Some of the youth today may lack the virtue of respect for elders and showing their love for their parents, but there are still some who take to heart the discipline they acquire at home, and are capable of learning from their mistakes and become good citizens of the country.

These were the opinions expressed by Kristine Alonso, Gretel Shyne Abastillas, and Karlyn May Bautista, three of the candidates in this year’s Lin-ay Sang Negros pageant.

Alonso, who represents Bacolod City, said during the press presentation at the Capitol that today’s youth should learn to be strong and should look up to their family as role models instead of giving in to peer pressure.

Alonso, 19, was first runner-up in the MassKara Queen 2007 contest and a freshman Psychology student at University of San Carlos in Cebu. She loves music and poetry and was part of the production of Amiga and Sabado Barkada television shows of ABS-CBN Bacolod.

She was chosen as ambassadress of “Clean up the World, Clean-up the Philippines” Negros Chapter during the Environment Recycling Fashion Show in Carlos Hilado Memorial State College and had the chance of joining the environmental campaigns jointly organized by the United Nations Environmental Program.

Abastillas, who represents E.B. Magalona, meanwhile, said she believes that her fellow youth still possess the positive values imparted by their parents.

The 18-year-old beauty is a nursing student at Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod and the reigning Lin-ay Sang Ugyonan of her town.

Abastillas, an academic scholar, said her father’s death when she was just five years old made her realize the complexity of life and made her appreciate the love showered on her and her siblings by her mother.

Joining the Lin-ay Sang Negros, she said, gives her an opportunity to be the tourism ambassador of all Saraviahanons.

Hinigaran’s bet Bautista, on the other hand, said the youth of today are capable of learning from their mistakes and in order to attain success, should be molded with love, respect, and discipline.

Bautista, 17, a nursing student at Far Eastern University in Manila, said representing her town in the pageant is an honor and a privilege.

She also said she learned to be strong and disciplined from her businessman father, Oscar, and considers her mother Erlinda, as her best friend and confidante.

Excelling in her studies, her being a scholar, she said, is her way of showing her parents her appreciation of their sacrifices for her.

Swimming, dancing, and surfing the internet occupy her free time.*NAB

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