Day 389: Game for the Weekend

By the way, this is a late post due to electricity deficiency in our area for almost 11 hours.

Let me share you a story for today.

For the Three

The coach signals a time out that sends the players of their color to their respective sides of the court.

            I am not trying to be a psycho but I am certain to decipher these words from the coach’s lips saying,

          “It’s now or never. It’s the mark you’ll all leave after you graduate.”

The players’ focus on every words he sent out.

“Now, get your eyes out of the scoreboard and play the game you’ve been playing for the last 4 years of your lives by heart.”

            Snap! It’s like magic, it’s like my team’s players face glares not of anger but of high-spirits in the 94-92 game. It’s just 3 points, 3 bloody points for us to put an end to our agony; we’re enjoying it though.

A game of our Junior Basketball Team for the Best Four Round
during the SummerKadahan 2012.

            Everybody is so keen, not missing a second, not even the pumping of the ball from this floor to those sweaty palms. I can sense everybody’s grasping everything they can hold on to. Everywhere you look it’s like everybody’s not noticing their own sweat trailing their face on that hot, steamy Wednesday noon. It’s funny how some looks so worried; others bite their lip and clasp hands, while the audience-cheering team almost pops the balloons they’re holding.

            The ball is flying from one player to the other, not giving the opposing team to have a score and maintaining the status quo of that moment. Forty seconds left and still no one’s score is changed. The captain of my team had the ball now, as we watch him, he’s like thinking to whom will he pass the ball. Hearts are throbbing and the crowd starts to scream.

            “To number 18!”

            “No, that’s lame, 07!”

            “18!”

            “07!” The number is repeated on and on.

            And the crowd goes loco. As for me, I have confidence to the captain of my team’s discretion.

            “What?” I fret. “That’s wrong, so wrong. Not him!”

            I found myself bursting with dismay. Now, that unexpected number 02, the one all thinks the lamest, just stood after the ball was passed to him. I drag my attention to the captain, trying to question him, but I’m inspired by what I saw because he put on the face of trust to this newbie. This player starts to bend his knees, which sets the screaming drama off.

            At the back of my mind I said, “This is crazy! There’s just 4 seconds left and this is my team captain’s…Arghhh.” with clashing eyebrows and opened mouth.

            Everyone’s surprise but found no time to shout (and go loco again). No one is caring to take that free oxygen as all eyes followed that 3-point shoot.

            Believe me, it would’ve been an epic choice, an epic shoot, epic game and all, until my consciousness grasped that alarm on my phone with a note, “Basketball Finals- TODAY!”

Any more words?

I hope everyone will have a good game this weekend! But we in the office won’t have one… Hahahaha! It’s the Sumbanan Awards 2012 interview phase.

Also, let's respect intellectual property. Even though my composition is so high school do cite properly. Thanks!

Day 390: The Sumbanan Awards – Part Two

The basis of the Sumbanan Awards can be traced back to the provisions found in R.A. 7160, The Local Government Code of the Philippines of 1991. The celebration of Linggo ng Kabataan is not only confined to activities, “…competitions, and cultural festivals, arts and skills exhibition” but we take advantage of the freedom set by the provision that says that there can be “recognition and awarding of outstanding youth organization for their achievements and contribution to the development of the country or the locality”.

The nominees and winners during the 2011 Sumbanan Awards Night at Mindanao State University,
General Santos City Gymnasium. More than 300 KKs get involved during that night.

It should be clear by now that we are not making the SK as an award giving body, per se, but in compliance with the cited provisions we might, at least, impact the lives of our constituents worthy of the citation.

Granted that it is only “youth organizations”, we widen the scope of the Sumbanan Awards to individuals, too, as we acquired information about the General Santos City Youth Achievers Award (GSCYAA) from the Youth Affairs and Development Office (YADO) in our city. The said search awards individuals and groups inside the city, including the Sangguniang Kabataan.

In planning your Sangguniang Kabataan program, in this case Awards program you need all the resources you can get. The conceptualization of the Sumbanan Awards’ framework is credited to the YADO. They allow us to replicate and modify the GSCYAA’s format.

So the process…

We have these categories for individuals: PSK Officials, Academic, Sports and Health, Environment, Artistic Discipline (In-School and Out-of-School), and Cultural Communities Youth and Youth with Specials Needs. And our group category is singular, whether it is on health, sports, environment, a glee or a troupe. Let’s begin:

• Should they meet the age and residency requirements, their peers or their teachers can nominate them. A recommendation/nomination letter from this third person should be submitted to the office.
• After the nomination is accepted, we send them a confirmation letter congratulating their acceptance to the program.
• They can now start preparing their portfolio (these are required on both individual and group category). They are also informed of the additional requirements and documents through a checklist sent together with the letter as in No. 3.
• The panel of judges before the interview will meet to evaluate the passed documents one their comfortable time. They are handed with a copy of the whole portfolio of the whole nominees from all of the categories filled.
• The judges will interview the nominees on an assigned date. Additional interview with their peers, co-members in their organization, adviser and others, may follow.
• The judges will be given time (a separate day) to deliberate/discuss, and finally resolve to whomever will receive the award in the specific category.
• The result is a confidential between the panel of judges and the SK until the Sumbanan Awards Night that usually happens on the last day of the Linggo ng Kabataan celebration.

Problemo? No Problemo!

“I keep on extending deadlines.”

NO PROBLEMO! Oh dear! That really is a problem. So, you are dancing on the same tune – DEADLINE EXTENSIONS. Don’t be afraid to extend and further extend your deadlines. Of course, since it’s a new program not everyone will instantly buy that one.

Since you are just starting it, try extending the schedule but not hyper-extending it to the point that you’ll ruin your credibility. We also extend deadlines, 2 movements, the most.

Why? As much as possible, we do not want a single organization or individual be nominated on a category. We want a competition, and one that is healthy. Nobody feel prestige on a selection where he is the only participant. And believe me, you don’t want anyone gossiping about your “self-serving” program. Criticisms and gossips can never be avoided but at least do your best to keep your Awards’ integrity and credibility by not giving any chance for such.

“Nobody has responded. I quit!”

Not so easy. Before I answer let me say, NO PROBLEMO! Coordinate with the nearest high school and let them have recommendations. Allow the purok chairpersons, Barangay Kagawads, and other barangay personalities know of your program and make them nominate. Ask Manang Pepay of your suking tindahan if she knows someone who qualifies or tell Kuya Berto that he can have his intelligent son be nominated by a peer. I know you can add this list.

IDEAS!

1. Select the most appropriate judges. It starts and ends with them. Last year we have a university Office of the Student Affairs Director, Barangay Social Worker, a Teacher, and an Officer from an NGO.
2. You may tap your DILG City Director, at least this year we do. Or you can have your distinguished SK Chairman friend as one of the panel.
3. Allow your winners be involved in your future programs. It will give them vitality and further cherish the award they received.
4. Do, do, DO personalize your trophy or plaque. BUT 'wag umepal sa award. Don’t put your face on the trophy or plaque, or have large prints of your name on it. Tsk. No to epal mga SK!
5. Together with the award, you can add a reasonable cash prize. Our Sumbanan Cultural Communities Youth and Youth with Special Needs Awardee 2011 used it for his matriculation. It may help them.



(L-R) SK Chairman Samejon, Sumbanan Youth with Special Needs Awardee 2011,
his mother, City Vice Mayor, MSU-GenSan OSA Director (he is one of the judges).

6. You may contact me, in behalf of the council, for the detailed requirements and forms. We would be thrilled to hearing from you.

Any more words?

And you are thinking, “How will we account all these things?” I believe your trusted treasurer or legislative staff can help. If not, elevate the matter and your desire to implement such program to your SK Federation.

We are now on our last week of preparation for the Linggo ng Kabataan 2012 celebration. Also, we already have the resolution and budgetary requirements approved, thank God!

Have a great day y’all!

Day 391: The Sumbanan Awards - Part One

Sumbanan Awards. "What’s that?" You may ask as you were reading my Day 392 post.

What’s the history behind the award?

The promotional image posted
on our Facebook page for viral
info dissemination, of course aside
from the meetings that we had.

It was almost graduation day for Fatima High School, the only high school in our barangay. Knowing that the young people are concentrated on the institution we, together with the Sangguniang Kabataan members, were planning to give out recognition to those individuals who excel in areas of academic and extra-curricular activities in their high school years.

So we proceed on devising an award but a certificate and a plaque is something too common. We unleashed our idealistic thinking and went over Grammy and Oscar trophies, to name just a few. Of course, our fund would not allow such intricate custom designed trophies (at this point we are now pursuing having trophies). As much as we want it to be something worth cherishing not just with the design but also the distinction it brings, I personally look for websites that would fuel the conception of the design and total appeal of the trophy and the award.

After consultations with the SK Kagawads and other individuals of trust, we finally decided to name it SUMBANAN, and made it look that way (at your right).

We asked for listing from the school to know any students in the school who are eligible in the areas we are seeking to award. The soft launching of the Sumbanan originated in that 2011 graduation commencement exercises of Fatima High School.

In our city, we have a youth summer sports event in the city named “SummerKadahan”, a program of our Mayor and Congressman. If you don’t ask, the pride of being a part of such basketball league and women’s volleyball team is really established that is why we also prepared the award for the graduating players of the games who can no longer comply with the age requirements.

Until I personally have the thought, “We can’t just go out there and wag the award to whoever we felt should have it!?” It must build prestige. It must not just be given right away. It must be desired. Individuals must go through the rigors of getting it. It must have value. And must have a well-planned launching. I presented my concern with the council and we saw the Linggo ng Kabataan as a very good avenue for the said idea.

Since then many already anticipated the award. Students should show their excellence in their fields, players should have been in the team for years until “retirement” and the barangay's young people should go in to a process.

What’s with the name?

Such a recognition must have a sound and crisp name. SK Oscars, for the sake of terminology, would be dumb.

So we thought of something that entails our culture, the individuality of the program's origin, something that carries out our hopes for the young people who receives the award. We looked for many terms from Maguindanaon, B’laan, and from other ethnic groups. We came to the realization that we don't have to go far; that to meet modernity and ethnicity, we will use the Cebuano language since most of the populace is Cebuano and many comprehend the language.

But we don’t want to settle for a name that we would regret and not live up. We don’t want to settle for “Maayo” (Good) or “Bantugan” (Outstanding), we also know that Mindanao State University General Santos City has "Kabantugan Awards". It must be something that would not entail a point of excellence rather a lifetime of excellence. I used translation engines such as this, and I bumped in to the word “Sumbanan”, it catches my heart as well as my Kagawads and staff. It also appeals to my KKs. And there goes the Sumbanan. Sumbanan Awards.

            sumbanan

(n.) is a person who is a model of excellence or perfection of a kind, someone of remarkable excellence and one worthy of imitation. (English: paragon)

What exactly is Sumbanan Awards then?

The Sumbanan is an SK Award saluting the outstanding young individuals and youth organizations in the barangay, individuals and groups that are viewed as models of excellence – a paragon. This award further acknowledges the legacy they made to their peers, their respective institutions, and to the community. In addition, this is created in appreciation to what they have harnessed and proved, their nonpareil contribution, intellect, leadership and skill. The Sangguniang Kabataan of Barangay Fatima took an effort not to let these exemplary and functional young people and youth organizations in the barangay cease and remain unnoticed.  We desire to take their noble inception to another level, and to start with, by recognizing them.

The diamond pointing to the heavens carries the Sannguniang Kabataan’s desire for every young people to excel further and hone their gifts more.

The diamond’s color is from the Republic’s coat of arms. It embodies our aspiration signaling the young generation not to be trampled up on by modern day tyrants.

And the olive wreath symbolizes the innate intelligence and resilience we have.

Any more words?

On my next post I will go into the selection process. Furthermore, I will share the basis of such award.

Day 392: Linggo ng Kabataan

Linggo ng Kabataan (Youth Week) is prescribed by the law in R.A. 7160, also known as the Local Government Code of 1991, at Chapter 10, Section 439:

“Sec. 439. Observance of Linggo ng Kabataan. - (a) Every barangay, municipality, city and province shall, in coordination with the pederasyon ng mga sangguniang kabataan at all levels, conduct an annual activity to be known as the Linggo ng Kabataan on such date as shall be determined by the Office of the President.

(b) The observance of the Linggo ng Kabataan shall include the election of the counterparts of all local elective and appointive officials, as well as heads of national offices or agencies stationed or assigned in the territorial jurisdiction of the local government unit, among in-school and community youth residing in the local government unit concerned from ages thirteen (13) to seventeen (17). During said week, they shall hold office as boy and girl officials and shall perform such duties and conduct such activities as may be provided in the ordinance enacted pursuant to this Chapter.”

Our barangay also complies with this observance since the beginning of our term.

When should we celebrate Linggo ng Kabataan?

Well, I have the same question before. Let me invite your attention to read the Proclamation No. 99 dated November 23, 1992, which amended Proclamation No. 56, signed by the President Fidel V. Ramos. In this document the former president moved every celebration of Linggo ng Kabataan on every second week of December. That has been the practice ever since.

What are your activities during the celebration?

We are doing various activities but during our celebration in 2010, we only did “Laro ng Lahi”. Our 2011 celebration was way different compared to the previous year.

We did mainstream activities, i.e., we did competitions, for the 29 puroks in our barangay. Literary and Academic competitions, Arts and Technology contests, and Laro ng Lahi are what encompasses the “mainstream activities”. But we did not limit ourselves to competitions.

We created three nights. This means that our “formal” celebration lasted for 3 days and nights. Formal because days before there were already screenings going on, applications, listing for the competitions, meetings and a whole bunch of preparations. As we continue, those three nights are the Cultural Night, Evangelical Night and the Sumbanan Awards Night.

The winning group of the Hand-Mime competition during the Evangelical Night.

Our Cultural Night is posed to invite cultural communities in our barangay as well as giving opportunity to them and other young people to showcase talents, folk dances as such. Our Evangelical Night is more concerned with the local churches in our area. During this night we have bands playing and tambourine dances. Last year we had a Hand-mime competition participated by both Evangelical and Catholic churches. Ultimately we have our Sumbanan Awards Night. This night recognizes exemplary young people in our barangay. This night is also the awarding and concluding program for the whole celebration.

You don’t follow the law then?

You mean letter (b) of Sec.439? If you look at it more closely it said “local government unit” and we are in the barangay level. LGUs I believe are those in the offices in the city level. Even our SK Federation executes Linggo ng Kabataan liberally just like having a Caroling-for-a-Cause alone since the city already have a program in line with the concept of the said provision of R.A. 7160, Chapter 10, Sec. 439, (b).

Problemo? No Problemo!

So, you have already planned your activities but right on the spot nobody took action to participate. You already did tedious information dissemination and meetings, and you extended your deadlines just to cater your constituents. NO PROBLEMO! But you have budgeted prizes and honorarium for the judges already. NO PROBLEMO! But it was already approved in our session. NO PROBLEMO!

One part of our competition during the Linggo ng Kabataan is the “Clean and Green” where each Purok Sangguniang Kabataan, the Katipunan ng Kabataan, should have a community vegetable garden in their purok hall or elsewhere around their purok; and they should also have a good garbage management. But nobody responded and not even one purok took an effort.

Right on the day of the judging the judges held no winner.

Of course, as the SK Chairman or the Green Brigade Committee Chairman, you have to explain the cause of the abortion of the activity to the earliest event where the KKs were at their greatest number.

Don’t worry with the budget if they are not used. It will just return to your fund. I hope you will not insert auto-names to those activities just to get the money for personal use. For the judges, they were so considerate that since they have not achieved their purpose they decline any honorarium. We just shared to them snacks.

With the resolution, you may or may not revise it, as the need arises. We did revise it.

IDEAS!

1. If I may suggest for the barangay Sangguniang Kabataan members, or you happen to know someone who is in the office, structure your programs and activities for this celebration in such a way that if you were the participant it would make you motivated and responsive.
2. Do have a theme. Last year we concentrated on the accomplishment of the Millennium Development Goals or MDGs. Our theme last year was “Tayo, Tayo Rin”. 
3. Work inside your means. I speak money here. Unless you have a vast pool of resources aside from your SK budget, you can be more adventurous. Though I suggested working inside your means, let it not limit you.
4. Do Music Video competitions and the classic board games such as Scrabble and Word Factory. Believe me, others would see odd but many would certainly ride in.
5. Apply the Scripps Spelling Bee ruling in your spelling contest. You will invite nerdy young people in your barangay/city/province.
6. Do the fad contests such as the Pinoy Henyo, etc, etc.

Any more words?

Be creative and let not accounting constraints limit your wishful thinking. We even did fireworks during the last night and we hired a Photo Booth, a result of outsourcing.

How do you do your Linggo ng Kabataan? I hope you will share and let others know of your vitality.

Day 393: Introduction

This blog will feature the adventure of my remaining days in Sangguniang Kabataan both in our barangay and its collective sphere, and myself, personally (as an SK, i.e., Samejon, Kevin).

Well this is the SK logo, as in the office.
I might as well devise my own
Samejon, Kevin logo, eh.
What do you think?

I invite you to actively participate here and I will see to it to be equally active. You can Like, Tweet,  g+, and anything social this blog. I hope you can identify to some of the upcoming posts and let others who might as well be on the same situation while in the office, in life, know. You may also take a minute or two reading the posts in this blog daily as you join me; the SK. I would also invite you to refresh yourself with a daily dose of this.

Why use blog and not a publication?

Blog is more conveniently elaborate. 

• Convenient because you can have tweaks and updates to your posts and prior postings right away. Your personal Blogger home view tells something of a more up to date blog updating through mobile.
• Moreover, having a blog instead of a publication requires yourself, the Internet, and your computer alone, for you to publish posts which concerns your blog's interest.
• Blog is also "conveniently elaborate" because you can share to people you know, or even those you do not, what might takes interest to them without singlehandedly giving them your printed propaganda.
• Blog also promotes more elaborate individuality than most hard prints can. First, it's you who own the blog. Second, it's you who create the content. Third, nobody will ultimately triumph over what you will to put on your blog. And lastly, let's face it --- it's a blog, web log, get me?
• It's no longer concealed from the educated man that you can monetize digital content. However, though a blogger can have such liberty of enriching himself or herself, you can expect worthwhile content from here. Also, if I get the chance to learn how to do that so I may help you readers, well, I won't hesitate to share it with you. SULONG PILIPINAS!

What will I expect from a blog as this?

As I stated above, everything SK, from my name to the office itself. Not to mention, I will also tap on to government issues concerning SK, SK reforms, SK problems and solutions, how-to's, administration, implementing programs, present notable ideas, and anything that would deem of help to the youth of this nation and the world.

How frequently will you do updates?

My updates will be regular, day-to-day basis. I may have 392 days left as a Chairman in the office but how long I will be alive will be uncertain. But I will certainly live up to the "Days: Nyaya" concept.

Also I would clearly signpost whether it is about the SK or myself, or anything.