Sowing for the future

Friday, February 3, 2012

THE saying "you reap what you sow" holds only good tidings for those who strive to be better at their craft and 22-year-old Joel Accion Jr. believes he is still at the sowing phase.

Accion said he discovered his leadership skills in his elementary years as he has been already participating in all forms of elections even classroom-based elections.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

"I believe I am a political animal," Accion said.

He believes that’s his role in society.

As such, he volunteered in more than ten people’s organizations when he was in college. Some of these were: Aksyon Mindanao, Luntiang Kabataan, League of Student Davao. These organizations have focus on youth empowerment.

Being an organizer, he gathers the youth and initiates them into participating in issues of the society.

"How can we say we are the hope of the nation, kung walay move?" he asked.

He is a strong believer in the need for a strong foundation in education, thus, even as he was politically inclined as a student, he did not leave school.

He is now connected with the Mindanao Coalition of Development (MinCode), a network of 12-member networks; MinCode serves as the umbrella of people's organizations.

He is also presently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Caucus of Development (Code) Network in which he proudly says he is the youngest member. Mincode is under the Code.

Aside from that, he is a part time teacher at the Holy Cross of Davao College (HCDC) teaching political science and handling three classes.

"Akoa lang jud kay passion. Passion to lead. Gi-embrace lang gyud nako na (It’s all about passion. I simply embraced passion)," he said. "Leadership is my way of life."

He said it was his mother who persuaded him to pursue Bachelor of Arts major in Political Science.

Accion is the second among the seven children of Elen Accion and Joel Accion Sr.

He was born on June 3, 1989.

"Be the best you can" is the best advice he got from his parents, he said.

Admitting that he feels the pressure from his parents who constantly reminded him of what he must become, he took this in a positive way and just strove to improve himself.

He wants to become a lawyer someday because this will help in dream of becoming a public official.

In the meantime, there is work. "Eighty-five percent of my time kay trabaho jud," he said.

He admits that his parents sometimes do not understand why he busies himself with so many issues, that they say will not even benefit him.

"Maski sila dili makasabot sa akong ginabuhat. Gina-prepare lang jud nako akong sarili para sa future kay kabalo ko naa koy ma-harvest puhon," he said.

Accion grew up in Samal and graduated valedictorian at the Cogon Elementary School in Talikud, Samal.

He was also the batch's valedictorian in high school at Agro Industrial Foundation.

He was cum laude at HCDC where he also earned a leadership award a student council president.