Day 373: LNK 2012 - Leaders Forum

One part of our Linggo Ng Kabataan 2012 Celebration is the Leader’s Forum.

Why the need?

Yes, it is not required for every Sangguniang Kabataan to have a Leader’s Forum but we deemed it necessary in our barangay to further invite our young people to participative governance.

Furthermore, we in ourselves know that our barangay is huge. This barangay consists of more than 95,000 people. Granted, the young population today exceeds that of the adults. Therefore, not involving them to inputs and plan of actions will ultimately affect them disadvantageously.

Is it a success?

Leader's Forum at Fatima High School Audio-Visual Room last December 14, 2012.

Yes.

Problemo: Attendance has always been a struggle in these sort of formal head-on meetings; some physical activities even face the same. Assuring service of food has not done the trick.

No Problemo: What else can be done but to carry on. Right?

Moving on. Even of the low attendance, the representation is considerably good. We have representatives from the students and student’s organizations; Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and People Organizations (POs); the barangay fund-assisted young people, barangay scholar as we usually call them; and the Purok Sangguniang Kabataan (PSK), or technically the Katipunan ng Kabataan (KK).

With this force, our will to carry on with the program was boosted. We are not even disappointed with the results, not at all!

Discussions and Resolutions

The program started late as we have considered individuals and organizations to might come and take part. Should we have waited for them any longer, the forum would simply be a plain waste. So we continued.

In the forum we first re-introduced the composition of the Sangguniang Kabataan, and the Kagawads’ Committees and achievements on those respective assignments. Also, we reported an overview of our budget this year; it’s composition, appropriation, and expenditures.

Then we proceed to the forum proper. I led the discussion through an assessment from the view of our constituents. I made them remember the best program they can think of that the SK had done in 2012, and the worst one they hated most. Their responses have been our springboard to what our aim in this forum will be.

As we continue, we invited them to suggest and decide what the focus of the SK for the next year is so we may start realign programs that would cause the desired effect.

All the sectors involved took part and had their share on the forum. With regulation to the influx of ideas, the participants identified three major focuses for the next year, or even the years after next. They are the focuses on: Children Welfare, Anti-Drug Abuse and Security, and the Environment, in that order.

As you can see the forum was far from orchestration but the major focuses raised by the young people are aligned to the Millennium Development Goals, which is due on 2015.

We further conceptualized the programs they desire to implement on those areas. But we have not fully structured them because of time constraints. However, the points raised and affirmed in this forum will provide the “Whereases “ needed by the Kagawad/s on that specific Committee. The resolutions that may be produced can bring these requests to its realization.

Any more words?

Gladly, the participants of the forum were thrilled to help and know that they will form part of the implementing body of the programs drafted in the forum.

True, the picture shows there’s not much participation compared to the whole of our constituents, but I, in behalf of the SK, can say that even with such response it helps us keep going.

I'll  update this post with other pictures we've taken on the forum.

Day 384: Meeting with the KKs

Meeting with your KKs will always be a challenge. But you know it’s fun being with them, at least we do.

How do you inform the KKs?

You may refer to this post.

How the meeting is done?

During our KKs’ meeting, we try to be as informal but orderly as possible.

I, or whomever councilor is assigned, speak/s of the proposals and then asks for questions.

Truly we have trained our constituents the Parliamentary Procedure, but at times, the best way to connect with them is through a sort of a “friendly chat”. This works for us, it might as well work for you.

Thankfully, anything that we want to be carried out is settled in this manner. Not until they would demand the procedure should we strictly implement such.

What’s the use of method if your purpose is not carried out?

Also, we are thankful for our KKs because they are intelligently behaved in our meetings. Just when I crack a joke, though it doesn’t sell sometimes, you can really expect a good reaction for a minute or two.

Tip: Create an atmosphere; an environment on your meeting where you think your ideas would come to fruition best.

You ask for the SK Council meeting? Well, that’s a different story.

What are the challenges?

They will and can not participate. Face it.

Even as I write, my colleagues and I can’t really figure out why our young people don’t want to attend meetings, which results to non-participation on your activities. We know that they can, just that they don’t.

In our most recent meeting we still struggle. We did the entire checklist we have to inform them. We even did the extra mile but the returns is quite unsatisfactory.

The situation. Our Linggo ng Kabataan 2012 Celebration will be this Friday, December 14, 2012. We set today, December 12, 2012, at 1:00p.m. as a “grace” meeting for their list of participants for various activities. We did meetings for the last 2 months and we still got same response. This time only three puroks out of of 29 represented themselves.

Right after that meeting we called for another meeting at 6:00 p.m. Gladly five puroks attended the meeting, but this is not a desirable response when you have 29 puroks, right? However, networking can still work through those young people who attended. As they say “The show must go on!” so largo!

Tip: Most are students. Try having a meeting at 6:00 p.m., one strategy to help us all.

Any more words?

Hope.

In my heart, I don’t fear their response on our activities for this term of office. What I deeply consider is the next Sangguniang Kabataan of our barangay. Given the fact of declining participation, how would such youth government organization thrive with the looming challenges, challenges greater than it is today?

Though their responses may be heartbreaking sometimes, carry on. We all have been in the same boat. Continue the toil. True, you might lose hope but that’s the last thing you should not lose. Hope. There always has been just that our heart fails to see it sometimes. Sometimes our heart fails to have a good grip on it. Hope for the best.

Day 385: Informing Your People

There will always be many ways to inform the young people in your barangay. Today, even those whom you do not intend to inform can be informed. But this is not a big deal because those you intend to inform may be informed through them.

The frame of information that we are going to discuss is about your activities and/or meetings.

SK Fatima councilors planning and deliberating ideas for a proposed activity.

Who should be informed?

It is really important to present first your desired program for implementation to your council. I’m talking to the chairman and kagawad at this point. They should be the ones to get it first hand. Deliberations will surely follow.

If you have office staff allow them to get hold of that proposal too. They can certainly help in preparing the documents, if there’s a need of them.

The chairman will have his session with other barangay councilors. He should also inform them, even by just inserting that in the “Announcement” in their order of businesss, unless it needed a resolution to be attached for government fund use, this should be enough.

Finally, have your KKs know of your plans. They will be your priority and concern in this implementation. They will be the ones to benefit from this, they should benefit from this.

Why should they be informed?

Although the SK is a distinguished entity of its own and can work with some extent of independence, disseminating your invitation to Barangay councilors will help. These people will be able to help your target people be informed, especially those who have political alliances with purok chairpersons and personalities.

Also, the reason why we have to make our information known to as many as we can is because of the power of networking.

How should they be informed?

There are many options for these today. Depending on your agreement with your KKs or the urgency of the matter, you can go from the formal to the casual form, though we suggest giving it formally.

Letters. Very office-ish, which is appropriate since we are handling an office.

Text messages. Good for those SKs who have load allowances. For those who do not, you really have to spend some money for this. In return, you have a fast and timely dissemination. But your young people can always blame late messages, or give reasons that they never received any text messages from you.

Tip: Have a format in your text messages, inserting [OFFICIAL] or [SK OFFICE] will make them aware the text message’s validity.

Social media. Nowadays, you can always have this option. Use it to serve you best.

Tip: If your kagawads or staff an account on the same media you are using, make them share the information on their wall or “retweet” it.

In our barangay, we have observed that in whatever form of communication you use there will always be times when the response is low.

Any more words?

Aside from sending them letters or posting on whichever wall you like, you can always reinforce your announcement or information through texting. It may help get the greatest response in the history of SK governance, just exaggerating. Follow-up is the key.

In my upcoming posts ideas, tips, problems and solutions may be incorporated with the reel of discussion. But don’t worry, it will be highlighted so you know were on that part already.

Day 387: Sumbanan 2012 Interview

Yes! The Sumbanan Interview phase is completed. Now we are bracing for the next to-dos like trophy preparation and tabulation, as well as the preparation for this Friday’s Evangelical Night, and the rest of our 3-day Linggo ng Kabataan Celebration.

The 2011 Artistic Discipline In-School Category Awardee Miss Claire Pasion.

Pre-interview

I think I was more nervous than all other people in the office yesterday. Until all the judges already came, just then I felt relief.

There were some discussions going prior the start of the interview portion. Some points to smoothen and be corrected about our mechanisms and over-all conduct of the awards. We are very thankful for the judges who brought that out.

Judges

Prof. Lorenzo Laroco. He is one of the faculties of the English Department, where I belong, in Mindanao State University, General Santos City. He is also the Office of the Student Affairs Director and our school publication adviser. Sir Larry, as we call him, has been with us since the first Sumbanan Awards, held last December of 2011, a part of the Linggo ng Kabataan Celebration.

Atty. Rochelle Mahinay-Sero. I knew of her during the SK Chairpersons’ ISKOLAR-BOS, an orientation for the newly elected SK Chairpersons. At the same time, there we elected our SK Federation Officers. My kagawads met her during the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) seminar for all SK Councils in the city. Since then, we have been in touch with the DILG Office and she has been very welcoming even as accepting the task of being a panel for the Sumbanan Awards. By the way, Ma’am Sero is the DILG City Director.

(L-R) Ma'am Mondido, Atty. Sero and Prof. Laroco.

Ma’am Rosalina Mondido, an academician and an SK Fatima encourager, too. She is the Legislative Officer of the Sangguniang Panglunsod (City Council). She’s the head of all legislative endeavors undertaken by the city councilors during their proceedings. She has also been our speaker on Resolution Making and Parliamentary Procedure sessions during our annual leadership training. She even extended her help during those times I made an ordinance.

Miss Claire Pasion. Or Ate Clai. She is our last year’s Sumbanan Awardee in Artistic Discipline In-School Category. She is still an active participant of her troupe even today and is involved in various activities. She was a secretariat of Sambolayang 2012, a Southern Mindanao Visual Arts Congress; a production staff and performer in “Pagari: Brothers in Peace”, a theatre production for peace performed in different schools inside the city; and the Technical Head of “Dula Ta”, another production during the 4^th National Theater Festival held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila.

Awards to be given this year

There are five awards to be given this year. Those which were applied by the nominees this year: Artistic Discipline, Academic, and Group (In-School, IS, and Out-of School, OS); and awards for our SummerKadahan graduates. We will talk about those being interviewed in this post.

Nominees

There are 10 nominees for Artistic Discipline In-School Category and one for the Out-of-School. However only 4 of them completed the requirements. Only Clemeña does not belong to Fatima High School. He is from Mindanao State University. They are:

• Jasper Clemeña
• Glaiza Mediatrix Hervias
• Jethreoel Hervey Suyao
• Angelica Laurente

During the interview Laurente and Hervias showed their discipline, which is dancing. Clemeña and Suyao made their drawing skills in editorial cartooning, and design shown through pictures and sketches.

Jasper Clemeña

Glaiza Mediatrix Hervias

Angelica Laurente

In the Academic Category, there are supposed to be 6 nominees but only four submitted their portfolio and documents. One of them came from Mindanao State University while the rest are from Fatima High School, in that order:

• Rizza Baugbog
• Zyra Englis
• Aire Jane Cinco
• Rubaya Mantre (Failed to come)

The judges deeply identified with these young people who are excelling academically. A fun fact during the interview: Since all of them are girls, a common question about what they think of having a boyfriend was asked. They all answered negatively, but without no hope at all. For the guys out there, as of the moment they’re still under the exclusive rights of their books and libraries.

Riza Baugbog

Zyra Englis

Aire Jane Cinco

Also, in the group category only four passed their documents and completed the checklist on time, out of the 6 nominated groups. The official nominees were:

• Girl Scout of the Philippines (IS)
• Peer Counselors Club (IS)
• Supreme Student Government (IS)
• Purok Sangguniang Kabataan 17-A (OS) 

All the In-School organizations belong to Fatima High School.

Girl Scout of the Philippines

Peer Counselors Club

Purok SK 17-A

The Interview

This will not be detailed.

Jethreoel Suyao

Everyone took every opportunity to present themselves and their respective works for the panel’s scrutiny. Others were asked to supplement pertinent materials to build up their chances to get the award. Those in the artistic discipline danced and presented their artwork.

The questions raised by the judges are really effective in revealing the nominees body of work. The judges also give comments and suggestions for the nominee to improve.

Though the interviews were taken seriously, the judges had been warm towards the nominees.

Any more words?

Complying with the requirements is a different thing from being nominated. This showed the young people’s interest and the value they give to such opportunities. Sadly, not everybody sees the same.

Supreme Student Government

There are supposed to be 12 nominees for the Sports and Health Category but nobody passed a thing. Non-participation may not only be the problem of Sangguniang Kabataan (I would like to talk about such problems on a separate post) but perhaps it is something universal. Their peers, school, or teacher nominated them but at the other end of the line nothing was undertaken. Well, kinda sad but still we had victory, with God, and the people that environs.

The parents who were present during the interview to assist and witness before their child commented positively about the process of interviewing the nominees. They added that this is a good exposure to their children as they prepare to build their career.

We would like to thank the judges and participants who made the program possible. Also, our thanks go to the parents, friends, and teachers who came to show their support. We couldn’t have done it without all of you.

Thanks to my staff and Kagawads, too!

God bless Manny Pacquiao!!!

Day 388: Barangay Fatima, GenSan

If there was no Barangay Fatima, there would be no Sangguniang Kabataan of Fatima. Let me introduce you our barangay.

Sangguniang Kabataan of Barangay Fatima, General Santos City. (L-R) Kagawad Kent Rudis,
Kagawad Lovely Manzo, Kagawad Sheryl Neres, Kagawad Jessa Boncales, Kagawad Joila Abao,
Kagawad Apple Villa, Kagawad Krayna Savares, Chairman Kevin Samejon.

Barangay Fatima, General Santos City

Barangay Fatima was a part of Barangay Tambler. Its current name, “Fatima”, was taken from the early settlers’ Patron Saint bearing the name. These settlers were relocated from the fish landing premises by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 887.

But it was not until 1990 that the place was recognized as it is through an SP Resolution No. 91, Series of 1990 with the land area of 184, 259 sq. km.

Popularly known as “Uhaw” (lit. “thirsty”) but today Fatima is Uhaw no more.

Fatima continues to serve an estimated population of 96,000 with the help of various institutions, which secures the barangay’s sustainability, development and progress.

Our barangay can cater the needs of its constituents from the womb to the tomb (that means we have a grave site too).

Barangay Fatima has 5 Birthing Houses, and a Lying-In. As the child grows he can start his education from the selection of 21 Day-Care Centers placed in strategic locations in the barangay, not to mention the churches that do the same. So he passed K-1 and -2, you can send him to one of the 5 competent Elementary Schools. After he graduated elementary, just next-door is his welcome, the Fatima National High School. For his tertiary education, in Fatima you can find one of the city’s leading universities, the Mindanao State University. Also, the barangay has 3 private schools, which offers K-1 education to those vocational courses. For sure, your weekdays will never be idle.

Mindanao State University. (Can you spot the guy?)

Your plan for an enjoyable and healthy weekend is also possible here. We have sporting amenities on purok public places, school playing courts, and a good outdoor area "inside" Barangay Hall Compound. On Sundays, you can find refreshment among the 31 churches of denominations and religions of your choice. You will never be out of place here.

We also hold a vibrant festival of colors and culture during July, our foundation anniversary and the Kal’ton Festival. The festival recognizes the importance of the first settlers of the area in building this illustrious community and reminds us to move ahead being rest assured that we are Uhaw no more.

Why would be Fatima still be called “Uhaw” if the barangay has 24 Rural Works and Water Systems anyway? Yeah?

Fatima is mainly a residential area that is why neighboring industries of the barangay benefit from the human resources here.

Your eyes will tell you where this photo is taken.

With the growing business sector, heightened security efforts, and accessible roads and highways, you will have a comfortable place to lay your head after a hustling day, or find peace on your businesses in the area.

Now, with the efforts of the current set of Barangay Officials and the employees we are moving forward: a future of a higher standard of living through efficient delivery of basic services for the people, maintenance of peace and order, and implementation of programs that promotes the common good.

Looking at the milestones of development in the area, Barangay Fatima poses to become an emerging “city” within the city of General Santos. Considerations like population and the growing business sector are looked on to. Moreover, Barangay Fatima is highly accessible that is why future progress is a budding reality.

With God, everything can be possible. If He wills, it can come true. This we know is true: “We are Barangay Fatima. We are "Uhaw" no more.”

Any more words?

Thanks to the Office of the Punong Barangay for the information! Also, you may visit this site.

"Uhaw, No More." was inspired from the title of an article on my elementary school publication issue. I cannot remember who the author was and I haven't read the content of the article.