`Maupay
na pag-abot sa Calbayog!” This is the first greeting I have heard from the town
folks in Calbayog City domestic airport as we touchdown the city. Maupay means
good in English, so here it was just so perfect to describe the simple yet a
very humble paradise city located in the western part of Samar province. It is
a city to be where you can find the Ciriaco Hotel and Resort which has become
our home for six days. It has its world-class amenities like the pavilion and
its pools to its delicious foods which is served in a buffet style.
I
with our chaperon Sir Junner Mal-ang an ALS (Alternative Learning System)
mobile teacher and the three other Zamboanga del Sur participants stayed in
Calbayog City for Padayon Mindanao`s Youth Leadership Camp from June 29-July 5,
2014. Padayon Mindanao is USAID funded and Peace Corps` iniative to advocate
peace on the country.
In
my six days inside the camp the lecturers have trained us to become good
leaders in the community we are into like in our community at school, in our
family and in our society. The topics discussed were about literacy skills
example on writing a letter to the barangay chairman for a community based project
support and a resume and a bio data if you need to apply for a job. On the
increasing understanding of civic-engagement we have been asked to list down
all the possible dilemmas in our community and being taught on how we can
volunteer ourselves to help whole heartedly. On strengthening linkages and
understanding among Filipino youth we have tackled issues such as teenage
pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases and how would it be lessen in our
country.
The
last 2 days was an immersion training on what we have learned from the
lectures. We had planned, designed tasks and lead a leadership camp in the
different barangays in Calbayog City. My group the Team Legal White was assigned
in Barangay San Joaquin with the leadership of our Peace Corps volunteer Thomas
Sanborn, the Mindanao counterparts Ma`am Shermahal Yusop and Ma`am Wannang
Dadong with our team leader Geraldine Elican and my team mates together with
Sir Joeffil.
I
have attended numerous camping activities and seminars during my elementary and
high school days but the Calbayog City experience with the youth leaders-the
learners from the ALS curriculum of Department of Education and some in school
leaders was the most unforgettable.
As
an individual I have learned that things happening around us like the problems
in our community needed action and all it takes is someone to step forward and
make a stand. I have learned that empowering will start with self-respect and self
worth. All in all I would like to borrow Dr. Jose Rizal`s words that “I am a
Filipino and I am a citizen of the world.”
I`m
looking forward to work with the Department of Education and Bureau of Alternative
Learning System now that I`m in my 4th year in pre-service teaching
and be able to share this experience to my future colleagues and students. Hanggang
sa muli maupay na panang ila natong tanan!
Photo credits: Padayon Mindanao: Leadership Camp staffs
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