An entry to the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) - BASURASKWELA Project by the Cebuano Youth Ambassadors

"This entry won and was awarded by his excellenccy Pres. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino last December of 2012."

By Lesley Anne J. Pino

 BASURASKWELA Correspondent

Describe your project entry:

In its effort to nurture and build a network of youth who will become leaders and change agents in moving their peers towards environment ownership, green entrepreneurship and sustainability, the Cebuano Youth Ambassadors (CYA) launched “BASURASKWELA” earlier in February of this year.Clearly demonstrating the youth’s indulgence in generating a non-deviated, goal-attaining, and community-oriented organization; our slogan “Changing Lives one bag at a time” has continuously provided a resonant and life-transforming change to a portion of the young Cebuano populace.

BASURASKWELA started from a single step, a single backpack crafted out from a tarpaulin damped in the storage room of a college university. It was an idea lighted to compose a mob of student members and volunteers who will explicitly stress out a deep regard for education and leadership making both stepping stones well-deserved by each Filipino for social and economic stability. The vision was officially dined at Tingub, an urban poor and depressed community located at the heart of Mandaue City, Cebu. Sometime nearly 8 years ago, livelihood activities were initiated by its townspeople making it an area well-suited for cultivating development and innovation. After being chosen as a venue for the BASURASKWELA project, its vision empowered housewives and unemployed mothers producing machine-sewn bags from used tarpaulins. In less than five months, 50 children of the local community have been funded from the proceeds of the project for basic education in both primary and secondary levels.

For the first time, this joint venture was carefully planned by the Cebuano Youth Ambassadors to drag and work in unity with the rest of the student leaders from a variety of Universities in the offshores and cities of Cebu. Coming up with countless reasons, the term BASURASKWELA (Basura and Eskwela), drove out its inclination in improving leadership potential among young Cebuanos, developing creativity and employing a means of living among members of poor community, cropping a plateau of opportunity for education, and living up an example towards reaching the relatively underdeveloped areas of the society.

In accordance to the project’s venture, the government of Cebu has expressed its sincerest support to this laudable socio-environmental initiative of the CYA and has approved the recently concluded resolution No. 12-3338-2012 dated June 12, 2012.

Give a brief background of your project entry. State the reasons why you thought of this project.

Apart from providing educational assistance for young individuals, it aims to suppress the surmounting effects of environmental hazards by recycling damped tarpaulins collected from various schools, public offices, and organizations. On another greater note, the project brings an enormous hope to parents in poor communities. They are able to sufficiently spend their time producing the BASURASKWELA backpacks while diligently teaching their children the importance of a livelihood activity.

Initially, the project started with the Cebuano Youth Ambassadors as the prime movers of its vision. To the surprise of the original organizers themselves, the number has gone up to 300 volunteers/members at this present time and will eventually grow larger in the months to come. With this unity and volunteerism, the young minds of our outgrowing Cebuano leaders will be harnessed towards shaping a heart for genuine public service.

In response to the current educational and environmental status of the country, the CYA has initially drafted the BASURASKWELA project making it a genesis for positive change and improvement.

Give a brief profile of your organization.

The circle of Cebuano Youth Ambassadors (CYA) were recipients of the prestigious Outstanding Cebu City Youth Leaders, members of the Student Council, the Sangguniang Kabataan, LGBT and various religious sectors, and local community leaders. It is the inventory of the most outstanding young leaders of Cebu who are committed to serve the people, the Community, and the Country. The group has different initiatives that involve the youth in noteworthy advocacy in the environment, student leadership, community development, education, student rights and welfare, and in youth empowerment.

With more or less 30 members of the CYA, the organization has also created a partnership with Cebu City Federation of Supreme Student Councils and Governments, and the Student Council Alliance of the Philippines Cebu since it was first established in May 4, 2010. The CYA, although new, has gone through far and extra miles in just about 2 years. With the most promising student and young community-leaders of Cebu intact, it has organized and co-organized several youth assemblies and conventions, successfully made simple yet efficient and effective programs and lobbied several valid concerns to the Cebu City Government. So to say, CYA is currently having a fun and great time in its ‘BasuraSkwela’ project.

Who are the beneficiaries and how did they benefit?

• Children of Brgy. Tingub Urban Poor Community who are provided with educational support through tutorials conducted twice a month and financial assistance in school fees.

• The women in Tingub Urban Poor Community are provided a means of income to productively spend their leisure time in producing machine-sewn backpacks.

• Cebuano youth and student leaders are given an avenue to develop volunteerism and participate in nation-building.

• The CYA (Cebuano Youth Ambassadors) is given with the opportunity to work hand in hand with various organizations and the Cebu City Government itself in particular.

Process of Implementation: Who are the people/institutions/organizations involved in the project? What are their roles in the implementation?

• The Cebuano Youth Ambassadors oversee the whole implementation of the project and establishes linkages and partnerships with various organizations.

• The Student and SK Councils acts as the organizers of “BASURASKWELA Barkadahay” which gathers volunteers to solicit used tarpaulins from different organizations, companies, and facilities. They actively transform these into patterned sizes ready-made for sewing BASURASKWELA Tarpbags and will then be collected and transported by the CYA into the chosen Community .

• The women and youth of Tingub City Urban Poor Community transforms the pattern-sized tarpaulins into Tarpbags.

• The Junior Educators Alliance (JEA), Psych Society, and Eco Nowtbuks of CIT University are partners in implementing the BASURASKWELA Mentorship Program. The JEA conducts tutorials twice a month, Eco Nowtbuks members teaches kids in the creation of personalized and recycled diaries, and the Psych Society monitors the diaries’ inputs making those a bases for actively founding diverse activities.

• Junior Chamber International (JCI) serves as the marketing arm of BASURASKWELA Tarpbags in its distribution and availability to the public.

• The Cebu City Government & Cebu City Youth Development Youth Commission provides facilities (buses and venues) in the promotion and implementation of BASURASKWELA and other related programs such as BRIGADA, BASADORA, GREENBOREE, and more.

Is this project implemented only once? Or is it a continuing program? What are your future plans for the project?

Guided by its vision, the implementation of BASURASKWELA aims to encourage and motivate organizations to replicate the project making it feasible and attainable in their locations.

The CYA is eyeing for a wider number of members in the years to come thereby producing more hands in the implementation of the project, continuous product development and innovation, and additional skills training for women.The BASURASKWELA project started with the initial goal of sending at least 50 kids to school. However, with the undying support rendered by a network of organizations and the Cebu City Government, it will remain a continuous venture gearing towards reaching out a wider range of urban poor communities and underdeveloped areas of the country.As its members grow numerously, it will possess the capacity to cater and assist a larger population of students supporting them in their educational endeavors in the long run.

What resources did you use for this project? How was the group able to raise funds for the project?

Direct Material Component Material Requirement Per Bag Cost per Unit Material Requirement Cost Per BagZipper 1.5 m zipper Php 5.00 Php 7.50Slider 3 pcs 1.25 3.75Lodder Lock 2 pcs 2.00 4.00CP 3 m 7.50 22.50Nylon Strap 4 m 2.00 8.00Used Tarpaulin 4 m 0.00 0.00 Total Direct Material Cost PHP 45.75

DIRECT MATERIAL PHP 45.75DIRECT LABOR 60.00OVERHEAD 26.25(Light,Electricity,Thread,Quality Control and other Contingency and Operational Costs) ____________________Total Cost Per Unit Php 132.00

NOTE: The Cebuano Youth Ambassadors donated used tarpaulins and the mothers of Tingub Urban Poor Community initially utilized their available direct materials; both parties agreed on the labor cost and the overhead cost producing a total of 26 tarpbags. The total cost for the 26 units of tarpbags was Php 3,432.00 and later on considered as a beginning fund for the entire project.

WORDS OF THANKS (Thanksgiving Celebration-UC Banilad College of Nursing New RN's)

"To many, success seems to come suddenly. When we observe others and what they have achieved, we usually don’t appreciate what it has taken for them to get where they are."

 We often choose a decision for a whole lot of reasons; I don’t know exactly your reasons why a number of years ago, you all set forth into a new journey where you knew nothing about what lies ahead. Well, you certainly had this vision in mind. Most of us came from distant places, remote areas of the provinces of Cebu, and all the way from the off shores of Luzon to Mindanao. We took the risk in overcoming the thought of being separated from our well-bonded families; we strive to adjust to a new life, and a new home. Along the way, who would ever thought we had to lead a very drastic schedule, we had to catch a nap, one hour of sleep, and then we moved on again to the next day’s activity. We had our fair share of struggles I must say.

My mother once said that every time she received a text message from me, she would suddenly think of school fees. Kidding aside, perhaps, your mom and dad had that experience too. Our parents, the ultimate premise of our survival, offered us an extraordinary life. No matter how far the ladder can go and how many steps we have taken, or how many times we fell and took that step again, they never fail to lift us and offer their hands of comfort and strength. From time to time, we all get ourselves into predicaments where our lives seem to be out of control, but, they took the driver’s seat and led us into the right direction. Each of our success in life, such as this, is a realization of their sacrifices. Our dear parents, we will always thank you endlessly.

            A couple of years ago, we came across into this woman, a very simple person, yet, behind her simplicity is an enduring strength that has made our college build its walls of persistence. We call her our “Ma’am Dean”, our Dr. Helen C. Estrella. She has been one of the strongest parent to us, an educator with a vibrant heart, a mother not only to the student body but, to her subordinates as well. I can still remember this certain student who came rushing from the elevator door, accidentally bumped on her, but she didn’t even make a face, she simply gave her ever charming smile and said, “nagdali lang siguro to siya day,”.  Or if you can still recall that time when we badly needed her signature over our thesis, amazingly, she came in early at 5am to cater our concerns. I received my own piece of her goodness too. She’s been that armor and shield who battled so many times to protect her army. Ma’am Dean, thank you for believing in each of our strengths.  We might have stopped at any point along the way, but, you never tire in walking with us to travel and reach our destination. We offer our success to you.

            Being part of the Penlight Publication during my college days, we were given this task to do interviews and converse with different people from various walks of life, yet, the most memorable was when our group had the chance to sit and chat with our President Atty. Augusto W. Go. Every corner of this room and other hundreds of rooms there is in 4 UC campuses in Cebu, numerous batches since the 1970’s, a handful of board topnotchers, success after success, he started it all. He once said, “When I started school, making money was my top priority, but as the years went by, money became secondary because I begin to realize how much I am dealing with lives, giving good education, and preparing a life for young people.” He has been a persona over the years, but, little did we know that behind his strong and powerful façade is a man with a great and humble heart. He started with small beginnings like every one of us yet; he chose to climb the walls of success bearing with him a dream not for his own abundance but, a dream that gave hope to thousands of lives. Needless to say, Atty. Go was born to create his own invention and shape his own masterpieces. Thank you for being that young boy who dreamed, and thank you for making us the realization of that dream. Our success is dedicated to you our founder, Atty. Augusto W. Go

            To our dear Chancellor, Ms. Candice Yvette Gotianuy, for living up to the image of your father’s principles, this institution has become very proud of your brilliance. You are a beautiful woman who exudes a magical strength that represented your bloodline’s vision to build doors of successful heritage. Thank you.

            Our Nursing Education Coordinator, Ms. Piluchi Victorina M. Villegas, thank you for instilling discipline in us over the years. We were able to transcend the walls of adversity and we never held back our determination to reach the top. Thank you for saying “I know you will make it.”

            To the level chairpersons, Ma’am Ana Trazona, Mam Mercy Milagros Apuhin, and Mam Ma. Estella Cabatana. We all grew in your hands. When the waters of life came, you never left us washed out. There were greater things that followed because you empowered your subordinates hence, giving us the strength to regain our composure once again. You were never reluctant to listen and counsel our inappropriate actions, thank you for all the efforts.

            And of course, we can never forget the devotion and generous learning our Clinical Instructors have given us over the years. They are the frontliners of our knowledge and intellect. Thank you our dear instructors for being so patient over our mishaps. All of you will always be the molders of our dreams.

            In our hearts, we knew that our year 2011 ended with a gift. The inhouse review program, I shall definitely conclude, was the most fantastic and incomparable experience we had. To the class advisers of school year 2011-2012, “you are simply amazing”. You amaze me up until this very day that you never fail to pour that "extra" sacrifice for your sons and daughters. I’d like to take this chance to tell you this: We owe you our success. You opened an avenue of hope because you believed in us despite our limitations. There was this certain point when our confidence and faith were shattered by fear, yet, you flooded us with strength. That’s why we MADE IT.

            We prepared for the biggest, toughest, and most crucial test in our lives and then, by God’s grace, we were able to stand triumphant in that journey. Through those days, we were sharpened, we were trained, and we were enormously harnessed by our affiliate review center, the Intertrends Review Corporation. Mr. Sonny San Pedro, (I am hesitant to utter these words), but those dreadful, most terrifying, and mind-boggling examinations served for a mighty purpose. You certainly had written our success.

So you see, it took us a very long way to get where we were heading. We had to build so many walls to get to the top. Adversity and sacrifices, though always a challenge & often quite painful, we never gave those a chance to defeat us. We didn’t let ourselves get stuck in the middle like there’s nowhere else to go, because we always have a choice to respond to those circumstances.

In reality, the secret to success is simply taking that first step. Each time you fall, try looking around because there are numerous persons who actually see your worth. You too can actualize your potential. A great professional can build the titanic, while an amateur builds the ark. Welcome to the world of the professionals fellow REGISTERED NURSES!

 -Lesley Anne Pino BSN,RN 

Student’s Response : A Schoenstatt Speech (December 17, 2011)

                     

          
                    My Ultimate Mama    

Our relationships with our parents started basically from the moment we first opened our eyes to gleefully see the beauty of the world. As we were growing, we considered all adult figures involved in our lives as heroes. We all needed them to survive. Nevertheless, we realized that survival isn’t the real matter. We took more from life than just merely becoming a school grader, an elementary student, or a high school achiever; we took from life and played the son/daughter role.

When we were young, we look at our parents often being the “commander”, the leader of the band, or sometimes, the one who’s got the power. There were times when I thought my mother’s choices for me were completely unacceptable to my young, developing mind; that somehow I thought I knew better. I guess you would all agree with me on this. There were moments when we crazily see our relationship with our parents close to imperfection. Throughout our years of growth and maturity, we went into high school, enrolled in a University in another city, we began cutting umbilical cords, we had our hospital exposures, laughed with new acquaintances, traveled, and more. Yet, to me, the greatest is the act of independence. We move into great age, and it is then that we realize our parents have become a soul-mirror of us. We begin to grow like them, talk, and act like them. The lessons in life they managed to teach us have stayed within us throughout the years. They were never afraid to correct us when we’re wrong,  or teach and encourage us in their own special way.

No matter how many times we try to configure it, we all resemble our parents. I, for one, know that we as students, as individuals, as teenagers; we go through life situations that are at times stressing and trying, but with close contact to our mom and our dad, life is never unfair. I realized that I’ve  had an over 2-decade long relationship with my mother, being my sole provider and protector; and within those years, I’ve matured my childish needs, desires, expectations, demands, and wants. Things like patience, sacrifice, and even the ability to say “yes” or “no” came straight from them. Our loving parents are our personal angels of protection. They are in-charge in leading us to the right direction. They guide our actions and fill our needs. They have made us better persons in loving another human being. No other man can measure and give us what they have.

To our parents, we are proud of you. We are even prouder to honor you, for your wisdom, guidance, and the examples you have set. You gave us courage, and you helped us eliminate our uncertainties and fears. As we’ve grown into adulthood, we’ve found the riches and wealth of wisdom you have laid on us. We thank you for the patience as we learned to mature. We thank you for the answers of our many questions and we thank you for giving us the best you had to give. We don’t agree on everything because we are all human, because we are separate beings. But, we still have this relationship that has been forged and strengthened over time into a solid loving, caring, and thought-filled tie that not even time will break.

Guys, look at you parents now; they quietly sit beside you, joining and embracing your hearts in this very memorable date that will truly mark the calendar of your lives. Now, look at yourself. How you came to be after the long years and the many miles of your journey. You will never see yourself the same today without your parents. Their influence is often felt for a lifetime far beyond any price, far beyond any cost. I would like you to know that I love my parents, even to my Father whom I’ve never seen, because I know that they love me too. Your parents love you, they love you so much that it would be impossible for you to see yourself today if it weren’t for them. Whisper to their ears or say it aloud, I love you Ma, I love you Pa. I have appreciated everything you have brought into my life. Yes, everything. I hope you stick around here long enough, and I pray that I may do too for as long as the Lord forbids.

Our dear parents, tomorrow we shall enter and face a test of our diligent preparation. We chose not to put so much stress on it because seeing you here today, or just the mere thought of you, of all your sacrifices, are quite enough for us to win the battle. Life is the way it is, we might not know what awaits us at the end of the tunnel, but, today we would like to get into your heart and tell you that everything is offered to you. One day, we will all become parents like you and we hope to give the same understanding and support to our children. Thank you for being there. Thank you for staying and for the existence you brought into us. Thank you for making us into the person that we have become. Most of all, thank you for being our PARENTS. We offer our never ending love to you.

-Lesley Anne Pino

University of Cebu College of Nursing- Host for 1st PNRS Student Conference in Cebu

By Lesley Anne Pino, UC Banilad Nursing student

The University of Cebu College of Nursing, both Banilad and LapuLapu-Mandaue Campuses, dressed out its inclination to drag nurse & student researchers all over Cebu. With the theme “Rediscovering Research: A change in one’s perception”, the very first Philippine Nursing Research Society student conference in the province was launched last March 17, 2011. After being inducted as secretary last November, University of Cebu's Research advocate Dr. Rosielyn D. Tan, along with the league of dynamic PNRS officers of Cebu Chapter, lighted the idea of choosing UC as host for the exodus of the national organization’s freshest milestone.

With keynote speaker, Dr. Donna Lou Evasco Neri, Research Director of Liceo de Cagayan University, students from Cebu Doctors’ University, Cebu Institute of Technology, University of the Visayas, and Benedicto College, mopped up UCLM’s Audio Visual Room. Abstract posters presented by clinical instructors and students were notable as judges toured around and examined the meat of their researches and expertise.

At the tail of the event, victorious winners were the delegates from Cebu Doctor’s University who bagged 1^st and 3^rd place, while nursing students from University of the Visayas throned the 2^nd spot. Needless to say, it was a day on the calendar to be marked on; a chance for the collaboration of the faculty and the students to intellectually meet at both ends.

Mob of audience and participants..

 

Clinical Instructors from UC-Banilad

Clinical Instructors and Nursing Students from UC-LM

Dr. Donna Lou Evasco Neri, the conference speaker, gives out insights about

Philippine Nursing Research Society

Inquiries from the students..

An intermission number from UC-Banilad’s pride and semi-finalist for Pilipinas Got Talent,

MR. GEO ED REBUCAS

1^ST Place for Poster Presentation: Cebu Doctors’ University

“Statistics for Social and Health Management interventions on strengthening the levels of Health Practices among selected inmates in achieving optimum level of wellness in Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)

Brgy. Kalunasan, Cebu City”

PNRS Officers for Cebu Chapter with Ms. Ana Trazona (5^th from right), UC-Banilad College of Nursing level I coordinator; Dr. Carmen P. Villarante (3rd from right), Dean of UC-LM College of Nursing; and keynote speaker, Dr. Donna Lou Evasco Neri (2^nd from right).

UC-Banilad Clinical Instructors and Students with Dr. Donna Lou Evasco Neri

Dr. Edgar Pangue (President-PNRS Cebu Chapter) with Dr. Rosielyn D. Tan ,Research Specialist of University of Cebu /secretary for PNRS Cebu Chapter

Cebu Doctors’ University nursing students wearing their grateful smiles after winning first place in the Abstract Poster Presentation.




LINK TO Philippine Nursing Research Society's website


http://www.pnrs.net/search?updated-min=2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2012-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=6