2nd Youth summit for peace held in Lanao

2^nd 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 2^nd Youth summit 2015 held Oct 24-25 at the Kauswagan Central Elementary School, this town. The event was spearheaded by the 15^th Infantry Battalion, 3^rd 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, 5^th mechanized Infantry “Kaagapay” Battalion and 2^nd 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 2^nd 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.

 

Lt. Col. Doctolero delivered a message before the  participants.

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.

 

Talent showdown of youth participants with the military band.

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 2^nd 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 15^th Infantry Battalion in cooperation with the 5^th 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.