Since being crowned as Hari ng Pilipinas (HNP) - Negros Occidental earlier this year, a lad from Don Salvador Benedicto town has brought his “core and moral values in life” focusing on various advoacies.
Eldest of the three children, Justiniani is an incoming sophomore nursing student of the University of St. La Salle - Bacolod.
Recounting his final answer during the pageant night, Marx Louie Justiniani, 19, of the town’s Barangay Bunga, said that he is eager and determined to pursue his Youth Awareness in Keeping them Abreast for Progress (Yakap) program.
It was one of the reasons, he said, why he joined HNP, particularly to establish the Yakap Program that would focus on self-awareness, education, and empowerment among the youth.
To support the cause for the environment, the coastal cleanup and tree growing activity recently in Sipalay City were among the pool of events he attended. These initiatives are poised to help create an impact on the lives of the people.
“For us to tackle and address bigger problems we should seek first the root of these issues from which we can start by being self aware, educated and empowered by then we can only truly achieve progress if we alone are open for improvement,” he added.
On Sunday, July 10, Justiniani held a free medical mission and Operation Tuli as part of his advocacy at Barangay Bunga in his hometown.
The mission was supported by his parents, JL Talent Management Services and local government unit, and in partnership with Adventist Medical Center Bacolod and Sangguniang Kabataan of the barangay.
Prior to the national pageant competition to be held in Ormoc City this October, Justiniani had enjoyed his schedules and community involvement in the past few months.
He said that he was able to know the importance of accountability and achievement, and cited that HNP provided him the platform to influence, especially through social media.
“As an advocate for change, my plan for the youth is to be more knowledgeable when it comes to things that matter, especially social issues which are very vital for the youth to have a stand. To have an open mind in order to understand both perspectives in any situation,” he said.
Moreover, HNP Provincial Director Joelito Orencio Jr. said Hari ng Pilipinas also provided a platform to “execute advocacies and make the winners visible implementing it.”
“It's role is to give an impact especially to empower the youth by encouraging them to be part of certain environmental organizations or any organization that can bring positive results for all,” he said.
Aside from the said activities, Orencio said that they had a gift giving and feeding program for the indigenous people’s (IPs) in Don Salvador Benedicto recently, partnered with the Provincial Environment and Management Office (Pemo) for environmental advocacy as well as with the BaganiI community by love yourself in celebration of the Pride month, among others.
“HNP has the eagerness to perform its purpose and that is to be part in creating the change because as the theme says there is only one earth and we have the responsibility to protect it, to love it and to take care of it for the future generation to see how beautiful our environment is. So we should do our part,” he said.
Orencia asked the continued support for Justiniani and Dale Divino who will represent Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, respectively.
“We are still engaging with the two different organizations in the province for them to improve and grow as better individuals. We are also preparing activities that Negrense could support for their advocacies align with the province and local government activities as well,” he ended.* (With reports from Erwin P. Nicavera)