2nd Youth summit for peace held in Lanao
By Jun Enriquez
Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte
(Octber 25, 2015) - At least 700 participants from the youth sector, Muslims
and Christians, participated on the two-day 2nd Youth summit 2015
held Oct 24-25 at the Kauswagan Central Elementary School, this town. The event
was spearheaded by the 15th Infantry Battalion, 3rd
Infantry Division Philippine Army. On the first day of the event, it started
with the parade around the major streets of this town participated by the youth from the seven municipalities of Kauswagan, Bacolod, Munai, Maigo, Tangkal, Kolambugan and Poona Piagapo all of
Lanao del Norte. The theme for this year’s summit is “Kapayapaan nating
minimithi, magsimula sa ating sarili.” The said event was in cooperation with
the involvement of the seven municipalities, Gawad Kalinga, Youth for Development,
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), Gaba-an Lead Youth,
New Ground Events Youth, 5th mechanized Infantry “Kaagapay”
Battalion and 2nd Mechanized Infantry “ Magbalantay” Brigade. Invited
guests during the opening day were Congressman Imelda Dimaporo represented by
Marivic Ramos of the first district, Lanao del Norte, Col. Florencio Budiongan,
Deputy Commander of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry “Magbalantay”
Brigade, Kauswagan Mayor Rommel Arnado, and Poona Piagapo Mayor Farhana Palawan,
among others. The first youth summit last
year was held on October 25-26, 2014.
Prior to the event, a
facilitators training was conducted on October 23 in preparation for the actual
summit activities. There were 140 youth participants trained as facilitators
and facilitated the youth summit. Andy Summers and Dennis Caballero, youth
champions from the Gabaan lead youth (GLY) based in Negros Oriental lead the
facilitation of the youth summit event. Gabaan means bad karma, it’s a curse to
be afraid but instead a person must be blessed.
It is a challenge to make negative thing into positive. The GLY is not
afraid of bad karma instead they work for the good karma, for the good future
of the youth. The champions organized
the “tatak #selfie 2015” foundation whose members mostly are students. They
defined “Selfie” a modern word means selfish and they make it into selfless
meaning “tunay na kabataan”, making the good future for the youth and become
better citizen.
The “tatak #selfie 2015” have
four major activities, first, is the outcome a self-analysis on “how do you see
yourself”. Second is Buffer, symbolizes protection on “how to react to problems”.
Third is Motive, it is asking “why did you do these things”. and fourth,
Self-verification, a self-reflection, deals on “who you really are”. The
activities conducted are more on values formation for the youth to become good
citizens in the country and create goodness in the society. It is an awareness
raising of what happened in their community, especially awareness on human
trafficking, then reflect and connect it to the modules conducted. The actions
taken during the workshop is more on community based not activity based. The module
also innovate things from traditional actions due to cultural sensitivity. Measurement
of actions is based on social analysis results.
Media briefing with the youth chapions, Dennis Caballero, 2nd from left seated facing the camera and Andy Summers, 4th from left seated facing the camera, of Gabaan Youth Lead. |
Caballero said they learned
that the most common problems of the youth in the family are food and
education. Leadership training is not appropriate they should be processed on
social development not teambuilding. Leadership training is a separate activity
for the youth. Crying during workshops is not enough and it needs to be
processed why they cried. There is a need to uplift the morale of the youth.
The Gabaan lead youth has also a “Tikang” program, a values formation for the
youth. Tikang means step in its concept, “A journey of a thousand miles begin
in a single step.” Tikang is also identical to the Tatak selfie program.
The “Tatak Selfie” Foundation
composed of students was organized by the Gaba-an Youth Lead and New Ground
Events focusing on the self-worth that the youth all over the Philippines
should have active participation in the community to know the psychological and
social aspects, culture sensitive, values formation, team building, social
development and personality development.
During the culmination
activity, the youth representatives from each municipality gave their
impressions. The experienced of the youth is very extraordinary because they
really learned many things by doing their tasks and responsibilities given by
the facilitators. They were thankful to the organizer, the 15th IB headed by
Lt. Col. Doctolero. They experienced of having more fun with their co-youth
from different places, they performed well and enjoyed the activities which
they can also contribute their talents and skills during the workshops and in
so doing will create unity for youth in the next generation.
In his closing message, Lt.
Col. Leomar Jose Doctolero, Battalion Commander, 15th Infantry Battalion,
Philippine Army based in Kauswagan, said that that he is very happy while
looking at the Youth participants that they change a lot in terms from being
shy and afraid to join somebody else, but now they learned many things, and
build confidence in their selves. All of them rendered sacrifices during the
activities conducted. They slept late at night and wake-up early in the
morning. They got more friends among the Muslims and Christians, they mingled
each other as new friends from different municipalities of Lanao del Norte. Doctolero
said, with this development, the youth of Lanao del Norte can achieved and
realize the dream of long lasting Peace, Love and Unity in their respective
municipality.
Col. Gilbert Gapay, Brigade Commander of the 2nd
Mechanized Infantry “Magbalantay” Brigade, based in Maria Cristina, Iligan
City, said that the spirit of Bayanihan during the event is present and extended
his thanks and appreciation to the lead organizer, the 15th Infantry
Battalion in cooperation with the 5th Mechanized Infantry Battalion
including the seven municipalities involved in the summit and other
institutions that made the youth summit a success. He also extended his
congratulations to the 700 youth participants from seven municipalities for
their efforts and untiring participation for the intensive workshops until late
evening and wake up early in the morning just to learn something. He also
extended his thanks and appreciation to the youth champions for sharing their
talents and skills for free in the conduct of the youth summit workshop
activities. The gains of the youth from the summit will help develop their
self-confidence and to make them a better citizens in the country. With reports and photos by Malyne D. Gungob.
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