COUNTRY’S OUTSTANDING YOUTH CLUBS LAUDED

The country’s TEN ACCOMPLISHED YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, or TAYO, was finally revealed this Friday, July 23 at the awarding ceremonies in Malacanang, with no less than Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as guest of honor.

A prominent and distinguished panel of judges headed by National Youth Commission chairperson Bam Aquino and Senate Majority Leader Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan interviewed the representatives of the twenty (20) finalists composed of five top organizations from from each of the three geographic divisions of the country and the National Capital Region.

Rounding up the judges for the national finals are: Ares Goyena, NYC Commissioner for Luzon; Atty. Mabel Villarica-Mamba, former NYC Chairperson; Roberto Calingo of Mirant Philippines; Jorge Miguel Marco of Caltex Philippines; Celine Madamba of the Philippine Daily Inquirer; Asec. Alicia Bala of DSWD NCR; Bernadette Sembrano of ABS-CBN; Ivy Liza Mendoza of Manila Bulletin; Atty. Alberto Agra of the Foundation for Governance and Convergence; Mr. Aniceto Sobrepeña of Metrobank Foundation and Ms. Rosanna Señga of the United Nations.

The organizations were judged on the basis of a recent program of project that has had an impact on the community. Judges looked into indicators of social mobilization, innovation, creativity, and the possibility of having the project replicated in other communities.

The awardees for this year’s TAYO are: (in no particular order)
1. Students’ Association of Management Accountants (SAMA) of the Mariano Marcos State University in Laoag;
2. Sugbuanong Pundok Aron Sugpuon ang Child Abuse of Cebu City;
3. Musical Dramatics Society of Sta. Ana National High School – Davao City;
4. Philippine Rescue 2000 based in Misamis Oriental;
5. Conservation and Restoration Exercise, (CORE) Inc. from Bukidnon;
6. Tingog sa Kasanag (TISAKA) in Cagayan de Oro City;
7. Watershed Management Youth Council of Davao City;
8. GenRev Student Network based in Quezon City;
9. Tuklas Katutubo based in Quezon City; and
10. Student Council of De La Salle University Manila
The rest of the finalists for this year’s TAYO are: the Chemical Engineering Society of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UP Chem Soc), Philippine Rural Reconstruction Youth Association (PRRYA) in Albay, University Student Council of the University of Northern Philippines in Albay (UNEP-USG); the Interdependent Study Organization of Students (ISOS) from Benguet State Unversity; Jordan Youth Movement-PYAP from Guimaras, Peer Counselors’ Circle of Foundation University, Active Beginners’ Club of Siquijor State College; D’ Catalyst Club of Catbalogan, Samar; Mu Sigma Phi Fraternity of the University of the Philippines Manila; and the Task Force Arki of University of the Philippines Diliman.

This nationwide search was open to in-school, out-of-school, working and special youth aged 15 to 30 years.

TAYO is proudly presented by Mirant Philippines, and conducted in cooperation with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Caltex Philippines, Foundation for Governance and Convergence (FGC), Philippine Council of Young Political Leades (PCYPL) and the National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL).