ang kabataan daw ang pag-asa ng bayan

Sadly, very few believe in this cliché today, not even the youth themselves.

Very recently, an alarming increase in cases of sexually transmitted infections and HIV-AIDS among the educated youth and yuppies are reported. What has previously been confined to sex workers and gays have inflicted even those who are supposed to have better discernment of what is right and wrong. Is this an indication of the kind of values the present generation of Filipino youth has?

While modern technology is largely blamed for the disintegration of the youth’s values, this is just the tip of the iceberg. The Filipino family is in a crisis – supposed to be the place where values are taught, learned and responsibly shared and lived.

Moreso, society in general seems degenerating: unsolved crimes, proliferation of illegal drugs, impunity and corruption, illiteracy, poverty, vicious cycle of dirty politics, and persistence of godless ideologies pushing young and idealistic Filipinos into the armed violence.

In light of such gloomy scenario, is there a glimmer of hope for motherland’s hope? There is.

Pope Benedict lovingly sends this message to the youth: “Do not be afraid. It is the role of youth to change the world. You can be the builders of a new society.”

To borrow the words of Fr. Willy Samson: There is power in the youth. Youth are not misguided souls just waiting for an opportunity to create problem or mess everything. What they need is a direction from someone who can lead them, who can trust them, who can listen and understand them, who can love them, and believes in their capacity to lead. But all these things should begin in the spirit of love… in the spirit of gathering. If there is a gathering… there is love.

This is why AAGAPAY Youth is taking the challenge.

AAGAPAY Youth commits to become a protagonist in this challenge as it re-instills to the youth cultural and traditional Filipino values, restore nationalism, and resuscitates genuine love for God, fellowmen, nature, and country. It adheres to nonviolence as a form to settle conflicts and disagreements. It will work for peace and the common good and considers solidarity as an exalted value in a civilized society.

The youth has more at stake in what the future brings. Thus AY exhorts the Filipino youth to obey and act upon their call. Through God, they will find the strength to pursue the path that will bring about a better country… a better world.

The future starts today, not tomorrow.

AAGAPAY YOUTH….NOW NA!

Recollection 2010

May this lenten recollection gives a boost to the spiritual growth of all the AAGAPAY Youth so that we can become better youth for others to emulate :)

AAGAPAY, TAMPOK SA HEARTBEAT 2010 CONCERT

Sa kabila ng ilang problema, matagumpay na naganap ang Heartbeat 2010 na may temang “Himigsikan through love and music”. Ang naturang konsiyerto ay ginanap sa Notre Dame University Gymnasium noong ika-24 ng Pebrero 2010 mula ika-pito hanggang ika-siyam ng gabi. Tampok sa nasabing palabas ang sari-saring galing ng mga estudyante ng Notre Dame University (NDU) na nagpakitang gilas sa larangan ng musika, pagsayaw, visual arts, teatro at iba pang sining. Nagpakita rin ng kanilang kakaibang galing sa sining at musika ang ilang piling bisita mula sa mga lungsod ng Cotabato at Davao. Tinatayang humigit-kumilang sa isang libong mga manonood ang dumagsa sa naturang palabas. Naging malaking bahagi rin ng palatuntunan ang suportang ibinigay ng Alalay at Gabay sa Pag-unlad ng Pamayanan o AAGAPAY 12 Regional Council dahil sa layunin nitong maipalaganap at maitaguyod ang postibong asal sa mga kabataang Pilipino na siyang niyakap ng Media Freqx, ang student-organization ng mga estudyante ng Mass Communications sa NDU na nagkonsepto ng nasabing konsiyerto. Matatandaang una nang nadantayan ng AAGAPAY Advocacy Campaign ang mga student-journalists noong ika-24 ng Enero nitong taon. Sa kalagitnaan ng konsiyerto, isang presentasyon ng pasasalamat ang ipinakita ng Media Freqx sa mga manonood- ito ay ang pagtatampok sa AAGAPAY sa pamamagitan ng power point showcase kung saan ipinakita nila ang mga iba’t-ibang aktibidades na kasalukuyang ginagawa ng AAGAPAY team tulad ng clean-up drive, tree-planting activities, medical and dental civic action programs, feeding program, Give-to-learn, at ang kamakailan lamang na National Youth Camp sa Tagaytay City na kung saan apat sa miyembro ng Media Freqx ay naging representante ng rehiyon. Ang Heartbeat ay taunang konsiyerto na ginaganap tuwing Pebrero. Bahagi ito ng curriculum requirement, ang TV Production ng mga estudyante ng Mass Communications ng Notre Dame University. Joniera Faith H. Valera, NDU

“Path Session”: A way to get away from drugs

A youth symposium was held last February 21, 2010 at Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. The activity was initiated by a national organization called Alalay at Gabay sa Pag-unlad ng Pamayanan (AAGAPAY) particularly its youth sector, AAGAPAY Youth or simply AY along with Bible Readers (BREAD) Society International. The event could be deemed successful because it was attended by more than 1,500 individuals and the guest speaker was no less than the renowned Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Solon Hagedorn. The symposium was about drug prevention entitled "Path Session: A way to get away from drugs." Unlike other big events, it was evident that the activity reached every attendees, which were mostly youths coming from different colleges and universities in Palawan, different religious sectors and employees of Puerto Princesa City government. Among the participating entities were the Palawan State University, The Western Philippines University, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), ROTC cadets from 4th ARCEN, 40th PCDC and 420th Naval ROTC unit.