JAEN, Nueva Ecija – Given proper care and guidance, the youth remain to be productive citizens of the country, the local chief executive here said as some 1,000 youths and high school students joined civic activities during the Bayanihan sa Araw ng mga Bayani here Monday.
The event, a combined celebration of the National Heroes Day and Youth Month, was a collaboration among the Catholic Church (St. Augustine Parish), local government unit, several churches belonging to the Jaen Ministerial Association, Department of Education, and other institutions, according to Mayor Atty. Sylvester Austria.
“Ngayong araw ay ginugunita natin ang sakripisyo ng ating mga bayani na nag-alay ng kanilang mga sarili. Sa ating sarili namang paraan, tayo rin ay nagpapamalas ng ating bayanihan sa pamamagitan ng ating paglilingkod sa ating bayang minamahal,” he said.
Divided into six stations, the youth engaged in planting of flowering and fruit bearing trees, repainting bridges and schools, unclogging canals and road cleanup, among others.
On top of these community activities, the youths who were randomly grouped to eleven heroes’ names had collaborative discussion with guest facilitators/speakers on issues plaguing the nation.
These included Trash Talk (Waste Management and Climate Change Adaptation); Breaking Free (Youth Against Drugs and Substance Abuse); Ready, Set, Go! (Youth In Disaster Preparedness); Takbong Pogi (Youth Role in Building Rode-Safe Community); Pa-Hotspot (Youth Against Social Media Abuse); Self-Love (Youth Mental Health Awareness); Ang Tropa Kong Sanggano (The Danger of Bullying); Auto Pass, Anteh (Avoiding Teenage Pregnancy); Red Flag Yan (Ending the Culture of Hazing); and Gen Y to Z (Bridging Generation Gap).
“Hindi po totoo na ang mga kabataan ngayon ay puro lang cellphone. Hindi po totoo na ang mga kabataan ay puro panliligaw lang. At hindi totoo na ang mga kabataan ngayon ay matitigas ang ulo,” Austria stressed, urging the youth to show their abilities.
“Mayron tayong kakayahan na gumawa ng mabuti,” he said.
Later in the afternoon the participants were treated with a P10,000 instant prize for best yell on assigned hero and a unity concert featuring local bands.
