Pathways holds first-ever Visayas Volunteers’ Convention in Iloilo
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in the category Regional Updates
Last October 18 – 20, 2007, the Visayan members of the Pathways network held their first-ever Visayas Volunteers’ Convention. With the theme, “A Call for Education… Blazing the Trail for Pathways in the Visayas”, the 3-day event focused on consolidating and strengthening the efforts of the youth groups. The participants hailed from various schools in the Visayas area, particularly from Filamer Christian College, Silliman University, University of San Carlos, West Visayas State University – Main, and West Visayas State University – Lambunao Campus. Hosted by WVSU-Main, the convention was held at Racso’s Woodland Mini Hotel and Wildlife Resort in Guimbal, Iloilo.
These volunteers, or Pathways youth groups, provide tutorial services, workshops that build self-esteem and other enrichment activities that may help marginalized students enter higher education institutions. Since these youth groups are the prime movers of Pathways, it is also important that they are given seminars and trainings to aid them in their projects and activities.
The three days were filled with team building activities geared towards strengthening the bonds among Pathways’ volunteers in the Visayas. But apart from the camaraderie and fun, they were also given talks on the National and Education Situation so that they may contextualize what is currently happening in the Philippines with the admirable work they do. The students also learned about Servant Leadership as a form of Volunteerism, Fund Raising strategies, and Project Management. These talks were given by able and credible speakers from the National Pathways Office and from the competent faculty of West Visayas State University, such as Mr. Jason Cocjin, Mr. Donne Jonne Sodusta, and Engr. John Lorenz Belanio. Of course, no convention would be complete without fellowship. For their second night, the Visayans showed how they bond by staging the Pathways Night – Hawaiian Style. Various presentations were given by the participants and games were held to foster solidarity. One of the highlights of the evening was when Marvin Flores, a delegate from Silliman University, won in the cellular phone raffle sponsored by Globe Telecom – Iloilo.
Overall, the event was a success. But the highlight of this activity is that the participants, the Pathways staff, and moreover, the sponsors, all collaborated to make it a success. The Provincial Planning and Development Office of the Province of Iloilo provided the LCD projector, as well as the printer, that was used during the event. On top of that, they also shouldered the expenses for the event banner/tarpaulins. Not only that, but they also provided photocopying services for the handouts of the speakers. D’Top’s Bookstore provided all the material needs, such as the notebooks, pens, markers, cartolinas, manila paper, crayons, masking tape, as well as the bond paper that were all used during the event. We also express our heartfelt gratitude to our other sponsors and donors who supported the project through cash and kind donations, namely: Peninsula Rural Bank, Inc. (PenBank) – Jaro and Iloilo Branches, Pepsi Cola Products Philippines, Inc., Globe Telecom, Mang Inasal, Netopia, Ted’s Oldtimer La Paz Batchoy, Panorama Printing, Inc., Prof. Emilia Japitana, Prof. Methuselah Adelantar, Dr. Imelda Sebastian, Dr. Lee Pineda, Prof. Hilda C. Montaño, Ms. Jeany Garque, Prof. Catherine Roces, Serafin Clavel III, Mary Joy Tabang, Glen Pajarilla, Hon. Purificacion Cerbo, and most especially our media partner, GMA-6 Iloilo.
As one volunteer wrote, “the youth must take part in touching lives, educating people, and becoming future Filipino leaders who will work for the development of our country”. Forward we go, Visayas!
