Sarangan Youth celebrates ‘Buwan Ng Kabataan’

 

In line with the celebration of the International Youth Day and Linggo ng Kabataan, the Provincial Youth Development Unit, in partnership with the Sangguniang Kabataang (SK) Provincial Federation, the Provincial Youth Development Council, and the Municipal Youth Development Office and in collaboration with the Sarangani Youth Volunteers, celebrates Buwan ng Kabataan through various online activities for the whole month of August. The COVID-19 pandemic did not stop the Sarangan youth to conduct relevant activities and made them even more creative and productive. This year’s celebration is themed “Youth Engagement for Global Action.” In August 1, 2020, they launched Buwan ng Kabataang Sarangan and the Radyo Para sa Baryo campaign through a live streaming in Sulong Kabataan's Facebook Page. 

Radyo Para sa Baryo is a youth-led fundraising campaign to support DepEd's Radio-Eskwela program. The Provincial Youth Development Council in partnership with the Provincial SK Federation through the Provincial Youth Development Unit, initiated the said fundraising campaign to assist select public schools in the remote communities of Sarangani by providing radio units for their distance learning. In coordination with the Department of Education-Sarangani Division, the project aims to provide radio units to the Last Mile Schools of Sarangani, or those located in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. Radyo Para sa Baryo runs from July 23 to August 31, 2020 and aims to gather ₱200,000. 

They have also other online activities that support youth-led initiatives of the Sarangan youth. For one, STULEN: Usapang Sarangan (Blaan for Istoryahanay) is a webinar series that talks about youth issues today. It had three episodes, with Episode 1 aired on August 7, 2020. The episode was entitled #FactsGanern and with MovePH, discussing the pandemic of disinformation, as well as how to conduct fact-checking and research facilitation using online platform. Entitled #GreenBuzz, Episode 2 was aired on August 15, 2020 with guest Miss Earth Philippines (Baguio) 2020 Roxanne Bayens. They discussed how the youth continues to advocate environmental preservation and protection and the benefits of backyard gardening, and other localized advocacies amid the pandemic. Episode 3 was aired on August 16, 2020 with the hashtag #BidaKabataan and guest Batang Star Philippines Founder and CEO Edward Lacanilao. They talked about youth empowerment and the increasing number of children on streets and the vulnerability of the rural child/youth. 

The organizers also have the Sarangani Youth Quarantrail which ran from August 10-14, 2020. The online show was about youth in governance and community development, sharing stories of the life and success of the Sarangan youth. It was facilitated by the Sarangani Junior Officials Association.

Meanwhile, the SK officials will have the opportunity to address their fellow Sarangan youth through SK Platform: Ulat Kabataan that will run from August 22-28, 2020. It is an SK talk and report to the Sarangani youth which will be facilitated by the seven municipal SK presidents.

Also part of the Buwan ng Kabataang Sarangan celebration, various competitions were conducted that showcase the skills and talents of the Sarangan youth. These are Musikabataan: Sarangani Youth Jingle Competition, in which the Municipality of Glan was declared as the winner; Choreo-Dugtungan; and Solution Pitching, where youth participants pitched their solutions to a problem given to them. For Solution Pitching, the problem given was “Youth in Economic Recovery in Times of Pandemic." Their pitches will be presented during the culmination program on August 31. 

“Despite the pandemic, youth development and participation are still present. We encourage them through the new normal modalities,” said Gretchin Boni, the Head of the Local Youth Development Unit. 

The seven municipalities might have a hard time preparing and gathering their young constituents because of COVID-19, but this year’s celebration accommodates the “new normal approach” of celebrating events and utilizes the online platform for convenience and health safety. 

Section 30 of Republic Act No. 10742, the Sanggunian Kabataan Reform Act of 2015, mandates the observance of Linggo ng Kabataan in every barangay, municipality, city, and province on the week where the 12th of August falls to coincide with the International Youth Day.