Aguman officers hold a talk for youth camp participants

By pekepate

May 24, 2008 – In response to the invitation made by the Bayung Abak Foundation for its program dubbed “San Marcelo Youth Leadership Training Camp”, four Executive Council Members, Jenifer Castro (President), Acey Duarte (Internals Vice-President), Aries Viray (Externals Vice-President) and Jeremiah Torrico (Socio Cultural Committee Chairperson) represented UP Aguman and gave a talk about the role of youth in the community to an audience of young people from Angeles City. It was held at Hotel Pat’il Resort, San Antonio Zambales last May 18-24.

The said event was a seven-day camp devised by the Bayung Abak Foundation for the youth of Angeles City, Pampanga. The camp was attended by 24 young people. They were selected from different barangays, specifically from families lying below the poverty line and those considered as problem children.

The Aguman officers, who were first to give the talk on the last day, were accompanied by four other speakers – three guidance counselors and a college dean from Holy Angel University. They arrived at about 10am at the venue and started at 10:45am after some technical difficulty.

The outline of the Aguman’s talk was as follows:
Presentation of speakers and of UP Aguman
Group Dynamics # 1: Nips Game
The delegates were asked to get as much as Nips as they wanted. The number of pieces each individual got corresponded to the number of things s/he would have to say about her/himself.
Talk: An overview about the youth (by Jen)
Statistics about the situation of youth in the world and in the Philippines were presented to the delegates.
Group Dynamics # 2: Helium Rod Game
The delegates were divided into three groups and asked to form two lines facing each other. They held a long thin rod with their index fingers. The goal of the game was to lower the rod to the ground as fast as possible. The activity aimed to strengthen their team work and to bridge the communication gap amongst them.


LEFT: Jen (President) during one of her talks
RIGHT: The participants during the Helium Rod Game

Other talks: Youth Health Status and Health Related Behavior (by Aries)
Youth Health Indicators and Related Issues (by Acey)
Youth Mortality Issues and Reproductive Health Issues (by Jer)
Substance Abuse Issues (by Aries)
Youth Violence (by Acey)
Importance of Youth in the Community (by Jen)
Group Dynamics # 3: ‘Write something about each other”
The delegates were asked to write their name on a piece of paper which they had to pass around. Then, as the papers rotated amongst them, they were asked to write something about the owner of the paper. The activity served to provide a remembrance of the bonding that the participants formed for the past 6 days and to have something they can look on to during the times when they are down.
Open Forum
Some delegates asked about UP Aguman and for some words of encouragements. Others also gave rants on certain matters.
Closing Remarks
Each of the four UP Aguman officers delivered some final words of wisdom to the delegates.


LEFT: The participants of the San Marcelo Youth Leadership Training Camp listen to the many talks
RIGHT: The participants and Aguman officers pose after the UP Aguman's talk

After the talk, the Aguman officers were given time to rest and stroll around the beach and resort to enjoy the beautiful Zambales scenery. The Bayung Abak Foundation provided the transportation to and from Zambales for the Aguman officers for the whole-day affair.

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