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Thursday, April 03, 2003
Youth power builders
By Ritchie Landis Doner Quijano
Concerned young individuals from the Habitat For Humanity (HFH) Philippines are gearing towards a “No-more-shacks” future. This was their all-together cry during the recent Youth Build 2003 “Bisayas Ispisyal” kick-off ceremony at SM City, Cebu.
Living-up to their popular motto “Today’s Builders…Tommorrow’s Leaders” the youth volunteers coming from different schools and organizations are preparing themselves for another home for the homeless building binge that will start this month in barangay Tongkil in Minglanilla, their chosen sight for this year’s project. The launch was started with a photo-exhibit featuring past projects, some pictures showing the houses built by volunteerism last year in Abucayan, Balamban. Touching was the performance from the First High School of the Hearing Impaired, the students did a sign language interpretation of the Philippine national anthem and invocation. Another group, an orchestra from the Cebu Children of Hope School showed us their moving confidence. Playing instrumental pieces, they were joined-in by two disabled children with cerebral palsy on wheelchairs. Marissa Fernan of SM City welcomed the crowd of young wannabe carpenters and masons. She announced the donation of two houses by SM City for the Habitat, one for Cebu and another for Iloilo. Seen supporting youth power were youthful adults from business and government, Bobby Aboitiz, Vice-Mayor Mike Rama, Cebu Holding’s Rene Almendras, Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz and some foreign members of Habitat.
Magtambayayong kitang tanan pagtukod ug balay”, was the message to the youth by George Gabriel, youth ambassador for the Youth Build 2003. This summer he’s aiming to mobilize some 2000 volunteers. His fellow youth who made significant contributions and supported the project were given special awards. Group awardees were the Metro Cebu, Dumaguete, Batangas and Davao HFH community youth groups. An individual from Cebu was given a solo citation. Ralph Joseph Bagares of Cebu Institute of Technology was cited for initiating innovative projects like the “1st Adopt-a-Tree” program and the “Trek and Build” which is now adopted as an annual summer activity.
Immediately after the awarding, a former Smokey Mountain member, Jeffrey Hidalgo, entertained the volunteers with heart-warming songs. The entire ceremony was a call to action as well as youth volunteerism. Everyone regardless of age was called upon to contribute something to this most laudable undertaking. Youthfulness after all, is not bound by age, it’s a feeling or a state of mind. The event was capped by an inspiring presentation from the Blissville Habitat Youth Choir.
So what are you waiting for? Volunteer now. Participate and make your summer a very busy and fruitful one and memorable as well. Building houses is not just good exercise. It also burns extra calories and cholesterol and in the process, makes one look more youthful again. So let’s put our youthfulness to good work.
(April 3, 2003 issue)
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