does not have any political affiliations and is not endorsing any politician running in the 2010 presidential elections.

The Aboitiz Leaders of Excellence (ALEx) will instead focus on information campaigns that will help the youth “carefully discern and determine whom to vote for.”

“Politicians are important but we are not endorsing anybody. We would want somebody who is more responsive, with integrity, willing to serve and somebody who will not just promise, but will do (what was promised),” said Roberto Aboitiz, president of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (Rafi).

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Rafi yesterday launched ALEx, which is composed of graduates of four other Rafi-initiated youth organizations—the Kool Adventure Camp, Young Minds Academy (YMA), Young Minds on Xplore (YMX) and the Timawa Adventure Leadership Inc.

The four youth programs have over 1,000 graduates in the Visayas and Mindanao. At least 127 participants joined the first ALEx summit held at the Mountain View Nature Park, which ends today.

Aboitiz also said the primary purpose of the organization is to build character and encourage values formation among the young people, potentially the biggest voting population in the country.

Rafi executive director Evelyn Nacario-Castro also said that ALEx members are taught about the nine pillars of character and leadership, which the young people can consider as a “scorecard” to help them decide who they will vote for.

These tenets, which are included in Rafi’s YMA program, are respect, responsibility, citizenship, caring leadership, God-centeredness, trustworthiness, humility, fairness and integrity.

Momentum

Aldwin Joseph Empaces, a graduate of the first YMX program, said that actively participating in the elections as voters is a big step towards nation-building.

To help inspire the youth to participate, it is also important for them to be aware of the basic information on the voting process, he added.

“There is also now a focus on the self. What we need are voters with integrity. We should guide the youth in voting and in influencing others to vote wisely,” said YMA alumnus Mel Yan.

By bringing together the alumni of its various youth programs, Rafi envisions the creation of a youth sector that is actively engaged in “creating and building a better future and a more sustainable nation.”

Castro added that ALEx will provide continuing opportunities for its members to lead, serve and become active citizens.

“This is a momentum being built over time for a better Philippines,” Aboitiz said.

Other programs of ALEx will include fund-raising activities to support local groups like the Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water, the Badjao community and the SOS Children’s Village, among others. (DME)