Very recently, the Manila Bulletin reported that the vaccination of minors (individuals aged 17 and below) is not yet officially allowed by the City Government of Muntinlupa. The City Government had to make a statement as rumors were rife that minors can be vaccinated.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…
Minors, or those 17 years old and below, are not yet allowed to be vaccinated, government officials said.
This was the clarification made by the Muntinlupa City government on rumors spreading that those below 18 years old can now get their vaccine shot.
It said this is based on an advisory issued on July 11 by the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center.
Advisory 65-A, signed by Health Usec. Myrna Cabotaje, stated that “as of July 11, 2021, pediatric/adolescent (17 years old and below) vaccination is not yet allowed.”
“The vaccination rollout will still focus on the eligible population (18 years old and above) under Priority Groups Al, A2. A3, and in some areas, including Priority Groups A4 and A5, as stipulated in the National Vaccine Deployment and Vaccination Plan (NDVP),” the advisory added.
“As of now, they cannot be allowed at vaccination sites as rumored. As per the National Vaccination Deployment Plan, we will still focus on the eligible population of 18 years old and above in the priority groups,” said Muntinlupa City Health Officer Dr. Juancho Bunyi.
As of July 9, 218,064 doses of the vaccines have been administered in Muntinlupa. Of the total, 152,900 individuals received their first dose, or 39.6 percent of the target population of 385,725.
Of the 152,900 first dose recipients, 10,928 are A1 (health workers), 19,319 are A2 (senior citizens), 64,975 are A3 (persons with comorbidities), 49,396 are A4 (essential workers) and 8,282 are A5 (poor population).
In addition, 65,164 individuals received their second dose, or 16.9 percent of the target population.
For Muntinlupa City residents who have not yet registered for the free COVID-19 vaccines, learn the ways to get registered right here. If you are ready to register yourself online, click https://vaccine.muntinlupacity.gov.ph/muncovac/
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a parent of a minor living in Muntinlupa City, are you comfortable with the idea of having your child vaccinated? Do you believe it is time for the national authorities to make clear its stand on the issue of having minors vaccinated for COVID-19?
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. 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
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To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Philippine News Agency (PNA) article. Some parts in boldface…
Half of the 40 million Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines that the Philippine government secured will be used for children under the 12 to 15 age bracket, vaccine czar and National Task Force against Covid-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said Sunday.
Pfizer and the government signed on Saturday a supply agreement for 40 million doses of vaccines to be delivered by the third and fourth quarter of 2021.
“Our original plan is to have only 15 to 25 (million) but considering that we are only opening up the vaccination for children like in Europe and also in the United States and Israel, we are anticipating that we have to program or we have to prepare for that,” Galvez told reporters in an interview.
Once the expert panel gives a go signal and guidelines have been issued, Galvez said the government would start vaccinating those in the said age bracket.
“Once we have already their approval for most vaccines to be used on children and once the DOH makes the guidelines, we will do,” he assured.
With the signing of the Pfizer supply deal, Galvez is confident that the country will be able to achieve its targeted 184 million doses of Covid-19 shots before the year ends.
As of June 19, the country has received a total of 14,205,870 doses of shots manufactured by Sinovac, Sputnik, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca both through procurement and donations.
Considering the situation of the Philippines under this COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial for minors to get vaccinated and the parents will have to decide whether to avail of the free vaccines or not. By today’s standards, learning in schools is drastically different for the youth aged 12 to 15-years-old, and that is many millions of students in the country.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Do you agree with the national government’s move to secure half of the incoming 40 million Pfizer vaccines to be used on minors? If you are a parent of a child aged 12 to 15, are you willing to have your child vaccinated?
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. 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 more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Yesterday the City Government of Muntinlupa awarded stimulus assistance to displaced youth workers in the city who have started their own businesses in a bid to recover from unemployment and other challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi led the turn-over of financial assistance to 34 youth entrepreneurs under the first of batch of NegosYouth: Stimulus Recovery Assistance Program of the Youth Affairs and Sports Development Office.
Fresnedi says the resilience of the city’s youth entrepreneurs to innovate amid challenging times is worthy of emulation. The local exec hopes that their stories will also inspire other young people in the city to also start their own businesses.
Under the stimulus program, the City Government provides P5,000 in financial assistance to out-of-work youth, students, and out-of-school youth who have started their own businesses during the community quarantine. The beneficiaries will also receive entrepreneurship trainings on financial literacy, leadership, and among others.
Following an assessment, the beneficiaries will be endorsed to the Joint Resource Financing Program to receive zero-interest loan assistance of up to P150,000 for the expansion of their businesses.
The first batch of the stimulus assistance for the youth is composed of members of Muntinlupa Locals, a street wear movement which empowers and bolster the spirit of entrepreneurship among the youth of the city.
Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (2nd from left) and Youth Affairs and Sports Development Officer Cynthia Viacrusis lead the turn-over ceremony of financial assistance to 34 displaced youth workers turned entrepreneurs under the first of batch of NegosYouth: Stimulus Recovery Assistance Program last March 8. 34 youth entrepreneurs from Muntinlupa Locals, a Muntinlupa-based street wear movement, were the first recipients of the stimulus assistance. Recently, the Muntinlupa City Council passed Resolution No. 2020-406 recognizing the achievement of Muntinlupa Locals in honing the business skills of the local youth and stirring employment among the residents of Muntinlupa. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)
Muntinlupa Locals was founded in June 2020 by Patrick H. Aquino, a resident of Barangay Alabang and proprietor of Ayong Graphics. The youth group supports at least 70 Muntinlupa-based brands and envisions the Muntinlupa youth to be self-reliant by encouraging and bolstering their entrepreneurial skills through patronage and sale of Muntinlupa made, designed and manufactured clothing line.
Recently, the Muntinlupa City Council passed Resolution No. 2020-406 recognizing the achievement of Muntinlupa Locals in honing the business skills of the local youth and stirring employment among the residents of Muntinlupa.
For interested individuals, coordinate with Muntinlupa City Youth Affairs and Sports Development Office located at Muntinlupa Sports Center, Brgy. Tunasan with tel. no. 8862-8428.
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The above information was provided by the City Government of Muntinlupa for the purpose of public information and transparency. Some parts were edited for this website.
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, Ultraverse fans, superhero enthusiasts, comic book collectors and all other geeks! Today, we revisit the Ultraverse for more 1990s comic book fun through another tale of Freex, the team of misfits who have no place to stay.
Last time around, the narrative of Freex suddenly got much stronger X-Men vibes as it was revealed that Freex member Ray/Boom Boy was brought in by Contrary (best known in UltraForce comics) to her team of students (each with different powers and abilities) called the Academy for the New Elite. The rest of the Freex eventually found their way to the secret base of Contrary’s academy.
With those details laid down, we can continue with this look back at Freex #11, published in 1994 by Malibu Comics with a story by Gerard Jones and drawn by Ben Herrera.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins inside the secret facility of the Academy for New Elite. There the surviving members of Freex (Valerie/Pressure, Lewis/Anything, Angela/Sweetface and Michael/Plug) are restrained. Plug can’t do anything except speak gibberish physically as his mind is still connected with the Internet.
Contrary arrives with her students and she tells Freex that she herself works miracles in the minds of troubled young people with powers. She welcomes them to her academy. Valerie, who has often been a rebel, reacts by telling Contrary that she won’t brainwash her like her little “puppets”. In response, Contrary emphasized that her students joined her voluntarily.
Just moments after Lewis made an issue about their teammate Boom Boy getting abducted and asking what Contrary did to turn him against them, Boom Boy suddenly appears and rebukes him.
“She didn’t do nothing…except promise to teach me. Teach me everything my parents took away from me,” Boom Boy said. “I don’t want to be dumb anymore, Lewis.”
The Freex members are stunned…
Quality
Plug’s origin story is interesting but not engaging enough when compared with the main plot.
While the storytelling in the previous issue was a nice mix of surprise and intrigue, this comic book has an even more intriguing tale which really tested the bond that held Freex members together. A notable theme in the story is loyalty which was emphasized in the form of interactions between characters, as well as the student-mentor bond between the Academy’s students and their leader Contrary. It should also be stated that perceptions about becoming loyal to the leader and the struggle to win trust are nicely dramatized in this comic book.
More on the plot, I really enjoyed the confrontation between Contrary’s team and Freex as they symbolize the conflict between being nurtured (educated as students) and being free (freedom that comes with being social outcasts). There are some really nice twists that you should discover for yourselves. Oh yes, the superhero spectacle here are fun to read.
Conclusion
Freex are the youth who are free as social outcasts while Contrary leads a team of youth who are trained and nurtured.
Freex #11 (1994) is another solid entry in the monthly series. It has a more symbolic story and the dramatics have been ramped up. The story itself is pretty cohesive and combined with all the emotions and twists, it all makes sense. It even has key elements that will remind you about today’s developments and movements like the dreaded Cancel Culture, the sinister Democratic Socialists and the wicked Black Lives Matter movement. That being said, the side story emphasizing the origin of Plug just could not match the engagement of the main plot. Regardless, this comic book marks a notable turning point for the Freex as a whole.
If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Freex #11 (1994), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the comic book costs $14.
Overall, Freex #11 (1994) is highly recommended!
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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. 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
Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi in a crucial meeting. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)
The Muntinlupa City Council for the Protection of Children (MCCPC) expressed concerns over the alarming increase of COVID-19 cases among the youth and issued advise to parents to exercise strict guidance for their children.
Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi who also serves as the MCCPC chairperson called for an emergency meeting last August 17 to convene council members and barangay representatives to discuss course of action on how to address the health crisis among the youth.
City Health Officer Dra. Teresa Tuliao said they have recorded rising COVID-19 cases among the 0-19 age group and noted that possible transmission may have occurred from playing outside of their homes or visiting public parks and playgrounds.
As of August 16, CHO recorded 62 confirmed cases on children from the city’s eight barangays.
Tuliao discussed that some of the children who tested positive for COVID-19 violated quarantine protocols such as staying in their homes. She said some patients could have contracted the virus from face-to-face meeting with their peers while playing video games, and others from contact with their partners.
She also noted that teenage pregnancy also emerged as one of the pressing issues among the youth during the community quarantine. CHO recorded an increase of teenage pregnancies from 181 cases on the First Quarter to 234 cases on the Second Quarter of this year.
Muntinlupa PNP chief of police PCOL Melecio Buslig Jr. said he will order augmentation of police personnel in public parks and hotspots of COVID-19 transmission as determined by the council.
Buslig said additional roving and stationary officers will be installed to ensure that no children will be roaming outside their homes and other public spaces.
MCCPC is set to submit a resolution recommending the review of existing ordinances on curfew hours and strict wearing of face masks, including “incentivizing” best practices of communities with regard to the fight against COVID-19.
Further, the local council also recommends for the mobilization of homeowners’ associations (HOAs) to augment monitoring in the communities and creation of series of social media content and other information campaigns to bolster information dissemination of city ordinances.
Mayor Fresnedi urged the youth and their parents to exercise vigilance and strict compliance to IATF guidelines and health protocols especially amid the shift to the more relaxed General Community Quarantine.
Muntinlupa City has 2,654 confirmed cases with 1,673 recoveries, 882 active cases, 99 reported deaths, 1,060 suspect cases, and 795 probable cases as of August 18.
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Latest City Government of Muntinlupa details sourced from their official media release.Some parts were edited for this website.
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, no distorted views and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced by means of interviewing a top official of the Barangay BF Homes Sangguniang Kabataan in relation to a Philippine News Agency article about Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar’s statement that includes the Sangguniang Kabataan’s role in the national government’s COVID-19 Crisis campaign. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
COVID-19 Crisis: PCOO Secretary Andanar expresses optimism in youth’s role in assisting the government’s fight against COVID-19
While delivering his opening remarks during the third COVID-19 virtual town hall meeting held yesterday, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar prodded youth leaders – specifically the Sangguniang Kabataan or youth councils – on helping the national government in its campaign on combatting the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“I am confident that our country in the future will be in good hands with the current SKs (Sangguniang Kabataan or youth councils) and youth leaders we have today. May you continue to shine your bright light to the immediate generation behind you and just do everything to beat this virus together, to heal and to rise as one,” Secretary Andanar said in the PNA.gov.ph article.
Among those who attended the virtual town hall meeting were members of youth councils and youth organizations. It was organized to keep the stakeholders updated as the nation struggles with COVID-19. To date, many thousands got infected and lots of communities nationwide were quarantined to reduce the risk of further infection. Along the way, a lot of people lost their jobs and their income, and families are relying on whatever relief goods their respective barangays and/or LGUs could provide to them.
In reaction to Andanar’s statement above, Barangay BF Homes Sangguniang Kabataan (BFSK) chairwoman Mariel Angela Tumang expressed gladness since she and her fellow SK Kagawads had been doing their parts to protect their constituents from COVID-19 as well as the economic downturn involved.
“I’m glad with Secretary Andanar’s statement. As a youth or as a youth leader, I think we have played a big role on this pandemic. We did our best to provide something, even small things for our Contituents. We’ve started on giving hygiene kits, giving Hot meals like champorado and arozcaldo on every houses in mission areas and giving them Relief Goods,” Tumang stated.
I tried to get Barangay Baclaran SK chairwoman Rachel Garcia’s reaction to Andanar’s statement but she has not replied as of this writing.
Sangguniang Kabataan already working
To put things in perspective, the SKs around the nation have been working on local campaigns related to COVID-19 in their respective communities for the past few months as the barangays and local government units (LGUs) worked in accordance to the rules and standards issued by the national government and its units. Check out my exclusive local community articles about the COVID-19 campaigns done by the Barangay BF Homes SK and the Barangay Baclaran SK. Check out the pictures below.
Barangay Baclaran SK chairwoman Rachel Garcia (black t-shirt) and companions handing out free items to local constituents for their safety from COVID-19. (photo approved for publishing by Barangay Baclaran Sangguniang Kabataan chairwoman Rachel Garcia)
Barangay BF Homes SK chairwoman Mariel Tumang handing out hygiene kits and fliers at one of the local communities. (photo contributed by Barangay BF Homes Sangguniang Kabataan Chairwoman Mariel Tumang)
Barangay Baclaran and Barangay BF Homes are located within Parañaque, the city with the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Metro Manila. Parañaque’s city government has been struggling with containing the China virus and, as of this writing, their number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is HIGHER than Las Piñas and Muntinlupa city COMBINED!
Speaking of Parañaque, Muntinlupa and , I am inviting all of you to join the South Metro Manila Facebook group where you will find lots of updates about the three cities, updates about related local communities, business and commercial updates, the occasional overseas updates and Christian worship. Being part of the FB group will also help you engage with others from the different cities and local communities. Visit the South Metro Manila group now at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673/
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. 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 more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation,NO to plagiarists and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced by means of interviewing a top official of the Barangay BF Homes Sangguniang Kabataan. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
COVID-19 Crisis: Barangay BF Homes Sangguniang Kabataan distributes relief goods to constituents
And then there were these two recent Parañaque City news videos showing more of the gloomy situation. It’s so sad, no beauty pageant in the city will ever lift up the frustrated. The promised Parañaque Renaissance will most likely not be realized during this final term of mayor Edwin Olivarez.
Fortunately in Barangay BF Homes, the youth living in mission areas are being taken cared of as the Barangay BF Homes Sangguniang Kabataan (BFSK) led by chairwoman Mariel Angela Tumang has been moving around and delivering relief goods to them right at their respective residences.
Barangay BF Homes SK chairperson Mariel Angela Tumang personally distributing relief goods. (photo contributed by Mariel Tumang)
SK Kagawad Jerry Dalmero doing his part. (photo contributed by Mariel Tumang)
SK Kagawad Alma Galindo distributing to a lady. (photo contributed by Mariel Tumang)
According to Tumang, the relief goods were prepared by their team and, behind the scenes, the goods were acquired by means of using the SK’s own funds.
Very recently, Tumang along with SK kagawads Alma Galindo, Jerry Dalmero, Roselyn Regis, Kelly Haboc, Anne Corre, Stephanie Sebullen and SK treasurer Jefferson Ching personally delivered bags of relief goods to their constituents from one house to the next in the developing communities of Baong Silang, Villonco, Estrada 1 and Estrada 2.
SK Kagawad Anne Corre. (photo contributed by Mariel Tumang)
SK Kagawad Roselyn Regis. (photo contributed by Mariel Tumang)
SK Kagawad Stephanie Sebullen. (photo contributed by Mariel Tumang)
SK Kagawad Kelly Haboc. (photo contributed by Mariel Tumang)
SK Treasurer Jefferson Ching. (photo contributed by Mariel Tumang)
Their operation will only continue today in other areas. For the Barangay BF Homes youth reading this, rest assured that your youth council is coming to provide you goods to consume. Tumang and the SK kagawads are working hard under the heat of the sun to take care of you. Contact the SK by visiting their official FB page at https://www.facebook.com/skcouncilbfhomes/
For all others reading this from around the Philippines and overseas, I know many of you who got negatively affected by the imposed community quarantine under the China virus crisis are thinking about giving up hope. I urge you not to give up hope. In fact, I encourage you, my readers, to stand up and look up to the Lord! Pray to Lord Jesus with confidence and trust in Him. Study the Holy Bible and apply its lessons to your life. Pray in tongues and honor the Lord.
Remember that the government is not our source. It is God who is our source. God Himself is not limited by your circumstance and trust me that He is already waging a battle against Satan (who is the cause of China coronavirus COVID-19). In due time, God will win yet again over Satan and end the COVID-19 Crisis that hampered us all. As such, always keep faith in the Lord and keep on trusting in Him. Do not worship idols, images and people. Worship only the Lord.
Let me end this with a holy scripture.
For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3: 16 (Amplified Version)
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. 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 more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation,NO to plagiarists and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.
Suicide is defined as the act or an instance of taking one’s own life voluntarily and intentionally (source – Merriam Webster Dictionary). For so long has suicide affected societies worldwide and left a lot of families very hurt.
What is disturbing in the survey of the WHO on the said topic is that the age-group of 15-29 years saw suicide as the 2nd leading cause of deaths in 2016. To break down the 2016 statistics, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for people aged 15-29 among both genders and the females. Among the males, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death.
While varied organizations and researchers have their own definition of the age group for youth, the Jesus Global Youth Day organizers defined it verbally as below the age of thirty, which I personally witnessed during the 2019 Jesus Global Youth Day held here in the Philippines. As such, the 15-29 age group would be counted as youth at least in this article.
Back to the topic at hand, the menace of suicide affecting youth right down to the local level of Barangay BF Homes, Parañaque City made its presence felt when I interviewed Barangay BF Homes Sangguniang Kabataan (BFSK) chairwoman Mariel Tumang twice in 2019.
During the first interview (published here), she told me that suicide among the youth in the local community was present not just in the form of committed suicide (confirmed death) but also in the form of thoughts (suicidal thoughts or suicidal thinking) inside the minds of young people.
Then, months later, in another interview Tumang confirmed to me that a tragedy happened when a 21-year-old man living in the depressed community of Masville hanged himself to death because he broke up with his girlfriend (click here). The victim was a loss not only to his family, his friends and the neighborhood, but also for the economy (note: he was already working in the private sector). Tumang stated that their definition of youth is 15 to 30-years-old.
Along the way, Tumang and her SK kagawads (Youth Councilors) attended seminars on dealing with suicide through the aspect of psychology and behavior. Whatever topics and skills they learned, they made ways to make their community youth aware of it by holding seminars locally.
The sad trail of youth suicide also goes a long way back in the form of archived news reports. In January 2014, a 16-year-old boy killed himself inside his house in Cebu City because of his failure in school (click here) and his school adviser confirmed to his mother that he would not be going to fourth year high school.
On April 2016, a 15-year-old girl was found dead hanging from a mango tree (click here) in Talisay City, Cebu. According to the archived news report, a suicide note was left behind by the victim (a stay-in student of a school) and she reportedly told one of her superiors she wanted to kill herself and no reason was given. Before the tragedy happened, her superiors at school found it disturbing that she (the victim) was very silent. Included in the news report was a police officer who revealed that the victim lost her father to insurgents while her mother (who was then linked to another man) was later killed in a vehicular accident with her live-in partner.
What cause young people to commit suicide? There are several factors related to society, economics and psychology. Here are the factors I narrowed down.
Failure to deal with fear early in life
Depression
Physical abuse
Loss of purpose
Peer pressure
Gender confusion
Lack of parental guidance or counseling
Being misled by pop culture or online trends
Internet addiction
Being misled by fake news or distorted news
Getting bullied
Being misled by rumors
Living with negative vibes in his/her local environment (note: in the Philippines, most barangay youth councils have presence in economically depressed communities dubbed as developing communities)
Shame or embarrassment
Being misled by those living with unbelief
Temptations
Obsession with people, images and things they idolized
Becoming addicted to something dangerous
Being trapped by religious traditions, rituals and other restrictions
Having selfish desires or very high expectations
Lack of focus on the Lord
While taxpayers’ money is being spent by government bodies of different levels to develop the youth and help prevent suicide, I honestly believe that the menace of suicide can be solved more effectively by having the youth realize their true purpose as creations of God. It is by having faith in the Lord that young people can truly become strong, stable and more knowledgeable with their lives. It is by having a personal relationship with the Lord that the youth can truly move forward with. If the youth can be educated to reject all forms of hindrances that prevent them from truly establishing faith in the Lord, they would be better off and youth suicide would be reduced dramatically.
Sadly, government programs for youth development remain insufficient to bring the youth to God, His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
What I noticed is that the Christian faith and spiritual approach to solving and preventing youth suicide is missing among the key development programs of barangay youth councils.
Ironically in 2019, in the city of Parañaque specifically, there were barangay youth councils that organized their own beauty pageants featuring local homosexuals as candidates which most likely added to the suicide factor of gender confusion. This is sad because not only was taxpayers’ money most likely used to fund such events, it gave the youth the false message that homosexuality is legitimate. In truth, homosexuality is an abomination and certainly Satan loves it when people are fooled into believing that homosexuality is good and accepted as normal in society. Let’s read a holy scripture confirming that homosexuality is wrong and evil.
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6: 9-10 (NKJV)
As a whole, 1 Corinthians 6: 9-10 made clear that people trapped by sin will never make it in God’s kingdom. As such, the youth today still have time and opportunities to turn away from sinful behavior, submit themselves to Lord Jesus for forgiveness, accept Him as their Lord and Savior to start a new life with dedication to live under His holiness. This is the good news that the youth, whether they are still trapped by the darkness of unbelief (read: atheism and secularism) or religion (read: idolatry, wrong theology, traditions and rituals) should know.
To help the youth understand their true purpose in life as God’s creations, they should be taught with the following holy scriptures (apart from teaching them they need to be born again as written in John 3: 3):
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, will all your mind, and with all your strength.
Mark 12: 30 (NKJV)
If you then were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3: 1-2 (NKJV)
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1 Corinthians 6: 19-20 (NKJV)
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
Colossians 3: 5-7 (NKJV)
By becoming Christian, the young one can start a new life free from the sins and youthful lusts of the past. As part of getting reformed by Lord Jesus, the new life youth should learn to strongly reject the many form of lust like gratifying sensual cravings (example: losing his or her virginity in exchange for sexual pleasure), desiring the forbidden (example: taking illegal substances), longing for evil (example: bringing down other youth to bring yourself up just to feel good and proud), and engaging in experiences that are contrary to God’s will. These are emphasized in the holy scripture below.
Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2: 22 (NKJV)
The Christian youth living the new life should learn to conduct himself or herself in an exemplary manner. This is expected because once someone gets born again, he/she is under the Lord and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit. Because really, under the watch and care of God, age does not matter and this also means being youthful as a Christian is NOT a disadvantage. It also does not matter if people will find Christians a peculiar people because this is expected. Learn from the next holy scriptures.
Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
1 Timothy 4: 12 (NKJV)
The LORD has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death.
Psalm 118: 18 (NKJV)
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special peope, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
1 Peter 2: 9-10 (NKJV)
Conclusion
I believe that involving Lord Jesus in the lives of the youth will spare them from suicide and all other factors that lead to self-destruction. I honestly believe that no amount of taxpayers’ money spent and no sophisticated government program can be more effective on preventing youth suicide (and suicide in general) than emphasizing faith in the Lord, believing in His Word (with the Holy Bible as the main reference) and applying biblical lessons in life.
Please take note that the dreaded presence of secularism is still in the minds of many government officials (note: there is a so-called separation of church and state in the 1987 Constitution).
If the youth realize their true purpose as creations of God, then it would be great not only for the local community but also the whole world. An enlightened youth, as children of God, definitely would not even think about suicide nor give the devil any room into their lives. The youth should realize how essential it is for them to study the Word of God (the Holy Bible) and prioritize it as their ultimate authority among all reading materials. With the Lord on the youth’s side, the menace of suicide and Satan can be defeated and the youth can grow in holiness as they grow into adulthood. Christianity, not feelings or earthly matters, should be embedded into the minds and hearts of the youth. Because really, everybody needs Lord Jesus and the youth need Him. With more youth believing and trusting in Jesus, cases of youth suicide will be much smaller!
As such, I highly recommend that Christian teaching (complete with studying the Holy Bible) should be included more in youth development programs and suicide prevention programs of youth councils. The youth who are spiritually unsaved must be taught the truth that they need Lord Jesus and have faith (not religion) in Him.
At this point, I’d like to reach out to the unsaved youth reading this…if you seek salvation and are ready to submit yourselves to the Lord, and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then pray this simple prayer in sincerity from your heart:
Dear God,
I believe that Jesus is Your Son, and that He died on the cross to pay the penalty of my sins. I believe that Jesus has been raised from the dead and that He is alive! Right now, I call on the name of Jesus. Jesus, come into my heart. I receive You as my personal Lord and Savior. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me by the power of Your blood. Thank You for saving me and giving me eternal life! Help me now to follow Your plan for my life. Amen.
Congratulations! You are now a child of God! Praise the Lord and always be faithful to Him! No more darkness in your life caused by unbelief or religion (and the idolatry, traditions and rituals that come with it). Your new life under the Lord has truly begun!
From this point on, acquire for yourself a copy of the Holy Bible (New King James Version is recommended), study it and apply its many lessons in your life no matter what situation you are in right now. I also recommend you to join a church of born again Christians near you and find your place in the spiritual family. Worship the Lord together with them and remember that each of you has a personal relationship with Him. That personal relationship with God is strictly off-limits to everyone, even to your family.
The Holy Spirit is in you and you are now a new creation! You are a youthful Christian right now, and you can keep growing spiritually for the rest of your life. Remember that God loves you and He is definitely happy over your conversion.
As a new and young Christian with the Holy Spirit in your heart, never allow yourself to get involved in youth movements that involve unbelief, religion, idolatry, traditions and rituals because those are not holy. The only youth you need to get involved with are your fellow Christians (those who got born again like you), and the only reference of authority you need is the Holy Bible. Once you get involved in a new Christian church, you can always ask the pastor if they have a youth ministry you can join in.
In ending this piece, feel free to enjoy these Christian praise-and-worship YouTube videos plus a few ones featuring the model Christian youth herself, Sadie Robertson! Hallelujah!!!
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. Sharing this Christian piece means spreading the good news of the Lord to others. It can help you save the unsaved souls out there.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced by means of interviewing Barangay BF Homes Sangguniang Kabataan (BFSK) chairperson Mariel Angela Tumang. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Youth group organizes private donation-driven assistance for the needy affected by ECQ in key areas of Barangay BF Homes
The Oplan SendNudels team together. (contributed by Mariel Angela Tumang)
Like the rest of Luzon, families residing in Barangay BF Homes, Parañaque City have no choice but to stay at home to avoid any risk of getting infected with coronavirus COVID-19 under the rules of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). With the exception of stores, food businesses and groceries, most businesses have been shut down which negatively impacted a lot of people leaving them jobless and with no new income of their own.
Under the ECQ, families can designate one authorized household member (if he/she has a quarantine pass) to go out and buy the essential food and household materials. Unfortunately in Barangay BF Homes, there are families who are poor and don’t even have the means to shop. Adding more to their problems is the recent extension of the Luzon ECQ until April 30.
As such, a private donation-driven assistance project called Oplan SendNudels is being implemented in the above-mentioned community by Barangay BF Homes Sangguniang Kabataan (BFSK) chairwoman Mariel Angela Tumangand her friends. To be clear, this is NOT a project nor an operation of the BFSK even though one of the SK Kagawads joined in to help Tumang and friends. Here are the details I received straight from her.
“My friends and I formed this project. While it does not necessarily target the whole of Barangay BF Homes, we are selecting the families who are the poorest among the poor based on the volunteers. We also helped families and individuals who are now struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Enhanced Community Quarantine,” Tumang elaborated. “Our donation drive is divided into the Barangay BF Homes areas of Villonco, Estrada 1, Estrada 2, Masville, Warerfun and Goodwill 2.”
Tumang stated that the current Oplan SendNudels (#OplanSendNudels) donation-driven assistance project for poor families is not the first but the latest of an ongoing series. She confirmed that the most recent donation drive they organized helped one hundred and twenty of the poorest families they found plus seventy frontliners and fifty street dwellers.
“The Oplan SendNudels project has helped a large number of families and persons who got hit hard by the pandemic. These families are trying hard to make ends meet because they lost their capability with the low-income jobs due to the Enhanced Community Quarantine,” she added.
Donations are being accepted as of this writing.
How to donate
Mariel Angela Tumang (standing 3rd from left) and her many friends plus BFSK Kagawad Jerry Dalmero (standing 4th from right) are dedicated with their private donation drive to assist the poorest of the poor in key areas of Barangay BF Homes. (photo contributed by Mariel Angela Tumang)
Donations are accepted in the form of packed lunches (for the frontliners, the volunteers and street dwellers), in-kind goods and toiletries and cash donations.
Anyone who wants to donate cash to Oplan SendNudels and the BFSK take note of the following bank details:
Metrobank account number 6423642207491 (Mark Anthony Luzano)
BDO account number 0035-5034-7213 (Mariel Angela Tumang)
UCPB account number 101480131018 (Marilou Babatio)
GCash 09176436467 (Aira Mae Vargas)
If you have enough resources and you are interested to help Mariel Tumang and her pals keep organizing Oplan SendNudels to help others, take time out to go to the bank or contact the above recipients via Facebook Messenger.
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation,NO to plagiarists and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.
Note: Pictures above approved for publishing by Mariel Angela Tumang.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced by means of interviewing a top official of the Barangay Baclaran Sangguniang Kabataan. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Barangay Baclaran Youth Council plus Partners at Work (Community Quarantine and COVID-19 Crisis)
Barangay Baclaran Sangguniang Kabataan chairwoman Rachel Garcia (left, wearing black t-shirt) and her companions hand out free items to local residents to help them protect themselves from coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (photo approved for publishing by Barangay Baclaran Sangguniang Kabataan chairwoman Rachel Garcia)
With the enhanced community quarantine in effect here in the Philippines as a result of the ongoing corona virus disease (COVID-19) crisis, life is now much different. Most businesses have been halted, people are required to stay at home and others have no choice but to make hard adjustments just as the national authorities work on preventing an outbreak of COVID-19.
When it comes to the authorities of each city, the local government unit (LGU) as well as the barangay units are mandated to govern and manage their respective communities. This includes enforcing curfew, the ban on liquor, traffic management, implementing awareness campaigns about COVID-19 and distributing useful items to the constituents.
A man assisted by Baclaran’s SK chairwoman herself. (photo approved for publishing by Barangay Baclaran Sangguniang Kabataan chairwoman Rachel Garcia)
According to Baclaran SK chairwoman Rachel Garcia, her team and the KK prepared a total of 3,000 units of alcohol (with free refilling), 3,000 units of hand sanitizer and 2,000 units of soap. Those said items, which are meant for prevention of COVID-19 from spreading, were distributed by the Baclaran SK and the KK around the local community for free. Garcia and her companions endured the heat of the day visiting residents in Barangay Baclaran from one house to another house.
In addition, the group also organized an awareness campaign so that Baclaran residents will know what they can do to avoid infection, how to avoid infecting others and why they should follow the quarantine by staying at home.
Like their counterparts in BF Homes, the Baclaran SK has a tough task and a huge responsibility to fulfill with regards to the COVID-19 crisis. If you think about it very carefully, it’s just mind-boggling that very tiny microbes like COVID-19 could cause a tremendous, negative impact on the whole world. Look at the many people getting infected as well as those who died.
Going back to the publicly elected officials of Barangay Baclaran and its youth council, Garcia and her SK kagawads have more than two years of service left before the next barangay and SK elections will take place. Previously the barangay-SK elections were scheduled to happen this coming May but that all changed when President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act Number 11462 (titled “Postponement of the 2020 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections Act”).
To learn more about the Baclaran SK, read my January 1 article and visit their Facebook page.
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. 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 more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation,NO to plagiarists and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.
Author Carlo Carrasco 