Legazpi City (PIA) – Legazpi City (PIA) – John Patrick Dilema was only in Grade 10 when he joined the Philippine Army Youth Leadership Summit in Naga City. It was during this experience that he said, his mind underwent a profound awakening regarding the atrocities perpetrated by communist terrorist groups (CTGs).
He said his eyes were opened to reality, and it led him to search for more avenues, and a better course of actions to promote peace and nation-building in his circle.
Dilema is the current chair of the highest student body at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Ragay campus. As his first major endeavor, he opted to have a leadership enhancement activity that would establish smooth and interactive connections between and among newly elected department officers from the six-degree programs being offered at the university.
This is bringing the youth leadership summit, his first experience with the Philippine Army, at their university.
“Maganda yung domino effect na magagawa nila kasi they are selected as leaders so madaming maniniwala at sumusuporta sa kanila mas mabilis nating marerelay yung goal ng Youth leadership summit (There could be a positive domino-effect of these selected leaders because many believe and support in their potentials and capabilities, so the goals of the YLS may be relayed positively to others),” the student council president said.
This brought forth the three-day summit in Ragay town, where over 100 students, faculty and staff joined together to mainly commit and express their support to the government in the fight against insurgency. The event was pegged with a theme, “Youth of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow.”
The youth conference highlighted important topics and training such as basic life skills, social media etiquette, media and information literacy, peace movement, and salient knowledge on the schemes of CTGs like the Communist Party of the Philippines, National Democratic Front of the Philippines, and New People’s Army.
“Vulnerable ang youth sa missed and mal information so grabe yung impact ng ganitong klaseng traning. Kahit alam kung hindi natin makukuha yung 100% goal ng summit dahil 3 days lang, naniniwala akong malaki ang influence nito sa sa buhay ng mga student leaders as much as it did to me years back (Youth nowadays are vulnerable to missed and mal information so there really is an effective impact that this training could provide. Although I believe the 100% goals of this summit may not be attained due to limited time, I still believe in the influence it could make as much as it did to me),” Dilema said.
He also shared that during the pandemic, he has lost his eagerness to serve but with the trust given to him by PUP Ragay students and the YLS, he would be redirected himself in his advocacies and vision – that is to aid in developing other students to become leaders, and effective leaders as time goes by.
He inspired the youth, especially from PUP Ragay not to only serve as end users of rules created by its administration, but actively take part in the policy-making process, and allow their voices to be heard.
Joshua Castilla, a junior education student majoring in English said, “The Philippine Army must keep on doing this kind of activity that will empower youths and lead them away from addiction, vices, cyberbullying, and rebellion.”
Castilla added that aside from instilling mindsets as peacebuilders, student leaders would also enrich themselves with necessary self-discipline through the summit. What seemed to be the enjoyable highlight for him, he said, was the first day of successive and rigorous physical activities.
The whole activity culminated in a peace rally and covenant-signing participated by PUP Ragay students, faculty and staff, as well as LGU Ragay officials and other stakeholders as they pledged their support to the peace campaign of the national government.
Furthermore, Dilema also extended his gratitude to the PUP Ragay administration for their utmost support and provision of logistical needs, as well as the whole 81st IB for their efforts and coordination with other government agencies to invite well-versed resource speakers through the summit. “Napakaswete ng YLS batch na ‘to, kaya we are grateful na nakilala ko sila kasi ginagawa nila ang trabaho nila ng may puso at may sincerity (This YLC batch is very lucky. That is why we are grateful because we have come to work with soldiers with pure heart and sincerity) ,” he said. (PIA5/Camarines Sur)
