Iligan Young Writers' Guild

29/04/2024

[FULL ARTICLE]

𝗜𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝘄𝘀 ‘𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁’ 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆

𝑪𝒅𝒆𝑶 𝑪𝒊𝒕𝒚, 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔— Iligan City Mayor Frederick W. Siao addressed the Local Youth Development Council (LYDC) Saturday, at Malasag Eco-Tourism Village, Cagayan de Oro City, expressing his commitment to support the council's plans for youth development.

"I pledge my commitment to support your vision and mission, your dreams for the benefit of the youth,” he said in his privilege speech during the second day of LYDC's workshop on the formulation of the Local Youth Development Plan (LYDP) for years 2024-2027.

The mayor further emphasized that his support will not just be transitory words, but one that will last until the fulfillment of these goals for the welfare of Iligan City’s youth.

"As the mayor of Iligan, commitment nako nga ako ‘ning suportaan. Let's push this agenda-- dili lang sa isturya, dili lang hangtod karon, kondili hangtod nga maporma ‘ning tanan para sa inyoha.”

Siao also gave props to the members of the local youth development council for their significant role and "sacrifices" in crafting the future of the Iliganon youth.

“Kamo jud [ang] mo-chart sa direction nga gusto ninyo nga paingnan. Kamo jud ang mo-insist na mao gyud ni inyong gusto. 'This is what we want to do. This is what we want to happen diri sa siyudad sa Iligan,” he said.

"Thank you, ev​eryone sa inyong kinasing-kasing na pag-sakripisyo. Para man gihapon sa inyong tanan."

The LDYC is a multi-sectoral council of youth and youth-serving organizations registered in a local government unit (LGU) and along with the SK Federation, forms the highest youth policy-recommending body of the city.

The SK Federation and LYDC, with the technical assistance of the Local Youth Development Office (LYDO), are charged with the formulation of the three-year LYDP, as indicated by the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 10742 or the “Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015”.

The LYDP outlines the programs, projects, and activities (PPAs) that address youth development concerns relevant in the community, and aligns with the Philippine​ ​Youth Development Plan (PYDP) “designed to promote the general welfare, development and empowerment of the youth, in preparation for their vital role in nation-building,” the said IRR states.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙤𝙧’𝙨 𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚

Members of the LYDC place weight and high hopes on the city mayor’s statement of support, not only for the adoption of the LYDP, but more so for its actualization.

"Grabe ka-important ang support sa local chief executive sa atoang city kay siya jud ang naay gahum para makatabang sa atong mga kabatan-onan. The youth are very idealistic. The youth are able to see these issues, pero without the support of the mayor, these ideas cannot be turned into reality,” said Karl Anthony Ong, a representative of IMGLAD organization, in an interview after the mayor’s speech.

"That's why, I think, the support of our mayor is very important jud in order for youth development to actually [be] actualized in our city."​

Another youth, Prince Philip Labide of MSU-IIT Sociology Society, expressed appreciation for the mayor’s pledge and hopes that the support would be consistent regardless of administrations.

“Na-appreciate namo ang pledge kay nagtuo ta nga naa gyuy ma-offer na tabang ang youth when it comes to the welfare of the community. Ang maingon lang nako kay mayor ug sa mosunod pa na mga administration, na dapat consistent ni, dapat ang inani na pledge [of support] sa youth sector kay magpadayon.”

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙛 𝙚𝙭𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚

The approved PPAs are then consolidated into the proposed LYDP which will then be submitted to the office of city mayor, also known as the local chief executive (LCE), for inclusion in the local or City Development Plan (CDP).

According to the Philippine Local Government Code of 1991, the LCE is mandated to “enforce laws” and “implement services” for the development of all sectors of the LGU, including the youth./LAGANTAW.

27/04/2024

𝗜𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀' 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 - 𝗟𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘄 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽

IYWG-Lagantaw, one of the registered youth-serving organizations in the city and a member of the Local Youth Development Council, seeks to push for advocacies geared at the ten centers of youth participation, specially focusing on Education and Active Citizenship.

The other centers of participation include Health, Economic Empowerment, Social Inclusion and Equity, Peace-Building and Security, Governance, Environment, Agriculture, and Global Mobility.

By the end of the three-day workshop, the Council aims to craft and approve the proposed Local Youth Development Plan for 2024-2027 which outlines the projects and programs for the comprehensive and multi-sectoral growth of the Iliganon youth.

The proposal will, then, be subject to the approval of the Iligan City Council for adoption in the City Development Plan. It is hope that the plan would be implemented to bring about progress for the youth of the City of Iligan.

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊: Twenty-four (24) member organizations of the Local Youth Development Council are attending the Workshop on the Formulation of the Local Youth Development Plan for 2024-2027 at Malasag Eco-Village, Cagayan De Oro City.

Sangguniang Kabataan Federated President Hon. Trix Mikyla Caballero delivered the welcoming address at the workshop.

"Uban ta sa paglambo, batan-ong Iliganon," Hon. Caballero fervently stated.

The workshop is coordinated by Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of Iligan City and the Iligan City Youth Development Office.

25/09/2023

𝙋𝙖𝙜 𝙇𝘼𝙉𝙏𝘼𝙒: 𝙄𝙨 𝙈𝙮 𝘾𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙁𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙚?

𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗘. 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗕𝗟𝗘. 𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗩𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘. 𝗢𝗕𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘. and 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘. These are just some of the many adjectives used to describe an ideal leader. The leadership role carries significant importance, and while some may take this position lightly, it possesses tremendous potential to shape the future in various ways. That being said, it is once again the season for selecting a new batch of leaders. The 2023 Philippine Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) are set to take place on October 30, 2023. However, all we see are teenagers gaining popularity, not for their agenda but for their social media presence. Is this what our democracy has evolved into? Is this now the norm of our political system? 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞.

We ought to believe that the young generation is the hope of the future, but it seems like we are still distant from realizing that. Some common questions to ponder are, “Are we ready to vote?” “Are the candidates qualified and sincere in their intention to serve?” “Are they fully aware of the responsibilities and what relies on their hands before running for office?” “Do they know the possible consequences of their future actions?”

Take a moment to reflect on the status quo by opening any social media platform—be it Facebook, Instagram, or X, formerly known as Twitter. It is truly inspiring to witness the surge of interest among the youth aspiring to hold a position in the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK). However, the question remains: Are they in it for the service? Or are they after the incentives, honorariums, fame, and for the sake of the position? We like to believe that these soon-to-be public servants possess a beaming vision for improving their communities, mobilizing fellow youth, and implementing non-bias and non-selective initiatives that truly benefit everyone. But, as you delve deeper into reality, a disheartening situation unfolds.

𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻. You will find a meticulously photoshopped image adorned with a thousand likes and three hundred shares. It portrays a seemingly responsible and upright Filipino youngster, filled with credentials of little relevance, insincere intentions, and a distinct lack of knowledge regarding the intricacies of public office. And this is not all! Some use nepotism— “Juan, the son of late congressman Pedro, runs for office with his father’s legacy” to gain sympathy and support from the public eye.𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿: Yes, leadership is not an innate trait, it can be learned; but are we truly entrusting the future to individuals who lack the fundamental qualifications in the first place? What life-changing platforms can they enable in the span of less than two years? Are we willing to take a shot on someone just because they are the sons and daughters of we know who?

Let's shift our perspective for a moment. Juan may indeed have idealistic intentions and a heart that beats for the right causes. Those credentials he presents might be the best he could gather to showcase his courage and determination. However, let us question the extent of Juan's understanding of the immense responsibility he is about to undertake. Does he know that the seat demands more than courage and determination? It doesn’t stop at experience. Is Juan truly deserving of our trust, especially when compared to other candidates who may have minimal likes, interactions, and even a modest following on their Facebook profiles? This is not a critique against naturally popular teenagers but rather a stark illustration of the state of our society. We must acknowledge that we are at a critical time where we cannot afford to gamble with our future through a "trial and error" approach.

However you may take them, those two points are something to ponder. It is imperative that we exercise caution and prudence in our decision-making process concerning politics. Leaders could be better; some might have enough basic skills coupled with the heart to serve, some may have adequate fluency in formal procedures, and some are just wanting to try. Nevertheless, the weight of being in a leadership position and the impact it has on our lives and the future of our nation cannot be underestimated. Choose wisely, for the right and qualified candidate can shape history and bring positive change to future generations.

Bear in mind that with the state of our nation, our future thirsts for leaders who possess the knowledge, experience, and unwavering commitment to guide us towards a brighter tomorrow. Let us not settle for mediocrity; instead, seek out those who have proven themselves capable and deserving of our unwavering support. During the BSKE, let's exercise our right to vote wisely and choose leaders who will champion the progress and well-being of our nation. Our collective decision can shape the destiny of our country. Vote wisely and make a difference today!