“Totoo namang ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan, ngunit sa panahon ngayon, tayo na ang bayan.”
These words, spoken during the Biñan Youth Forum last August 12 by guest speaker Ranze Aaron Calderon, perfectly sums up the aims of the city government of Biñan, Laguna as it joined the Philippines and the world in celebrating Youth Week from August 11 to 18.
The activities hosted by the City Youth and Sports Development Office (YASDO) during the week-long celebration, with the theme “Local Youth Actions for Sustainable Development Goals and Beyond” reflects the goal of the city government to engage the city’s young people in becoming active part in creating their own vibrant future.
Breaking barriers
In an interview with OpinYon Laguna, MC Larnel Aliluran, head of the Biñan City YASDO, their line-up of activities for Youth Week aims to mobilize Biñanense youth from all walks of life to become active participants in bringing about inclusive change for themselves and their communities.
After all, Aliluran pointed out, it’s not just the “youth leaders” who should lead the call for community transformation in Biñan City.
“Kailangan po natin basagin yung idea na mga matatalino lang yung dapat kine-cater ng ating lungsod,” he emphasized. “Madalas po nasa mga youth organizations o yung mga leaders sa school ang laging nangunguna sa ating mga aktibidad.
“Pero mas malaki pa rin po ang population na hindi pa nata-tap. Ito yung mga nasa grassroots talagang mga kabataan. Ito po yung gusto natin maabot sa mga programa po natin. Kaya po sinisiguro natin na inclusive yung program.”
Lineup of activities
Aside from the usual run of sports activities (not surprising, Aliluran pointed out, given the fact that Mayor Gel Alonte himself is very much active in sports), talent shows and the deputization of the city's Junior Local Officers, the city government’s lineup of activities for Youth Week emphasized that aim of grassroots development among Biñanense youth.
These include the Biñan Youth Forum, a series of talks on how the youth can actively participate in nation-building and upholding the Sustainable Development Goals; and the "Safe Spaces Start With You: A Crime Prevention Training of Trainers for Campus Leaders", where students are trained on how to deal with such incidents as bullying and harassment inside the campus.
Another important aspect of this year’s Youth Week Celebration is the recognition of the city’s outstanding young people through the "Parangal sa Kabataang Biñanense" held at the Biñan People’s Center last August 16.
Aliluran said these series of awards aim to recognize not only Biñanense youth who excelled in academics, sports and local governance, but also ordinary young people and youth-centered organizations.
“In fact, mas naging visible po ang impact ng award na ito sa mga youth organizations,” the YASDO head shared.
“Kumpara po noong last year ay lima lang po ang nag-apply na youth organizations for this award, ngayon po ay 25 na ang sumali. Sa tingn ko po nakita nila na na-recognize yung effort nila, marami pang mga youth organizations yung lumabas at nagiging involved sa community at nagiging visible sa city government.”
Effective youth leadership
In her speech during the awarding ceremony, Vice Mayor Dada Reyes emphasized that the cumulative actions of the city’s youth leaders play a large part in shaping the present and future of Biñan City.
“Magsimula tayo sa maliliit na bagay, yung pagiging mabuting halimbawa sa kapwa, ang pagtulong sa mga nangangailangan, at ang pagpapakita ng respeto sa lahat ng tao—kapag pinagsama-sama po iyan, ang mga simpleng bagay na ito, nagiging malakas na pwersa ito para makapag-create tayo ng positive change sa ating lipunan,” she emphasized.
For his own part, Mayor Alonte challenged Binan City's youth to become their own instruments of change in their communities, not only through their words and actions, but also in upholding the city’s key principles of governance.
“Ang kabataan ng Biñan, dapat may Galing at Epektibong Lingkod: galing na maipagmamalaki, epektibong mga programa, at lingkod-bayaning kabataan na handang tanggapin ang hamon ng makabagong pamamahala,” Alonte stressed in his own message.
Beyond Youth Week
Looking forward, Aliluran bared the city’s present and future programs that will further encourage Biñan City’s youth to engage themselves in the shared goal of inclusive change.
Last August 11, the city government formally launched the GEL Young Leaders and Athletes Academy, an institute which aims to produce young leaders and athletes who can showcase their best talents to Biñan City and beyond.
“Ito pong GEL Young Leaders and Athletes Academy ay hindi lang po basta tournament or liga. Yung focus natin ay i-train po sila para makapag-produce tayo ng mga magaling na atleta. Hindi lang po athletes, pwede po mga young leaders,” he added.
Aliluran also bared plans by the YASDO to launch the "Biñan Youth City Assessment Study," a comprehensive assessment of the current situation of the city's youth which, in turn, will help the city government craft its own policies on youth empowerment.
"Sa programa pong ito, mayroon po tayong mga kasama from the National Youth Commission at mga statistician na tutulong sa atin i-interpret yung mga data para po gumawa ng mas klarong plano ng ating mga kabataan sa susunod po na tatlong taon," he pointed out.
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