|
BUDDING youth leaders are on the rise as the National Capital
Region’s brightest and most promising students gathered recently
at PLDT Innolab for Youth Hours 2008.
Spearheaded by the RFM Foundation, Inc.,
Commission on Higher Education and The Outstanding Students of the
Philippines Alumni Community in partnership with PLDT, Youth Hours
is an annual youth formation workshop that fosters the TOSP ideals
of academic and professional excellence, leadership and social
responsibility. It is also an opportunity for the TOSP alumni to
share their knowledge and wealth of experience to the next
generation of young Filipino achievers.
The attendees represent the cream of the crop of
NCR’s colleges and universities, marked by exemplary scholastic
achievement and socio-civic involvement in school and their
respective communities. The day-long affair also convened local
school administrators and prospective candidates for the 2008 search
for the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines-NCR level.
Guided by the theme “Realizing, Celebrating
and Affirming the Youth’s Niche in Nation Building,” the
workshop divided the participants into four tracks representing the
three TOSP tenets and a special module for school administrators.
Each track was moderated by a team of TOSP alumni and featured
activities meant to educate, engage, and challenge participants in
determining their role and commitment in nation building.
Words of Wisdom
Among the speakers who shared their insights on
nation building are RFM Foundation Chairman and TOSP Founder Jose
Conception Jr., PLDT Vice President for Retail Marketing Tony Valdez
and Kabayan Cultural Organization for Supporting, Developing and
Empowering the Youth (KOSDEY) Executive Director Dr. Ryan Guiranan.
In his welcome remarks, Mr. Valdez expressed
PLDT’s support for the youth leaders and affirmed the theme’s
significance by sharing two important values each participant should
take to heart. “For all your accomplishments and God-given gifts,
you carry the burden of responsibility and humility… You should
always have a sense of awe as to why you are here and why you have
achieved so much. You are chosen because you have something to
contribute to your community and the nation,” said Valdez.
In his discussion on “Mobilizing and
Transforming the Youth into Nation-Builders,” Mr. Conception,
hailed honorary Outstanding Student in 2003, provided a macro
perspective on the role of the young Filipino locally and globally.
Drawing from his experiences as a national civic leader and chairman
of Barangay Forbes, he talked about how positive change can start
even in the smallest communities and how its impact can resonate on
a national and global scale. He also rallied the participants to
take pride of their Filipino heritage, to be living examples of
inspiration and to “have faith in the Filipino and hope in the
future of this country.”
Then there was TOSP 2002 alumnus Dr. Ryan
Guinaran who candidly shared important lessons borne from his
experiences as a volunteer doctor, teacher, medical and cultural
consultant, “social oncologist” and a Benguet native tirelessly
reaching out to his community. From his trademark wit and humor came
integral TOSP principles like volunteerism, service to community,
leadership and social accountability. He urged the attendees to
become agents of change while in their youth and to use their gifts
and talent to render direct service to the country starting with
their respective communities.
With the success of Youth Hours 2008 are plans
to bring the workshop to neighboring regions. The Outstanding
Students of the Philippines-Alumni Community hopes to reach out to
more young Filipinos and help them find their niche in nation
building.
|
