BONTOC, Mountain Province (PIA)-- Various activities marked the province’s celebration of the Linggo ng Kabataan 2021 that raise awareness on the youth’s rights, roles and responsibilities in the society.
Its opening on August 9 was highlighted with ribbon cutting and blessing of the Diversity Stairs and Ground Project at the Bontoc plaza led by Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan Jr, Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President and Local Youth Development Counci(LYDC) chairperson Jazzel Mae P. Masidong with Rev. Fr. Marcial Lloyd Castaneda as guest of honor.
An initiative of the provincial government thru the SK and LYDC and Gender and Development Council, the Diversity Stairs symbolizes advocacy for inclusivity and equality among all groups and individuals in Mountain Province.
Each color in the stairs and ground, she said, represents race, gender, religion, background and culture that “contributes to our own identity and uniqueness, ” Masidong said.
This project is a clear manifestation that the provincial government is supportive to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) plus community, according to Joecan Basan ,the provincial GAD Council focal person.
The Governor in his “call-to-action” message, challenged the youth to stand up to being the hope of the fatherland by knowing and acknowledging their strengths and weaknesses, involving themselves in community activities, and being part of the solution, not the problem.
Fr. Castaneda expounded on Dr. Jose Rizal’s famous statement of the youth as the “hope of the fatherland”. He pointed out that the youth belong to the vulnerable sector thus he called on the adults to show the strongest support to the young people.
“The youth of today will be the leaders of tomorrow, but tomorrow depends on how we inform, how we transform and how we form the young people today. If they lack information, transformation and formation then we expect a weak hope that will be incarnated in the future,” Fr. Castaneda said.
The Catholic priest who is involved in several activities for the youth, encouraged young people to spread positivity thru creativity and advised them to support, be honest and give justice to the sacrifices of their parents.
The week-long celebration culminated with a tree planting activity at Mt. Mogao in Cagubatan, Tadian on Aug. 13 in coordination with the 1403rd Community Defense Center, Tadian Municipal Police Station, 1st Company MPMFC and other partners.
Other activities included Mobile Legends Tournament and Trail Run (Aug. 10), and Blood Letting in partnership with Luis Hora Memorial Hospital on Aug. 11.
The celebration of the Linggo ng Kabataan is pursuant to Section 30 of the Republic Act No. 10742 or also known as Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015. This year’s theme was “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation and Planetary Health.” (JDP/VLT-PIA CAR, Mt. Province)