Army and Youth jointly organized Summer Youth Peace Camp
Sto Tomas, Davao del Norte - In order train the youth as future leaders
in their community and at the same time promote peace awareness, the
Sanguniang Kabataan (SK) Council and 1003rd Brigade in cooperation with
brgy officials jointly organized a Summer Youth Peace Camp at Brgy San
Jose, Sto Tomas, Davao del Norte last May 23-27, 2010 with a theme: "Uswag
Kabataan, Now Na!". It was attended by more or less 100 youth
participants mostly SK members, Out-of-school youths whose age’s ranges
form 15-21 years old.
In the week long Peace camp, organizers conducted everyday various
activities to develop the youth’s leadership abilities, love for country
and enhance their participation in community organizing programs. The
activities were presented thru lecture type discussion and team building
workshops. Resource persons from DENR, MSWD, PNP and ARMY were invited
to present each programs and advocacy. 1Lt Harold Ho, CMO Officer
delivered a lecture in Barangay Awareness Module. He also gave an
overview of the unit's efforts in maintaining the present peace and
order situation and discussed ways how the youth can contribute to the
peace building activities of the unit.
The youths and the soldiers also conducted tree planting activities in
which 300 mahogany seedlings were planted in the slopes of Sitio Talos,
a Lumad community of said barangay. In this activity, they have realized
the importance taking care of the environment and pledged in preserving
the beauty of it. Tribal leaders who witnessed the deed commended the
military’s and youth’s concern for their ancestral land.
On the last day, the participants and the brgy officials visited the
1003rd camp based in Brgy New Visayas in the same town. They where
showed documentary films entitled "Army: Across the land" narrating the
Philippine Army’s History and its capabilities. The last film is
entitled "Campus Infiltration" where it exposed the terrorist NPA's ways
in infiltrating the student sector. Afterwards, they were toured into 3
stations showcasing the capabilities of the Artillery cannons, Armor
tanks and Engineering construction vehicles. On each station they were
allowed to take pictures on the cannon and ride the tanks to let them
feel what is like to be a real soldier.
After the tour the soldiers prepared a "boodle fight" consisting of
rice, sardines and pancit to let the students experienced the military's
old tradition. In the closing program, in behalf of the group Ms Frelyn
Bagayas, SK Chairman and Hon Henry Dejisica, Brgy Chairman gave their
impressions on what they learned and also thanked the troops for
co-organizing the activity. Dejisica said: "We appreciated the efforts
of the brigade in helping us in molding the youth to become a productive
and peace loving individual. We also salute and commend the unit’s role
in maintaining peace and order in our land".
Col Domingo Tutaan, Brigade Deputy Commander rendered his closing
remarks to the participants. He encouraged the youth to volunteer their
time in doing community services instead of joining in gangs who are
sometimes involved in drug related incidents and petty crimes.
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