YOUTH VOICE DEBATE TV SHOW

For every given issue, there are as many opinion as you can imagine.

We voice our thoughts, we speak. And among the loudest voices we hear are that of the youth.

The National Youth Commission, in line with its mandate, conceptualized a project that would open opportunities for the Filipino youth to discuss the most pressing national concerns of our time on the basis of facts and issues.

Thus, through the initiative of Chairman Richard Alvin M. Nalupta, YOUTH VOICE was born. YOUTH VOICE is an exhibition-debate among the best debating teams of the country's high schools, colleges and universities. The program is produced by the NYC with the support and cooperation of the Charter Change Advocacy Commission and the National Broadcasting Network.

The pilot episode aired on June 3, 2006 and henceforth, has featured excellent debaters from different universities and colleges in the country. Most of the debaters who have guested in the program have experience in debate competitions abroad.

The following schools have sent their debate teams to be part of YOUTH VOICE:

College

• Ateneo de Davao
• Ateneo de Manila University (including its Law School )
• Ateneo de Zamboanga
• Centro Escolar University
• College of Saint Benilde
• De La Salle University
• Far Eastern University
• Polytechnic University of the Philippines
• Silliman University
• Sto. Tomas University
• University of the Philippines – Diliman (including its College of Law )
• University of the Philippines – Los Baños
• University of the Philippines – Manila

High School

• Ateneo High School
• Claret School of Quezon City
• La Salle Greenhills
• Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Laboratory High School

YOUTH VOICE is hosted by veteran TV host Angelique Lazo and Chairman Nalupta. Joining them is former NYC Commissioner, Atty. Marc Castrodes, himself a seasoned debater. The program airs every Saturday, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. over NBN Channel 4.

KAMPEON NG KABATAANG PILIPINO AWARDS

One of the features that sets apart National Youth Commission Chairman Richard Alvin M. Nalupta from other youth leaders is that half of his life has been exposed and dedicated to the service to the Filipino youth. His involvement in the Sangguniang Kabataan paved the way to doors leading to active involvement in local governance at a young age.

With this background, it is no wonder that he envisioned the Kampeon ng Kabataang Pilipino Awards. This is a search for Outstanding Legislations for Youth Development. This seeks to recognize local legislators from among the ranks of the National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL) to the more seasoned political stalwarts who championed youth development, rights and welfare at the local level. Moreover, the Kampeon ng Kabataan is a way to document good practices relating to youth development so as to encourage replication of these good practices in other communities nationwide.

Kampeon ng Kabataan is a nationwide search and was formally launched in December 2005. On its initial salvo, an unexpected volume of entries was sent to the Kampeon Secretariat. This encouraged the NYC even more as it meant a discovery that even in the remotest areas, there exist ordinances focused on youth development.

The first awarding ceremony was held on March 29, 2006 in Boracay. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita graced the occasion as the guest of honor.

The Kampeon ng Kabataang Pilipino Awards is a partnership between the NYC and the NMYL. It is NYC's humble tribute to the committed men and women in the local government units who are dependable champions of youth development.

YOUTH LEGAL AID PROGRAM

National Youth Commission Chairman Richard Alvin M. Nalupta is the lead proponent of the Commission's Youth Legal Aid Program (YLAP).

YLAP seeks to provide legal assistance to youth with meritorious cases who are deprived of their right to competent legal representation merely because of their indigence. Moreover, this program is a big component of the Commission's advocacy of juvenile justice and intervention.

The NYC is one of the most active stakeholders in the passage of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.

The components/mechanics of the said program include:

• Conduct of the symposia/for a – discussion of the current situation of the youth today and the challenges posed at increasing the levels of youth participation in youth development
• Creation of a pool of volunteers – a pool of volunteers who shall participate in the legal aid project
• Provision of legal assistance – the pool of volunteers will provide legal assistance to children in conflict with the law
• Preparation and submission of documents – the volunteers shall document the process and status of each case
• Monitoring and evaluation of documents – the NYC, through the PMED and with the assistance of the legal affairs unit, shall periodically monitor the project's implementation

COMMITTEE FOR ASEAN YOUTH COOPERATION

Richard Alvin M. Nalupta, Chairperson and CEO of the National Youth Commission, enlarges his youth advocacy scope as he now chairs the Committee for ASEAN Youth Cooperation (CAYC). Nalupta will serve a two-year term which commenced in May 2006, after he was elected to the post.

Nalupta's election to the post is a welcome breakthrough for the NYC.

The CAYC is the coordinating body for national youth councils in the ASEAN region. It is a non-government, non-profit voluntary organization that seeks to uphold the ASEAN ideals among the youth in the region to promote peace, freedom, neutrality, solidarity and prosperity. Formed in Jakarta, Indonesia in September 1975, the CAYC runs complementary to the spirits and ideals of the ASEAN Declaration of 1967.

The new CAYC Chairman immediately outlined his priority projects. Foremost of which is the ASEAN – Ten Accomplished Youth Organization (TAYO). ASEAN – TAYO is guided by the TAYO spirit, a search for youth and youth-serving organizations undertaking worthy projects. The NYC has been conducting the TAYO Awards for four years now. Nalupta formally launched the ASEAN – TAYO on August 14, 2006 during the Philippines – TAYO 4 Awarding. He announced that the first ASEAN –TAYO Awards will be on November 25, 2006.