BACOOR CITY, Cavite – Some 3,000 high school students gathered for the day-long “Bacoor Youth Summit” at the Bacoor Government Center Strike gym here Tuesday to tackle various issues affecting today’s youths.
Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla and Vice Governor Jolo Revilla welcomed the youth summiteers, who donned red shirts bearing the words “Kabataang Bacooreño”, and invited resource speakers from the government sector, show business, life coach and police to share insights, inspirations and experiences in their careers.
Vice Governor Revilla, who organized the Summit, shared his experience and advised the students not to make the same mistake of begetting a son at age 15. He urged the millennials to study hard and pursue their education.
Bataan 1st District Representative Geraldine Roman, the country’s first transgender woman elected to Congress, said she is proud to be a transgender and that she has strongly pursued her anti-bullying and anti-transgender advocacy.
The legislator discussed Republic Act No. 1063 or the “Anti-Bullying Act” and encouraged the youths to help eradicate bullying in school.
“We must fight for our rights and accept what God has given us as a transgender,” Roman said.
Actor-turned-motivational and inspirational speaker, wealth coach and book author, Ferdinand “Chinkee” Tan, shared that he draws his strength and wisdom from a life full of challenges.
He advised students that “to be successful in life, one must know his/her purpose first; maximize the purpose next; and thirdly to give away that purpose.”
Tan said “success comes from knowing your purpose, since this will give you direction in life, and never give up to become successful in life.”
Film and television actress Jody Santa Maria also revealed how she struggled as a teenage mom after having her son, Thirdy, now 12 years old.
“Mag-aral kayong mabuti, kasi mahalaga ang edukasyon. Kahit artista ako ngayon, nag-aaral ako ngayon ng BS Psychology in Southville International School and Colleges (Study hard because education is important. Even though I am an actress, I’m studying BS Psychology at the Southville International School and Colleges),” she told the millennial crowd.
Santa Maria disclosed that while she dreamt of becoming a doctor, she landed a job as an actress. She said she is nonetheless determined to finish college.
Bacoor City Police chief, Supt. Christopher Olazo, lectured on illegal drugs and their ill effects, especially among the youths and the millennial generation.
He also cautioned the students that “drug addiction will ruin your life and avoid it now”.
An open forum spiced up the Summit’s discussions while rock bands provided the intermission numbers, prompting the young audience to sing and dance to the beat. (PNA)
