Lahat ay kinuha na sa kanila, lahat, ay! Ang lahat ay kinuha na sa kanila…

Rogelio Sicat's story Tata Selo reminds us of a problem that occurred in our society a long time ago and is still occurring today: poor people or those in the lower class of our society will always be oppressed, abused, and mistreated by those with wealth, fame, and power. It also demonstrates how our society is divided into rich and poor.

Tata Selo represents the poor in the story, whereas Kabesa and Alkalde represent the elites or people from the upper class who have money and power. Tata Selo was imprisoned because he committed a crime, but I understand why. What I don't understand is how the authorities have treated him unfairly. His voice was never heard, and those around him misjudged him. That made me realize that justice will only be served to the wealthy. For the right price, the rich and those with connections can buy justice, but the poor and those without connections are left to wallow in injustice. That is the unfortunate reality. Justice is not equally accessible, and it can only be obtained through money or luck. Justice is always selective, favoring the wealthy and powerful. If you are poor, you may never receive justice. A case can take decades to be decided by the court. The poor, who lack the means to defend themselves, are forced to rot in jail, while the wealthy enjoy life outside of prison. But there is one thing we can do to fight the injustice that is happening around us: speak up and stand up, even if you are alone. As what William Faulkner stated:

“Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world...Would do this, it would change the earth.”

As a young person, I plan to use various social media platforms to raise awareness about the injustices and inequality that exist in our society. I will inform and educate them about their rights as individuals and how they can use their voice to speak up when they witness injustice. I will use my voice to educate my countrymen, particularly the youth, on how to combat injustice and inequality.