THE youth of today are the voices and leaders of the future therefore they should be instructed to perform their roles and recognized for their successful experiences in the fields of youth policies and programs.
One big step in achieving that is by giving the youth proper forum where they show initiatives and build their reputation for knowledge sharing, said M/Gen. Romeo Lustestica, commanding general of the First Infantry ‘Tabak’ Division, as he declared that he values youth dominance.
“No matter how young they are, their views and opinions are always counted. The military shares their aspiration of a better life for our countrymen,” he said during the closing ceremony of the Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) held at Philippine Science High School in Balo-i, Lanao del Norte last Nov. 12-14.
The army general added that the youth in Mindanao, for example, always face the challenges of diverse environment in terms of belief, ethnicity and origin.
Thus, he stressed that behind such big numbers of the youth all over lies a lot of power and influence in determining the political direction in the country and synergizing these elements is a task waiting to be toiled by them, being the future leaders.
And since the YLS is a place where ideas and perceptions of the young are developed, analyzed, evaluated and disseminated, Lustestica challenged the graduates to advocate peace as well as participate in government programs which aim for peaceful solution to the problem in the island.
During the program, Lustestica also acknowledged the contribution of LGUs to peace and developmental efforts, citing their support as a big inspiration.
“But we cannot do this alone. We need the support of the community and the people especially the youth,” he added.
For her part, YSL guidance counselor Dorothy Drilon thanked Lustestica and company for conducting the activity and hopes there will be more youth forums in the future.
One of the participants, Arthur Gregory Virata, a senior student from Pagadian, described the activity as real fun as it enhanced the synergies among the young students for the greater benefit of all.
The YLS is a program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, represented in this part of the region by the Tabak division, more particularly by the 104th (Sultan) Brigade led by Col. Benny de Leon, the National Youth Commission and local government agencies.
In YLS, youth participants are taught on how to develop their leadership potential, protect them from being recruited by the communist insurgents, preempt their exposure to illegal drugs, inculcate the values of nationalism and love of country and teach them the spirit of voluntarism and social work, among others.
REPORT BY JUN CORGUE, PIA-9