Ambassadors for a Cause
By Michelle E. Ancheta

And then there were four.

Edmund Grey, Armando Aguado, May Viernes and I weren’t really prepared last November 15 when we all went for our interview with MTV. After all, this was going to be our chance to be the new MTV Youth Ambassadors, working alongside the UN in promoting their AIDS awareness campaigns. Nervous but excited at the same time, the four of us met at the UN offices in RCBC Plaza – all with different personalities, beliefs and principles but somehow brought together for the same purpose.

The First Impression

Enter Edmund Grey: clad in a green polo shirt, faded jeans and paired with his “I’m-trying-to-look-bad-even-though-I’m-really-not” haircut, Edmund was the first person I met. Beside him was Armand whose awkward smile and bookish looks reminded me of Peter Parker (without the glasses). Looking like the quiet type, his first word to me was not the usual “hi” or “hello”, but “lymphotropic”, in answer to my question as to what the letter L in HTLV stood for. Finally, next to him was May, a stunningly pretty girl who looked as though she had just sprang off the glossy pages of a fashion magazine.

Not quite sure of how to break the ice, an awkward silence dominated the four of us until finally Edmund asked me “Haven’t I seen you before?” From that moment onwards, we all began to open up and in no time at all, became the team we are now.

Looking Deeper

Edmund, the resident prankster of the group, ironically turned out to be our leader. As President of CLUB K, he was also the very first member of the youth organization. Despite his blasé and sometimes naughty behavior, when push comes to shove, Edmund can actually be a man of substance. During the interview, when asked about his views on sex, Edmund was honest and steadfast in his answer, “I don’t think sex is bad” he said, “but I do believe that it [sex] should be dealt with respect and shared with someone you are truly in love with and committed to. Sex is supposed to bring the relationship to another level, not degrade it.”

Armand, on the other hand, was on the opposite end of Edmund’s spectrum. Ever the gentleman, he was the type of guy any girl would want to take home to introduce to mom and dad. He is however, not just all bark and no bite; his 4 years so far as a student journalist have only served to toughen up his spirits in confronting even the most controversial of issues. When the issue of promoting AIDS awareness was raised by the interview panel, Armand spoke with confidence and conviction: “If we can just show the world how much AIDS has torn apart families and destroyed lives, I don’t think people will remain indifferent to the cause. What many still fail to understand is that AIDS chooses neither age nor gender. Any one of us can be infected.” The Vice-President of the organization, his tandem with Edmund guarantees a strong leadership for CLUB K.

With her doe-eyes and heart-melting smile, May was obviously the muse of our group. Garnering the first runner-up award for Miss Teen Philippines 2005, the confidence level she showed during the interview was impressive. Aside from making it easier to recruit members (specifically the guys), May somehow epitomizes the ideal teenager that CLUB K envisions the youth to be. Being an active member of her church, and having earned a scholarship at De La Salle University, CLUB K’s External Affairs Officer debunks the unfair bias against the new generation of youth: “Based on what I have achieved and experienced, I believe that the youth has the ability to live the life they want, to pursue their passions and attain their dreams – we can choose our future, it’s in our hands.” And if you think May is just some airhead who’s all beauty and no brains, you’ll find yourselves very much mistaken; behind this pretty face is a strong and intelligent woman who’ll fulfill her dreams and never look back.

And then there was me, a simple girl from Marikina whose fate serendipitously got tangled up with the others. After winning an essay-writing contest that dealt with issues concerning the youth, I was selected to join them and from there became friends with three of the most fascinating people I've ever met.

In the end, the four of us became the new MTV Youth Ambassadors. No one knows for sure how far we'll go, or how much we'll achieve, but one thing is for certain: together we're a team, and nothing will ever change that.