Las Piñas City Mayor Imelda T. Aguilar (left) supervises the voluntary demotion of Police Community Precinct (PCP) 6 in Barangay Talon IV during the clearing operation to rid the sidewalks of obstruction. With Mayor Aguilar is City Engineer Rosabella A. Bantog (center), who was instructed to look for an area to relocate the station. Mayor Aguilar reported 100% completion of the clearing operation before the September 29 deadline. Also in photo were: Mark Anthony Santos, city chief of staff and City administrator Rey Balagulan. (photo issued by Las Piñas Media Team)
The City Government of Las Piñas announced on September 4 that it has accomplished 100% completion of road clearing operations well ahead of the September 29 deadline that was set for all local government units which received orders to clear the roads and sidewalks of obstructions.
Mayor Imelda T. Aguilar has directed the city’s Task Force Kaayusan and officials in the city’s twenty barangays to continue monitoring the cleared and demolished areas, even after the deadline at the end of September, to ensure that no new obstructions or illegal structures would block the roadways and pedestrian lanes
“We have finished clearing the major roads of any obstruction including illegally parked vehicles and vendors, even during the first month operation, although we did not immediately announced it since we have been doing this before the President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive,” Mayor Aguilar said.
The mayor personally supervised the voluntary demolition of Police Community Precinct (PCP) in Barangay Talon IV which was partly occupying the sidewalk during the initial week of the clearing operation.
Several service utilities have also been warned and directed to hasten all their excavation works which contribute to sidewalk obstruction.
Mayor Aguilar added that the city’s clearing operation was a continuing campaign in line with the effort of the city to address the traffic gridlock along Alabang-Zapote Road which is the only main thoroughfare of Las Piñas.
“We have also written several homeowners in private villages and subdivisions along the Friendship Route, the city’s alternate route, to voluntarily remove illegally parked vehicles and plant boxes along the sidewalks so pedestrians can use them,” she added.
Previously, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued an order to local government units to clear roads of obstruction. On August 1, Mayor Aguilar met with the heads of the barangays and warned them of extreme consequence if they fail to clear their respective areas of obstruction and illegal structures.
This development highlights one of the objectives under the Reformed SK System which is to make the SK unit financially independent from the Barangay unit. BFSK chairperson Mariel Tumang mentioned this during the July 14 general meeting at Barangay BF Homes hall. Tumang, by the way, is incumbent Vice President of the Parañaque SK Federation.
In relation to this development, Tumang clarified to me yesterday that the Barangay BF Homes SK accomplished the fidelity bond (an insurance of bondable public officer under the Fidelity Fund to assure faithful performance of all duties imposed by law and faithfully accounting all funds and public properties) as well as the opening of a bank account since July. Therefore the Parañaque SK Federation’s acknowledgement of the BFSK came rather late.
Apart from achieving independence on funding, the BFSK will have more freedom (when compared to depending on the Barangay’s own fund for your development) on creating new programs, projects and activities focused on the youth. Tumang confirmed to me that the total funds for their SK is estimated at P6.4 million and soon they will organize the upcoming Youth Camp before the year ends.
Group shot I took of the BFSK (chairperson Mariel Tumang standing 4th from left) kagawads and officials with Barangay BF Homes captain Paolo Marquez during the BFSK general meeting on July 14.
These recent developments don’t tell the complete story though. Tumang said there are still some things that need to be done.
The BFSK chairperson told me that she, the SK kagawads and other officers will have to undergo training from the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for guidelines.
Due to the bureaucracy and the fact that there are still some Sangguniang Kabataan units from other barangays of Parañaque who have not yet accomplished fidelity bonding, such training won’t start until everyone is ready. To put things in perspective, Parañaque has a total of sixteen barangays and each of them has its own SK unit.
For future updates on the youth of Barangay BF Homes, come back here soon.
If you are interested on BFSK-related articles, read my feature interview of SK Kagawad Jerry Dalmero here, the BFSK’s campaign versus youth suicide here and my in-depth coverage of the BFSK’s Linggo ng Kabataan event here.
To others reading this, if you are dissatisfied with print media and you want your community/organization/business to be featured on this website, please contact me locally via mobile number 0905-3350831 or via email at Carlo.Carrasco@gmail.com
We can negotiate, work together and be achievers together.
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenoris still available in paperback and e-book format. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com
Plastics Drop-Off Project by Mindbuilders Preschool and Partners Nets 84.7 Kilograms
A total of almost eighty-five kilograms worth of plastic materials was collected by Mindbuilders Preschool from donors who visited them along Tropical Avenue, BF International, Las Piñas City when the plastics drop-off campaign was held on August 29 and 30.
Several plastic materials collected at the school.
According to Mindbuilders Preschool Directress Marah V. Estuesta, precisely 84.7 kilograms worth of soft and hard plastic materials was dropped off by donors (includingmyself because I wanted to reduce plastic from our household and I do care about our environment) which made their project with partners Envirotech Waste Recycling, Inc. and Pure Oceans Philippines an undeniable success. Soft plastic materials include residual plastic like candy wrappers, plastic labo, straws and sando bags to name some. Hard plastic materials include toys, plastic bottles, take-out containers, broken appliance bits, etc.
“This is actually our second plastic collection drive for this year. The first collection/turnover was done last March 2019. This plastic drop-off project is actually a follow-up activity of the Mindbuilders Preschool’s Chopin Project 2019 ‘Green Guardians’ where our Kindergarten students planned and organized a fun run to raise funds for the Las Piñas Parañaque Critical Habitat Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA),” Estuesta stated.
She elaborated that the plastic materials collected were brought by Pure Oceans Philippines to Envirotech Waste Recycling’s upcycling plant which was designed to convert the materials into 100% upcycled plastic products such as school chairs. Pure Oceans confirmed to Mindbuilders Preschool that the collection of plastic exceeded their expectations.
Estuesta explained that their school really aimed to encourage the Mindbuilders families to adhere to lifestyle changes for the betterment of the environment as well as for the future of mankind and Mother Earth.
The result? Most of the plastic donated came from the said families. In addition, the school got a surprise assistance from CTSI Logistics which saw a key post in the Mindbuilders Preschool Facebook page. This resulted CTSI Logistics sending them their boxes of plastics and they expressed thanks to them for setting a great example in teaching kids the importance of recycling.
CTSI Logistics dropped off several boxes of plastic materials at the school. This was the result of the company spotting a Facebook post from Mindbuilders Preschool. (photo source – Mindbuilders Preschool Facebook page)
When asked about the possibility that another plastic donation drive will be held in the near future, Estuesta stated that Mindbuilders Preschool foresees the Green Guardians plastic collection to be a long-term project by keeping its partnership with Pure Oceans as well as making the collection-turnover of plastic a regular practice to be done quarterly.
For those of you reading this, if you are within the BF Homes community and you have excessive plastic materials at home or at your business facilities, watch out for the next plastic drop-off drive of Mindbuilders Preschool which you can call at 82507419 and 0927-2062506.
Marah V. Estuesta’s Message to the Readers
“Everyone should be a green guardian and do their part to rise up and take action on behalf of the planet. These environmental acts may be little but can definitely make a difference in our country and in the world.”
Mindbuilders Preschool Directress Marah V. Estuesta and child with the plastic materials. (photo source – Mindbuilders Preschool Facebook page)
About Mindbuilders Preschool
Mindbuilders Preschool is a Multiple Intelligence school located at 168 Tropical Avenue BF International Las Piñas City. It was established in 2002 and is accredited by the Department of Education. The preschool is also an active member of the Las Piñas Private Schools Association. To date, Mindbuilders Preschool established itself with not only good quality education but also worked with its students on several social responsibility projects. The school prides itself in having strong home and school collaboration. The bond built with families is even carried beyond the child’s preschool years – evidence that Mindbuilders Preschool is more than just a learning institution.
Mindbuilders Preschool announced today that its next plastics drop-off project will be held on November 5 and 6.
If you are living within the South Metro Manila zone and you intend to get rid of the excess plastic materials of your household or your business establishment, now is a good time to start collecting.
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To others reading this, if you are dissatisfied with print media and you want your community/organization/business to be featured on this website, please contact me locally via mobile number 0905-3350831 or via email at Carlo.Carrasco@gmail.com
We can negotiate, work together and be achievers together.
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenoris still available in paperback and e-book format. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com
For the entire day of August 31, over sixty youth from varied developing communities of Barangay BF Homes had fun, worked together and got educated during the Youth Forum (full title: Edukasyon Para sa Lahat – Kaeskwela Youth Forum) held at the Phase 1 gym along Pilar Banzon street, BF Homes subdivision, Parañaque City.
Under the watch of Barangay BF Homes Kagawad Rocel Espino (in-charge of the education committee), youth from Masville, Sampaloc and a few other developing communities formed seven groups and their respective members not only bonded but also learned new things. For fun, they took part in a series of games and contests.
In the afternoon, each group took on the challenge of getting their members together to discuss what issues they see affect the youth of their generation today, express what can be done to not only survive and progress, and express their suggestions on how the local authority – namely Barangay BF Homes – can help them through service.
Barangay BF Homes Kagawad Rocel Espino talks to the youth.
During her address to the youth, Kagawad Espino announced that the Barangay BF Homes Youth Camp is already being prepared and soon they will announce when and where exactly it will be held. Espino told me that the Youth Forum served as a prelude to the Youth Camp.
“Why are we doing these activities? We have objectives set. While we (the barangay) cannot always build the future for the youth, we can help the youth develop ways to prepare themselves for the future,” said the Kagawad during her address. “Local youth can learn a lot to move forward through the activities organized by the barangay.”
During the group presentation of the Youth Forum, common issues that affect youth include Internet addiction, social media obsession, drugs, avoiding or cutting classes, depression, obsession with video games and computer games, bullying, peer pressure, gender confusion due to LGBTQ propaganda, exposure to sensuality and the like.
As I watched the groups express themselves, I noticed how much of an impact social media had on the youth. Through social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, young people of today are so exposed to lots of random forms of information or images, videos and sounds which are clearly distracting to them. Some youth participants admitted they had trouble resisting social media use while others said they experienced temptations while online.
Youth brainstormed together by group.
Compared to what I witnessed more than twenty years ago (before social media was realized), the new issues that affected the youth was the rise of Internet access as well as the rise of computer and video games. Back in those old days, there were lots of concerns and complaints from parents/guardians stressing that digital games and Internet addiction made educating and nurturing their children harder. There was also a wave of concern that young people will become violent and obsessive with digital content.
Going back even further into the past – specifically just before Internet access became available here in the Philippines – sexual and mature or violent content shown in movie theaters, television and print media were the hot issues related to the development of young people.
By today’s standards, those old issues seem to pale in comparison to the wide and powerful influence social media has on the current generation of youth who now enjoy better access to Internet due to the availability of cheap smartphones and the numerous WiFi hot spots around the communities. Such a high number of opportunities to connect online means more exposure to videos, images, verbal expressions that could influence users and even impact their behavior. Even worse, there could be potential victims by hackers among these young users. Imagine yourself being the parent of these youth.
The young people brainstorming as observed by Kagawad Espino.A youth signs at a tarpaulin confirming his part as a participant.
Going back to the Youth Forum, the event ended with a positive and promising note. I noticed several participants were already excited about the upcoming Youth Camp which could attract a potential five hundred participants. What Kagawad Espino told me was significant.
“Today’s event is very successful as it has been very challenging to reach out and convince these kids to decide to participate. It was also challenging to engage them and maintain their attention all throughout. Regardless, the fact that they attended until five o’clock proves the success,” Espino said. “This Youth Forum was the result of requests by the parents of these youth and this serves as a prelude to this year’s Youth Camp. We received feedback from parents who noticed that youth seem disturbed and they requested for another Youth Camp to be held.”
Supported by Barangay BF Homes chairman Paolo Marquez, the August 31 Youth Forum was the latest youth-related achievement of Barangay BF Homes through the committee headed by Kagawad Espino. Prior to it, the Barangay BF Homes edition of the Linggo ng Kabataan 2019 celebration organized by the Barangay BF Homes Sangguniang Kabataan (BFSK) became a major success attracting more than three hundred (300+) youth. Kagawad Espino congratulated the BFSK during her visit at the August 17 Linggo ng Kabataan 2019 event.
More youth signed on.A large group shot in front of photographers.
For updates regarding the youth activities and developments of Barangay BF Homes, come back here soon.
While waiting, you can read my exclusive interview with BFSK chairwoman Mariel Angela Tumang here, my exclusive scoop on BFSK’s campaign against youth suicide here and my exclusive interview of BFSK Kagawad Jerry Dalmero here.
Let me end this piece with this scripture from the Holy Bible.
The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
Psalm 14: 2 (NKJV)
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenoris still available in paperback and e-book format. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com
Parenting Session for Expats To Be Held At Southville International School and Colleges (SISC) on September 21
On September 21, Southville International School and Colleges (SISC) will be organizing an exciting event where expat parents can learn and share their experiences raising children in the Philippines.
Set to start at 10AM up to 12PM is the event titled “Adaptation: How to help your Child Assimilate in the Philippines” which will be held at the Southville main campus in BF International, Las Piñas City. SISC will offer opportunity for families new to the Philippines to learn from experts how to help their children grow and succeed in a new environment.
Featuring presentations by Southville’s International Baccalaureate Coordinator, Mr. John Wraith and Southville International School Affiliated with Foreign Universities Associate International Education Specialist/Business Development Officer and Southville Expat Parent, Mrs. Arjumand Nageen Ahsan, this event will be a chance to share experiences between families and make new connections. There will also be an open forum to be facilitated by SGEN Communication Director, Mr. Daniel Steel.
With is diverse community of international students, Southville International School and Colleges nurtures learners to achieve and uphold academic and values excellence. The academic institution reiterates its commitment to provide the highest-quality, national and international standards of education to all students. They also recognize that expat families face distinct challenges and have created this event as a way for our community of expat learners, teachers, and families to share their insights.
To be a youth engaged in public service aimed at the local community is not a joke. For starters, youth here in the Philippines have their academics to prioritize. They also have to spend time with their respective families and obey their parents. As if that was not had enough, youth public servants have to do a ton of research youon participating in the democratic exercise (note: running for office and convincing voters to trust them), the legislative procedures and actual participation in projects and events.
Those are just some of the things that Barangay BF Homes Sangguniang Kabataan (BFSK)Kagawad Jerry Dalmero went through. The 20-year-old has been serving in the SK (youth council in English) of what is the largest barangay in South Metro Manila since late June of 2018. He is in the same SK leadership with six other SK kagawads and SK chairperson Mariel Tumang.
This is my feature interview of him.
A guy named Jerry
Barangay BF Homes SK Kagawad Jerry Dalmero was born in 1999 in Masville which is a developing community within the said barangay in Parañaque City. He has yet to complete his academics. Apart from serving in the BFSK, he is also active as a coach in the Masville Elementary School Performing Arts Group where he teaches youth how to dance, sing, act and modeling.
Before even running for the BFSK, the Sangguniang Kabataan was reformed nationally through legislation in 2015. This made a series of changes on the SK system and as such the SK election (held per community nationwide) in May 2018 was the first of the reformed system. This makes Jerry Dalmero, his fellow SK kagawads and chairperson Tumang the pioneers of the reformed BFSK.
Dalmero ran in the May 2018 SK election of Barangay BF Homes as a member of the SK candidates team under the group of Barangay BF Homes captain Paolo Marquez. I asked him how he became a candidate in the first place.
“A teacher recommended me to ma’am Zeny Pascual who was working for Barangay BF Homes. I was asked if I were interested to run for a seat in the SK,” Dalmero recalled. “At first, I really did not want to run because I knew that politics is dirty. I also found disturbing the idea for running which requires a whole lot of resources such as funds, campaign materials, on-site campaigns and others. My teacher told me that my candidacy will be supported.”
Subsequently Dalmero agreed to run under the banner of Team Paolo Marquez in the 2018 election. To his surprise, he and his teammates received a whole of support, sponsors and other supporters.
During the campaign period in the summer of 2018, Dalmero and his teammates had to endure the challenges of physically campaigning around Barangay BF Homes which is known not only for its very high population but also for the high density of community population and vast physical locations.
“It was very hard for me to campaign. I really did not realize back then that Barangay BF Homes is very large and wide. We visited not only a lot of places but also the hard-to-reach spots where there turned out to be lots of residents. I had to learn a lot as the campaign went on. I even missed some meetings with my family,” he said.
Dalmero had to learn new ways in order to communicate effectively with the voters. His teammates also happen to be good looking and he even wondered if he was charismatic enough to attract the voters.
The election campaign engine of Team Paolo Marquez turned out to be efficient. Dalmero admitted that as he and his SK teammates struggled to reach out to voters, then candidate for Barangay captain Paolo Marquez took time out to convince voters to support their youth ticket. Marquez even raised the arm of Dalmero to the voters. Eventually Dalmero won.
Before winning, however, the stress and anxiety went really high as the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) counted the votes of the SK election in May 2018. Dalmero and his teammates were at the Team Paolo Marquez campaign headquarters waiting for whatever updates would come in. As he was already exhausted from the campaigning and lack of sleep during the night of vote counting, he left to go home to rest. That was until something happened.
“I was on my way back home when I decided to ask someone for updates regarding the election results. Shortly after, I received an update that the counting was finished and that several of us had to go to the Phase 1 gym (along Pilar Banzon street) for the proclamation. As I was riding going to the venue, I was in tears as I was happy and felt very relieved to have won,” Dalmero recalled.
Even though he and others got proclaimed, Dalmero still could hardly believe his victory was real. He remembered that before even becoming a candidate with the team of Chairperson Paolo Marquez, a lot of youth were asked if they were interested to run. Considering the odds and challenges he went through, Dalmero’s victory was a hard-earned one.
As member of the BFSK, Dalmero handles the Committee on Culture and Tourism. The committee is in charge of organizing or sponsoring events dealing with culture and history, and engage the local youth to participate. Along the way, he served as judge in varied contests or special events in different schools within the barangay.
SK Kagawad Jerry Dalmero watches along with a group of youth during the Barangay BF Homes SK’s Linggo ng Kabataan 2019 event.
For the near future, Dalmero announced that his committee will organize pageants called Little Miss Barangay BF Homes and Miss Barangay BF Homes. The latter will serve as the basis for Barangay BF Homes on selecting candidates to represent them in the annual Binibining Parañaque pageant which is held each time the City Government of Parañaque organizes its Cityhood Anniversary events. The final venue and schedules of the two said events will be determined soon.
Also coming is a talent workshop to be organized by BFSK designed to train participants to sing and dance. Also part of it is a recital concert. The committee is also involved in the cleanliness and beautification efforts of the BFSK.
Message to the Readers
Dalmero and BF SK chairperson Mariel Tumang with many youth during the 2019 Buwan ng Wika celebration at Masville Elementary School. (source – Sangguniang Kabataan ng Barangay BF Facebook page)
“I express my thanks to the readers of this website and I hope that youth, both online and in the real world, will become inspired to be more productive and more meaningful people for they are the future of our nation. That being said, the youth who do well will eventually inspire many other people.”
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenoris still available in paperback and e-book format. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com
The City Government of Muntinlupa announced yesterday that its achievements on nutrition as well as interventions serve as a benchmark in combatting malnutrition for other local government units in the country.
During the National Nutrition Council’s (NNC) LGU Mobilization Forum held at Asian Institute of Management Conference Center, Makati City on August 23, Mayor Jaime Fresnedi shared the City Government’s best practices and also underscored the importance of good governance.
Fresnedi said upon learning the survey on malnutrition among local government units (LGUs) in NCR last 2014, the City Government revived the City Nutrition Committee and expanded its membership, including coordination with different stakeholders such as DEPED to have a collaborative effort.
“The NNC report served as a wake-up call to all of us leaders in the City. We saw the urgency to address this issue and immediately launched inter-sectoral interventions,” the mayor noted.
The Muntinlupa City Nutrition Committee conducted site visits in communities and ensured services were received by target beneficiaries. Cooking video demonstrations of healthy meals and infomercials were posted in various social media platforms while feature articles on nutrition interventions and promotion of proper nutrition were also published in community newsletter Lingkod Bayan.
The City Government also intensified NNC’s National Nutrition Promotion for Behaviour Change to instill right values on nutrition care among parents, pregnant and lactating women, children as well as adolescents through Pabasa sa Nutrisyon and the conduct of community assembly dubbed as Pulong-pulong sa Usaping Tamang Nutrisyon at Kalusugan in different puroks. Further, additional Nutritionists and Barangay Nutrition Scholars were hired to augment the city’s nutrition program.
Health, nutrition, and wellness are part of the local 9-Point-Agenda of Governance and 6-year Comprehensive Development Plan, including the Executive-Legislative Agenda to ensure sustainability of programs.
As a result of these initiatives, the prevalence of stunting was reduced from 8.0% in 2016 to 1.3% in 2019 while children suffering from wasting has gone down from 1.8% to 0.3%. In addition, the prevalence of underweight children was reduced from 1.7% in 2016 to 0.9% while overweight and obesity decreased among 0-59 month-old children from 2.8% to 0.6%.
Mayor Fresnedi expressed his thanks Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Federizo for their assistance in the conduct of trainings, forums, advocacies and the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation in Muntinlupa for the previous years. He encouraged all LGU representatives to champion healthy and active lifestyle in the communities and to work together towards achieving zero malnutrition rate in the localities.
Southville Calls for Top Outstanding Students, Awards Scholarships
Southville Global Education Network (SGEN) through Southville International School and Colleges (SISC) and South SEED-LPDH College (SSLC), is conducting its annual Search for T.O.P.S. (Top Outstanding Performing Students) Program. The search is open to graduating public and private Grade 12 high school students from all over the country who belong to the top 10% of the school’s graduating class.
The T.O.P.S. is SGEN’s contribution to the efforts of the Department of Education (DepEd) in inspiring students to become achievers and make them enhance their academic and leadership potentials as well as their character, values, their talents in arts, and sports by way of recognizing student-achievers in high school.
At stake for the Top 20 is a college scholarship (major prize).
Applicants should submit a recommendation letter from their high school principal and accomplish application form downloadable at http://www.southville.edu.ph. Deadline of submission of forms and requirements will be on September 15, 2019. The competitive assessment will be on September 28, 2019. Awarding will be on November 29, 2019.
For inquiries, please look for Mr. Roman Baluyot or Ms. Elyds Reyes at the SISC PR Office or call (02) 825-2358/(02) 825-6374 loc. 100, 829-1675 or email at pr@southville.edu.ph for more information.
SISC and SSLC are known for the high passing rates in their PRC licensure examination.
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Note: This was a press release issued by Southville International School and Colleges (SISC) located in BF International, Las Piñas City, Philippines. This PR has been added to this website’s dedicated section of South Metro Manila news and developments.
Scheduled for September 28, 2019 is the Health Check-Up activity of residents of Tahanan Village, Barangay BF Homes, Parañaque City. The activity will begin at 6AM and will end at 10AM and those who plan to avail of the services will have to go to the pool side of the village clubhouse where the village clinic is located at.
Currently offered is a package of services priced at P350 which includes good and bad cholesterol check, Triglycerides, Creatinine, SGOT, ECG, blood sugar count, total cholesterol count, BUN, Urice Acid, SGPT, CBC and urinalysis. All of those who intend to avail of the said services are advised to bring their own urine sample and ensure they fast for ten to twelve hours.
Other health services people can choose from are PSA, Hba1c, T3, T4, TSH and Na, K and Ci (electrolytes). There will also be a free computerized eye refraction service as well.
The results of the medical tests will be released on October 6 at the Tahanan Village clinic.
According to Century Club of Tahanan, Inc. president Florencia Umali, the office of Parañaque City Councilor Wahoo Sotto will provide free coffee while the office of Barangay BF Homes chairman Paolo Marquez will provide free servings of arroz caldo with eggs.
The Health Check-Up activity on September 28 is a project of the Century Club of Tahanan, Inc. in coordination with the Tahanan Homeowners Association, Inc. (THA) which is in-charge of the venue.
A Tremendously Successful 2019 Linggo ng Kabataan in Barangay BF Homes by the BFSK
From Left to Right were Barangay BF Homes Sangguniang Kabataan (BFSK) kagawads Irene Juanico, Anne Corre, chairperson Mariel Tumang, SK kagawads Jerry Dalmero and Stephanie Sebullen.
As far as the Barangay BF HomesSangguniang Kabataan (BFSK) is concerned, August 17, 2019 will be remembered for a long time as their 2019 Linggo ng Kabataan event held at the Phase 1 gym along Pilar Banzon street, BF Homes subdivision, Parañaque City turned out to be tremendously successful in terms of youth turnout and participation.
According to BFSK chairperson Mariel Angela Tumang (read my exclusive feature interview of her here), the turnout was bigger than the two hundred and fifty youth they anticipated. For a whole day, youth from around Barangay BF Homes (Masville, Sampaloc Site 1 and 2, Clinic Site, and others) engaged in lots of activities such as parlor games, group performances, Tagalog literary contest, the Trashionista competition (models wearing gowns made out of recycled materials) and more.
Barangay BF Homes Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson Mariel Tumang (left) herself handled the registration of the many youth who lined up early.Many youth in line on the morning of August 17.
“The turnout and participation of youth to our Linggo ng Kabataan event went beyond our expectations. We targeted around two hundred fifty youth but by the time our initial count ended, it reached at two hundred and ninety-four. Then even more joined in pushing the count beyond the three hundred mark,” Tumang confirmed. “We are surprised and very delighted with the better than expected turnout.”
Filled with happiness, Tumang declared their Linggo ng Kabataan event a very successful one and no less than Barangay BF Homes Kagawad Rocel Espino expressed her admiration for the event (see below).
It should be noted that Tumang and the SK Kagawads Alma Galindo, Roselyn Regis, Jerry Dalmero, Kelly Haboc, Irene Juanico, Anne Gabrielle Corre and Stephanie Sebullen as well as their SK secretary Darrenz Fabros and SK treasurer Jefferson Ching worked long and hard on organizing the event from the decorations to the registration of youth and implementing the program of the day.
Engagement and Achievements
These youths posed for me.
Waiting for the registration to end and the program to start.
Youths about to start the Zumba activity.
Another batch of youths posed for me.
SK Kagawad Jerry Dalmero watches along with a group of youths.
Along the way, the youth also engaged with each other through socializing when they had their meals and breaks. Early in the day, I found time to approach some young people to get their perspective about the activities.
“I’m excited mainly for the parlor games,” said 16-year-old Hazel.
“The Trashionista looks exciting. I’m really curious as to how our fellow youth will prove their creativity on making gowns using recycled materials,” said Maria, also aged 16.
Another youth (age 18) I interviewed named Mark revealed that the socializing aspect interests him the most as he has always been excited to meet youth from other areas of the barangay through the BFSK’s organizing of events for them.
The activities include Palarong Pinoy which was composed of a variety of parlor games participated by teams and these games really dominated the day which gave the participants a lot of fun and socializing along the way.
A group performs during the cheering contest.One of the candidates wearing a gown and a crown made of recycled materials answered a question during the Trashionista.
Trashionista was a fashion show and pageant-like activity highlighting dresses and accessories made out of recycled materials emphasizing creativity, recycling and usability. The Tagalog literary contest of poetry emphasized the use of spoken Tagalog along with the participant’s creativity and ability to express himself/herself.
By the evening, as the final activities took place, it was pretty clear that the youth were enjoying the action and themselves. The Tagalog poetry contest drew a lot of cheers from the youth-dominated audience and I noticed that many youth were still energetic and excited even at around 9PM.
“When we planned the poetry contest, we never anticipated that it would generate a lot of interest from the youth. After making the formal announcement and starting the search for candidates, the response from the youth wanting to join in was overwhelming,” SK kagawad Jerry Dalmero said during my interview with him.
This young lady’s poetry performance drew some cheers.Little Miss Las Islas Filipinas 2019 winner Miarah Ysabelle Licardo poses with Barangay BF Homes’ Zeny Pascual. Licardo is a resident of Masville.Another poetry performance.
Ultimately, the achievements of youth – both individual and by groups – were acknowledged and awarded accordingly. The achievers per category are as follows:
Tula (Spoken Poetry)
1st place – John Paul Albiola
2nd place – Gia Fortes
3rd place – Francis Francisco
Trashionista
1st place – Francis Francisco
2nd place – Charlon Salazar
3rd place – Julie Betania
4th place – Leonel Rosales
Palarong Pinoy
1st place – Team Gray
2nd place – Team Blue
3rd place – Team Orange
BFSK praised by Barangay Kagawad Espino
Barangay BF Homes Kagawad Rocel Espino. She leads the barangay committee on education.
Barangay BF Homes Kagawad Rocel Espino, who leads the barangay committee on education, graced the Linggo ng Kabataan event and stated she was really happy to see a large turnout of youth participating.
“I congratulate our Sangguniang Kabataan council for organizing this special event for our community’s youth and I am impressed to see the high turnout we have,” Kagawad Espino said on the stage. “I am so delighted to see so many youth who are not only attending but also are eager to make themselves heard.”
During my chat with her, Espino revealed it was very hard to reach out to the community youth and even harder to convince them to participate to events or activities meant for them. There were times that activities meant for youth empowerment got organized but attracted very few youth participants.
Furthermore, Espino announced that a youth seminar will be held for the young people of Masville on August 31 at barangay hall. It will start from 8AM and last until 3PM. She also announced the “Proud to be Drug-Free” project with a school in Masville which will be a one-day event.
What is Linggo ng Kabataan?
For the newcomers and the readers from overseas reading this, Linggo ng Kabataan in English stands for Week of the Youth (or Youth Week for short). The celebration is not limited to the local community but in varied communities around the Philippines which have the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK).
According to item letter A on Section 30 (Chapter VI) of Republic Act Number 10742 (Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015), every barangay, municipality, city and province shall conduct the annual Linggo ng Kabataan on the week where the 12th of August falls to coincide with the International Youth Day. The Sangguniang Kabataan, in the case of barangay, and the respective LYDC in cooperation with the Pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan, in the case of municipality, city and province, shall take the lead in this observance.
Item letter B states: The observance of the Linggo ng Kabataan shall include the election of the counterparts of all local elective and appointive officials, as well as heads of national offices or agencies stationed or assigned in the territorial jurisdiction of the local government unit, among in-school and community youth residing in the local government concerned from ages thirteen (13) to seventeen (17). During said week, they shall hold office as boy and girl officials and shall perform such duties *and conduct such activities as may be provided in the ordinance enacted pursuant to this Chapter.
The Linggo ng Kabataan event in Barangay BF Homes was a special project of the Barangay BF Homes Sangguniang Kabataan supported by Barangay chairman Paolo Marquez. Unsurprisingly, the tremendous success of the event drew praise from the youth participants and already there are many who are hoping for another edition of it to happen.
We’ll find out in twenty-twenty.
Finally, here are scriptures from the Holy Bible that youth and all of you, my readers, will find uplifting.
Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in the word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
1 Timothy 4: 12 (NKJV)
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, and will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus
Philippians 4: 6-7 (NKJV)
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