By Jade Galang | August 21, 2024
The University Student Council (USC) organized the Youth Development Days (YDD) last August 13 – 14, 2024.
This year’s YDD took on the theme of ‘KaLIKHAsan: Makakalikasang Paglikha,’ aiming to establish environmental awareness amongst students.
Sophia Nicole Cuyugan, the Director for Events Management and the project head of the event, revealed that there had been a decline in participants at the previous year’s YDD, Matenakan. This motivated the council to rebrand the event, now aiming to focus on the students while remaining advocacy-driven.
“‘Yong YDD… ‘yong pinaka-advocacy namin is environmental awareness, so ‘yon ‘yong focus namin right now,” Cuyugan stated in an interview.
Categories of events for the YDD are BIHNI: Advocacy Video Competition; IMBENSYON: Idea Pitching Competition; MAKAYAG: Poster Making Competition; INDAYOG: Zumba for a Cause; RIMA: Speech Choir Competition; and LIKHABI: Eco-Fashion Show. The aforementioned events were participated by different departments and were communicated to the students through social media posts.
Of the six (6) events, the non-competitive event INDAYOG: Zumba for a Cause had a 50 peso registration fee, and all funds will proceed to a community garden. With that, Cuyugan stated that they are communicating with the Office of Community Extension Services (OCES) about the final placement of the funds.
Moreover, the last event, LIKHABI: Eco-Fashion Show, which happened on the second day of the YDD, used different materials per segment of the show. Cuyugan said that the costumes for the first segment consisted of paper, while the second segment was made of plastics. Finally, the third segment was composed of dry fabrics. She also clarified that the materials used for this event's segments will not be put to waste.
“Ayun.. hindi ko rin sure kung correct ako, pero eto yung narinig ko sa presentation of Event Rules and Regulations (ERRs), ‘yong.. After nitong awarding na ‘to, meron silang time na kailangan i-recycle lahat ng ginamit nila. Kung hindi nila ‘yon–kasi magsa-submit sila ng documentation sa OICs–kung hindi nila nagawa ‘yon, makukuha yung points na nakuha nila, for U-Days. So pwedeng makuha sa kanila yung points na natanggap nila ngayon.. ‘Pag hindi nila nagawa yun— [points nila] hold siya. Hold siya, tapos makukuha lang talaga yung points kapag nabigay na yung documentations.” Cuyugan explained.
She further indicated that the planned management of the materials used in the costume-making conforms to the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. This specifies the extensive process and numerous meetings that were held with the administration, showing their utmost desire for the Eco-Fashion show to proceed.
In another interview, Juakin Santos, a third-year BA Communication student, expressed his thoughts on the impact of the YDD in achieving its advocacy.
“Well I think it’s a very small step, yeah, it’s a very small step, it’s an initial step and I think this can be more, parang.. Uhh, effective or mas marami pang ibang, uh, sector ng society ang ma-touch, kung.. ‘Di ko lang alam, di ako well informed if meron ba silang outside communities with this ganyan. I-kasi I think.. uhm magsisimula talaga ‘yong change when we go to grassroot communities and do’n magsisimula ‘yong uh, information campaign, or ‘yong campaign mismo ng advocacies.. ‘Yong environment[al] advocacies ng USC.” Santos said.
Santos also suggested possible improvements that the USC can do for their future events.
“I think need pa ng mas matindi-tindi marketing or mas matindi-tinding pag-disseminate ng information sa mga estudyante. Para mas lalong maging effective or mas lalong maging... Yeahh, mas lalong maging effective ‘yong campaign nila.” Santos added.
The School of Nursing and Allied Medical Sciences (SNAMS) won the Overall Champion while the Basic Education Department (BEd) bagged the Overall First Runner Up, and the School of Business and Accountancy (SBA) finished Overall Second Runner Up in YDD 2024.
Cuyugan also advised students to stay tuned for the upcoming advocacy of the USC for the University Days this January 2025.
Photo courtesy of Jade Balamiento
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