For children in Cabuyao City, Laguna, “summer camp” now has a new and more exciting connotatioFor children in Cabuyao City, Laguna, “summer camp” now has a new and more exciting connotation.n.
For, as the “Bagong Cabuyao Summer Camp” that was launched last May 25, children of this city will now have a chance to hone their skills and talents.
Mayor Dennis Hain personally led the launch and orientation for the two-week summer camp at the Cabuyao Athletes’ Basic School (CABS), where over 2,800 Cabuyeño children and youth were prepared for the challenges that lay ahead of them.
The 10-session summer camp, from May 25 to June 8, aims not only to engage the city’s schoolchildren to an active lifestyle during the summer school break but also to enrich and enhance their skills and talents.
And it doesn’t have to be all-sports, as Mayor Hain himself explained in his message during the event.
Aside from the usual sports activities covering various disciplines such as martial arts, basketball, baseball, tennis, chess and the like, the “Bagong Cabuyao Summer Camp” also offers training on various visual, liberal and performing arts such as dance, music, theater arts, modeling, public speaking, journalism, and even digital arts.
“Ibahin naman natin ngayon,” was how the city executive put it during the orientation program.
“Hindi lamang po sports meeting ang ating gagawin sa summer camp na ito. Kailangan din natin hasain ang inyong talent. 15 talent activities ang ating gagawin ngayong summer camp na ito. At ito ay itutuloy natin dahil deserve ninyo ito,” he emphasized.
Holistic growth
While sports clinics and summer camps have already been part and parcel of local youth development, officials of the Cabuyao City Youth and Sports Development Office (CYSDO) stressed that the Bagong Cabuyao Summer Camp aims to promote holistic growth among Cabuyeño youth.
“Ang paniniwala po ng pamahalaang lungsod ng Cabuyao ay mahalaga na magkaroon ng mental fitness hindi lamang physical fitness ang mga kabataan ng lungsod ng Cabuyao,” officials said in an interview with OpinYon Laguna.
The Bagong Cabuyao Summer Camp will also provide the city’s youth with an outlet to unleash their talent and skills, while at the same time promote teamwork, camaraderie, and an active lifestyle in today’s digital world.
“Instead of maging gadget-oriented lang yung vacation nila, instead of nasa kwarto lang sila, instead of lagi lang sila nakafocus na kapag nawalan ng internet, sabay-sabau magsisigawan na walang internet connection. So ang gusto po natin ay makipaghalubilo sila sa mga kapwa nila bata.”
Aside from free admission to the summer camp, the city government of Cabuyao also provided the necessary equipment for the various sports and arts disciplines during the camp.
"So bale ang gagastusin na lamang po ng mga bata at ng kanilang mga magulang ay ang pamasahe papunta sa mga venue. At dahil accessible naman po ang venues gaya ng CABS, hindi na po sila masyadong mahihirapan sa pagpunta," officials added.
"Hindi lamang po ito outlet ng ating mga kabataan, bonding moment rin ito ng mga magulang. Actually most of them po kasi pag tiningnan ninyo. Kapag po ang mga bata ay dadalhin sa session, kasama yan eh."
Opportunities
For Cabuyeño youth who joined the Bagong Cabuyao Summer Camp, the two-week lineup of activities is an ideal way not only to beat off the boredom of summer vacation but also pursue their dreams and passion.
For instance, Precious, an elementary school student from Barangay Pulo, sees the summer camp as a venue to hone her skills in taekwondo.
“Sumali po ako dito para mahasa po yung talent ko po. Kasi yun po talaga yung passion ko,” she explained in an interview with OpinYon Laguna.
“Very thankful po kasi po makakapag-training na po kahit bukas po para po makapagmadalian na po kahit hindi po kailangan sa school po mag-train.”
Meanwhile, “Angie,” a parent of one of the participants, views the Bagong Cabuyao Summer Camp as a safe haven for her child in which to pursue her talents.
“Mahalaga po siya para sa akin, para sa safety first na rin po sa anak ko pagdating ng panahon. Kailangan po niya bilang babae po para may pagtanggol niya sa mga panahon ngayon. Mahirap na kasi,” she told OpinYon Laguna.
(Photo by Jeremy Rago)
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