“This kind of opportunity nga naa sa inyo karon, dili tanan barangay makatilaw niini tungod kay limited ra man ang atong gitawag nga mga financial nga resources,” said Barangay Iponan Councilor Rodel Reyes, thanking the SK Council for their dedication to these major youth-focused programs.
(This kind of opportunity that you have right now is something not every barangay can experience because of the limited financial resources we have.)
SK leaders emphasized that the organization of Pakighinabi 2024 was to promote awareness and equip the youth with knowledge on essential issues such as media literacy, combating misinformation, and public health.
Sessions throughout the event covered various topics aimed at building knowledge and resilience. These discussions included the role of media literacy in combating misinformation and fake news and the influence of media and information on communication, providing youth with tools for critical evaluation of information.
An engaging symposium on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC), along with anti-discrimination on gender, encouraged participants to promote inclusivity and advocate for equality.
Additional sessions on teenage pregnancy and Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) prevention addressed pressing public health concerns.
Tubiano stressed that the purpose of these sessions was to impart essential knowledge on subjects that would have a lasting influence on the younger participants.
One participant voiced their takeaway from the event, emphasizing the importance of fact-checking and caution in consuming information: “We should be vigilant; we should be careful on cross-referencing or mag-fact-check ta (when we do the fact-checking).”
The SK hopes Pakighinabi 2024 will inspire participants to share their knowledge with their communities, empowering Barangay Iponan’s youth to make informed and socially aware choices. (RTP/PIA-10)
