By Stacy Danika S. Alcantara (The Freeman) Updated November 09, 2011 12:00 AM
Any typical 21-year-old would probably jump at the chance to take up a lucrative college major and then move on to pursue some blah and boring job just to make loads of cash. But not Karla.
Born to a father who makes a living as a tricycle driver and a mother who works at an NGO, the inheritance that Karla received from her parents early on has not been one to beef up the bank account but one that has beefed up her heart—courage and the passion for social justice and plain love for everyone around her, especially those who have become victims of adversity.
Keen on a career as a lawyer at the onset, Karla decided to major in Political Science at the University of the Philippines-Cebu. Having surpassed every academic level through quite a handful of scholarships since her days in basic education, Karla has learned to work hard and work smart for the things that she cares deeply about.
“Being an Iskolar ng Bayan, I owe my education to the Filipino taxpayers and I believe that through serving my country, I’m able to give back to the Filipino society. As former martial law activists, my parents have instilled in me a deep sense of patriotism, idealism and a sense of commitment & service exemplified through the lives they have lived and the sacrifices they have made,” said one of the 30 Outstanding Students of the Philippines 2011 finalist.
With the Philippine political system nothing short of convoluted and messy, never running out of intrigues to keep the press interested, it’s a common notion that those who major in political science are either scions of powerful political families or those who pine for a career in the political scene.
“It’s always easy to lose hope in the kind of politics we have here in the Philippines yet despite of its imperfections, I haven’t lost hope in our country. Studying Political Science has widened my knowledge about good governance and social development. I have learned the importance of public trust, accountability, transparency and political participation which I believe are essential in making this government work towards the progress we have always dreamed of for our country,” she said.
Karla believes that one doesn’t necessarily need to be in politics to be able to make a difference in the lives of the least of us. “Ironic as it may seem, I never envisioned myself becoming a politician or someone getting into government for reasons that I believe I’m able to address development issues through involving myself in community organizing endeavours and working in the grassroots community. I took Political Science to become a lawyer and for someone who’s now involved in community development work in a human rights NGO, I’m more convinced that I’m able to apply the things I have learned as a Political Science major through addressing social development issues like human trafficking, for instance.”
At 21, Karla has already dedicated her life and her career in promoting and protecting women’s and children’s rights, not contented with merely talking about the subject but more importantly, hell bent on making a dent in a social problem that has plagued us for centuries.
“I support the cause of ending modern day slavery and I’m involved in the anti-trafficking advocacy.” She says resolutely. “Human Trafficking is a serious issue that has victimized women and children for the purpose of exploitation. Together with my colleagues in the anti-trafficking advocacy, we mobilize communities, churches, students and other sectors of the civil society, engaging them to be anti-trafficking advocates as well as raising public awareness on the issue of the human trafficking. We organize events which are aimed to help create social demand to empower our public justice system to enforce laws in behalf of the trafficked victims.”
Even during her days as a student, Karla has made sure her voice is heard and her presence is felt in international conferences where she has been steadily pushing the agenda on seriously doing something to protect the rights of women and children. This is a tough act to pull off and it continues to be a work in progress. Although she has had her share of hard times in fighting for a cause that she strongly believes in, Karla doesn’t show any signs of disillusionment.
“No one regardless of race, class, or gender deserves to be exploited and/or oppressed. My personal commitment to promote and protect our rights as individuals has led me to concentrate my efforts into addressing human trafficking & women empowerment,” she said.
Karla believes that there are two ways to tackle the issue head on. “One of the main concerns in this advocacy is empowering our public justice system to enforce our laws in behalf of the trafficked victims. We need political will from our government leaders and their commitment to combat human trafficking.” She added, “Also I believe that education about the issue of human trafficking is a vital part in developing vigilant communities as well as eliminating stereotypes and discrimination against trafficked victims who are ready to be reintegrated back to their own communities.”
The average person would wonder why a girl like Karla armed with a brilliant mind and a stout heart, would settle for a career that can be considered less travelled.
“It gives me a sense of fulfilment to be involved in this particular advocacy despite the risks and the insurmountable demands of the work. I figured out that this path less travelled has led me to realize that the world is so much bigger than me. It is in persevering in the midst of overwhelming odds for no reason than to secure justice for the abused & the oppressed that I can glorify God without expecting anything in return. I have realized that this work is a mission, a selfless dedication in service to the oppressed & exploited. My work is not only passion but a vocation itself.”
For Karla, giving her time to victims of human trafficking and preventing many others from potentially becoming victims is all in a day’s work. Following her work in her undergraduate thesis on reintegration programs for victims of human trafficking, Karla has heard her fair share of life stories that have kept her fired up for the fight.
“Some of them shared with me a glimpse of their former lives and the circumstances that brought them to their present situation; their dreams of providing better lives for their families and how these dreams were destroyed when they were trafficked; their struggle for acceptance and healing; and their optimism in life despite everything that happened to them,” she said as she recalled some of her encounters with victims of trafficking. “Their life stories have inspired me to take the anti-trafficking advocacy seriously. Their stories of struggle and recovery are a source of inspiration and I sincerely wish for the achievement of their goals and aspirations in life.”
For Karla, this extraordinary fight to give many women and children that bright future that they deserve continues on. It will require more than the average kind of effort and more than the ordinary kind of hope to see it through but that shouldn’t be a problem. After all, this girl is beyond the ordinary.
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