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Сентябрь
2024

Outstanding Filipino youth groups take center stage at the 21st TAYO Awards

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There’s something to be said about the energy that young people bring. As the trends set by millennials and Gen Zs are being reshaped by the newly-minted Gen A, there’s this sense of excitement and curiosity about what a new generation can bring.

The 21st TAYO (Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations) Awards, co-presented by the Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, Inc. and San Miguel Corporation, brought this energy and hope to the forefront, spotlighting local youth groups that aren’t just dreaming of a better future, but building it themselves.

The TAYO Awards began in 2002 with the simple mission of recognizing purpose-driven youth organizations. Over the years, it has evolved from an award-giving body into a platform where young people can share the stories of their communities and make a real difference.

The theme of this year’s TAYO Awards is ‘makabayani’— a combination of makabayan (love for country) and bayani (hero). True enough, the finalists were nothing short of inspiring. From over 700 entries, this year’s twenty finalists from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao underwent the rigorous process of applying, secretariat screening, validation interviews, and expert screening, to get to the national awarding at the Manila Metropolitan Theater.

The groups showcased innovative solutions to some of the country’s most pressing issues today – from environmental sustainability to community development, education reform, and mental health. 

Here are the top 20 finalists:

NCR

  • Commonwealth Young Leaders Coalition – Quezon City
  • Model Sangguniang Kabataan Network – Quezon City
  • Philippine Anti-Discrimination Alliance of Youth Leaders Inc. (PANTAY) – Quezon City
  • Saliwindakan Dance Company – Malabon City
  • Therawee Health Innovation Inc. – Taguig City

Luzon

  • 3PK-BIDA Youth Project – Gumaca, Quezon
  • ADHIKA PH Inc. – Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro
  • Project Barako – Ibaan, Batangas
  • Project Blue PH – Sinait, Ilocos Sur
  • Sidhá  San Jose City – San Jose City, Nueva Ecija

Visayas

  • Achieve Minarog Youth Organization – Paranas, Samar
  • Central Philippine University Republic – Iloilo City, Iloilo
  • Iloilo National High School Boy Scouts of the Philippines Outfit 154 – Iloilo City, Iloilo
  • Negrosanon Young Leaders Incorporated – Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
  • Team Dugong Bughaw – Iloilo City, Iloilo

Mindanao

  • Kagay-anon Youth Network Alliance – Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental
  •  MSU – Iligan Institute of Technology Youth Chain of Peace – Iligan City, Lanao del Norte
  • Oro Youth Development Office – Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental
  • Salumayag Youth Collective for Forests – Quezon, Bukidnon
  • Second Chance Philippines – Davao City, Davao del Sur

Among the TAYO finalists, the Salumayag Youth Collective for Forests from Bukidnon won the Coke Barkada Award, a special recognition given to a group passionate about preserving the environment.

With their project ‘Reweaving for Forests’ aligned with The Coca-Cola Company’s sustainability goals, the Indigenous and women-led Salumayag Youth Collective won P30,000 in cash to further uphold their stewardship of ancestral lands through homegrown practices to help rebuild our forests.

Sa mga kabataang katutubo at kabataang Pilipino, hinihikaya ko kayo na maging aktibo sa pagprotekta at pag-alaga ng ating kalikasan,” Salumayag Youth shared during their acceptance speech. 

“Ang pagtindig para sa ating kalikasan ay tama na gawain, hindi ito kriminal. At pagtindig sa ating kagubatan ay karapatan nating lahat.”

[“To the indigenous and Filipino youth, I encourage you to be active in protecting and caring for our environment.”

“Standing up for our environment is the right thing to do, it is not a crime. And standing up for our forests is everyone’s right.”]

How these Mindanaoan youth are helping break stigma in their communities

Former Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, one of the co-founders of the TAYO Awards, has witnessed the progress of how young people have faced the problems in the country. Starting from when he was the 2002 National Youth Commission Chairperson, TAYO has grown up with him too.

“When we started, there was a lot of focus on education. And then at some point, environment. Of course, during the pandemic, the projects were mainly health-focused,” Senator Bam said.

Pero laging every year, meron pa rin nagbibigay ng sorpresa sa’yo. Na may naiisip yung mga kabataan na gawin na sometimes di natin alam, no? So every year is always a surprise.”

[But every year, there’s a surprise that awaits you. There’s always something that the youth knows that we don’t know ourselves, right? Every year is always a surprise.]

Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines president, Cecile Alcantara, shares the sentiment and feels optimistic that the youth will have more up their sleeves in the years to come.

“What makes us hopeful is that what we want to happen in the world can only happen if the people after us can continue the good that we do,” Cecile said. “And in them, we see a potential already happening that they can make a better world for all of us. To change the way our environment is taken care of, change the way children are taught, it’s very exciting”

True enough, there’s power not just in the youth but also when like-minded and motivated people get together and choose to make a difference. 

With TAYO’s mission to build a lasting legacy for all generations, this year’s event gave the courage and hope that, no matter how young or old you are, there is always the opportunity to shape a better tomorrow.  – Rappler.com