SDO Calamba Youth Formation Unit conducted its First Division Youth Summit  on April 29, 2021 via Facebook Live with the theme : “YE4C: Youth Engaged 4 Change” . It reached 26,858 people with 23,840 engagements, 1.7K likes, 2.4K comments and 522 shares. This was participated by all Supreme Pupil Government (SPG), Supreme Student Government (SSG), and YES-O Presidents and Vice Presidents who extended their collaborative efforts to attain its objective.

The event aims to raise awareness on the role of the youth in advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strengthen the promotion of healthy lives and well-being for all amidst the global health crisis in order to bring positive transformational change to communities they engaged with. Also, it stimulates the creation of an empowering and enabling environment for youth’s creativity, ingenuity and innovation; and serve as a platform for youth to share their voices and highlight their different lived experiences during the pandemic, including their feelings, perceptions, and innovative initiatives to find solutions to the crisis.

This event is in partnership with Toshiba Information Equipment Phils., Inc. which have worked with local staff to produce highly valued products sent from the Philippines to all over the world. Part of their community outreach or partnership is providing education/child support, Medical support, Humanitarian Assistance, and Environmental Conservation support to the community.

The Summit is composed of information exchange from experts and the youth themselves which motivated and opened the young minds to be active components of the society who are to lead the next generation. Also, it became an avenue for the youth to express the core values taught through sharing their talents for being Makatao, Makabansa, Makakalikasan at Maka-Diyos Talents such as singing, dancing, spoken poetries, and sharing of experiences inspired the participants to be involved.

The participation of the Division Youth Singing Ambassadors hyped the participants as they sing the Division Youth Summit theme song, “Inspirasyon” by Gaba-An Youth Lead. There was also the “Kumusta YOUth?” portion which was facilitated by Ate Nania together with selected SPG and SSG officers: Althea Faith D. Alivio (Real ES), Ma. Therese Elyssa Manimtim (Punta IS), Jordan T. Hinagpis (Makiling IS), and Mark Juoaquin Piamonte (San Juan ES). This was the sharing of experiences brought by the challenges of distance learning and the new set- up of educational system, their perceptions about COVID-19 Pandemic, and their adjustments in coping with these changes.  In between sessions, spoken word poetries, entitled “Bisita” and “Binhi” by Bhea Patrice Aquino (Calamba City Science IS), entertained the participants to prepare them to the topics to be shared with them by the invited resources speakers.

The Schools Division Superintendent of Calamba City, Ms. Susan DL. Oribiana welcomed the participants by telling the youth “You are not alone.” She told the participants that everyone can help one another in order to build a wonderful community to live in.

The first topic presented was on “Good Health and Well-Being: Braving the Storm to Survive and Thrive”.  College Professor, Guidance Counsellor and Registered Psychologist Ms. Noralle G. Collado, talked about the importance of experiencing happiness and sadness. According to her, “a person will not appreciate happiness if she never experienced sadness yet. There is a need to love oneself, respect one’s ability, and trust one’s potential in order to extend it to others. As the saying goes, “we cannot give what we don’t have.”

The second session was entitled “Urban Agriculture: Level Up the Fight for Climate Solutions and Food Security.” . The discussant was Mr. Earwin A. Belen, a licensed agriculturalist and founder of Urban Agriculture PH, He discussed the benefits of farming and a possibility that agriculture may still exist in urban places, also known as the Urban Agriculture. He shared his experiences as he went to the community in Pembo, Makati, and his tips in order to make their own garden at the comfort of their own homes.

As one of the aims of this summit, strengthen the promotion of healthy lives and well-being of all individuals amidst global health crisis. The Manager of Environmental Management, and GAC Department of Toshiba Information Equipment (Phils.), Inc, Engr. Minette Biares conveyed the Ecosystem Restoration programs they are implementing in their company, and their stand when it comes to the importance of the involvement of youth in protecting the environment.

The event ended by hearing a message from the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, Mr. Jaypee E. Lopo. He shared a piece of advice to the youth, that everyone should make the most of their time amidst the health crisis, as everyone will only be a child or a young adult once in their whole life.

Indeed, this program which was led by the Youth Formation Unit PDO 1 Rocky Dela Cruz and PDO1 Jerwin Patiga was a success. It attained its objectives to serve as a platform for the youth to share their voice, perception, and innovative initiatives to find solutions to the crisis; and emphasize the role of the youth in making the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) possible and in accordance with its mandate stipulated in DepEd Order No. 47, s. 2014.