Serving the Youth- Kabataang Barangay. In 1980 I was elected as a youth leader in our community San Antonio Village Makati. A new purpose and meaning of life. “Ako at ang Kabataan’

May 26, 1980 I participated and was elected youth leader in our community and with about 3 million Filipino youths aged 15 to 18 years old. This has given me the opportunity to serve our community as a youth chairman or Kabataang Barangay Chairman in San Antonio Village Makati.

I remembered Praying to Santo Niño the night before and asked Him to help me win that election and He answered my prayers. I won by a margin of one vote and it became a challenge to me to give the best as I can and not to fail them. This is a new beginning, a purpose and meaning of life. “Ako at ang Kabataan”.

this place in Sampaloc street in the house of my friend Badjun Cabral where we opened our first basketball tournament in the 80’s

(Photo 1980-81 : This tournament for kids is played on a half court and got many parents involved. This program is free for everyone including the uniforms.
We introduce Ants (8 below) and (10 years old below) Mosquito division basketball tournament.

People enjoyed watching the kids play. A bonding time for the family. This is now being implemented in all barangays in Makati.

KABATAAN BARANGAY ROLE:

As a youth chairman, you become an ex-officio member of the local community council having the same rights and privilege accorded to them. This enables the youth to participate in program planning and to vote on ordinances and resolution deliberated in their barangay. Each community has an elected KB council, treasurer and secretary.

Each Chairman elects among themselves to form a KB Federation officer that chairs different committees in preparing programs and projects in each barangays as what we have in Makati.

The KB Federation President becomes a Councilor or a board member as a Youth representative to the City, Municipal and/ or the Provincial government

KB FUNDINGS

Kabataang Barangay was allocated funds as mandated in the local government code. Unfortunate, some youth council cannot use this as it was not being implemented in some localities.

During that time, our funds are taken from the community sports development fund. Your funding will rely on the support of the elder community council.

It took some years before KB funds was finally allocated in our respective community. In some areas they have no funds at all and have fund raising project in each barangay.

KB PROGRAM AND PROJECT.

We have projects on cultural development like Himig ng kabataan, dulaang KB. Sports programs like basketball and volleyball and other tournament, we have fun run. Mass Jogging, we also have anti-drug abuse seminars.

Based on the needs of the youth they have come out with projects for Out of School Youth (the Batarisan Program) Some of this programs can be found in our of the KB Project Manual.

KB PROGRAM NATIONWIDE

TheKb Program covers everything.

It all there.

Basketball and volleyball tournament.

San Antonio Village is divided into a 4 different sitio or section. A B C &D and each area has it own sports manager. For many years every manager funded uniforms just to dominate and be recognized to be the best in the barangay. This situation leads up to fight among the players.

To end this division we decided to removed the managers in our tournament.

by unifying all the youth we were able to solved a lot of problems in the community. We got more cooperation that leads to its success. I truly believed that in Unity we shall build a better country

That time We provided free uniforms.

About 30 teams participated in this basketball – volleyball tournament in our village that was held simultaneously in 3 different areas.

The significant thing about this tournament was the youth volunteers who gave their free time to serve as referees and table committees for the games. Start of great bonding of youth from different walk of life.

All players from different teams were later selected to form a team to play for the inter- Barangay tournament. I still remember Richard Gomez once played for Lawaan team where his grandmother lives.

We have joint KB community and KB school chapter programs that are formed to address the needs of students in the community. We brought books to the school Library and have anti drugs abuse seminars.

CULTURAL PROGRAMS
The Youth program like the Himig Ng Kabataan Choral Competition was being held in different cities and Municipalities. The winners compete in the Regional Level, in our case Metro Manila and represent our region for the annual National Himig ng Kabataan Competiton.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING

During the Kabataang Barangay days we have our training at Camp September 21st at Mt. Makiling, Laguna. We were given lectures on leadership, parliamentary procedure.

Some of our speakers were noted nationalist leaders Like Ka. Nilo Tayag. Nonie Villanueva and other Youth activist and school leaders who shared their life stories , struggles and their views on serving our country, Nationalism and National Unity. (Pagmamahal sa Bayan at Pambansang Pagkakaisa)

Photo: Ka Luis Taruc a nationalist leader. Former leader of the HUKBALAHAP.

PAMBANSANG KATIPUNAN NG KABATAANG BARANGAY

1985, I was hired as a kabataang Barangay Youth Development Officer under the Office of the President and was assigned as Makati Kb assistant coordinator.

Facilitated for the training of newly elected Federation presidents from all regions of our country at Mt Makiling, Camp September 21st;

Kb leaders were trained in this camp like Mayor Herbert Bautista of Quezon City. Presidential Candidate Gibo Theodoro among others.

Youth Representation in Local and National government

This is the last picture taken from the KB National Office in 1986. The start of EDSA Revolution.

Kabataang Barangay After Edsa Revolution.

Some local government had conducted their youth election using a different name while some continued to follow the provision of the local government code having their own local KB election.

This conflict regarding the recognition of KB or Community based Youth organization was brought in the regional trial court

As a KB youth leader and a former KB Staff I was summond to give light on the provisions written on the KB contitution and local government code and most imporantly the Role of the youth the Local government.

The ruling of the court settled not only the case of Makati city where they elected new sets of youth leaders with a new organization but also some local government who conducted KB elections in thier locality.

YOUTH PROGRAM IN THE COMMUNITY AFTER EDSA.

With the abolition of KB, our community youth leaders, took upon themselves to form Concern Youth of San Antonio spearheaded by one of our active youth leader. Bajun Cabral.

The clamor for youth representation continued to be the voice of the youth in different venues. Kb elected officers specially those in school chapter stood on their ground as street parliamentarians.

1990 came back to serve the government as a legislative staff officer under Councilor Raul Oloy Javier also a former KB chairman in Makati.

He convinced me to join him and work towards our dreams for the youth in our City. His priority project was to provide a sport facility in all the community of Makati.

Implemented the first Presidential Summer Youth program (SPES )

Makati sponsorship of the SHIP for SOUTH EAST ASIA YOUTH PROGRAM (SSEAYP) interaction with Local youth.

THE CREATION OF THE SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN

The hope of reviving youth participation came with the creation of the 1991 Local government code (Republic Act No. 7160) by Senator Nene Pimentel.

During that time, our office got involved with the working group of SK creation and been monitoring every move in the senate as they voted for the creation on the Sangguniang Kabataan . Our KB file in Makati was used as legal notes in this deliberations.

The DILG legal office and PCYA was truly instrumental in this passage.

Fast forward we were chosen to be part of the SK trainers for the newly elected officers in 1991.

1993 Makati had their first Sangguniang Kabataan Leadership training in Corregidor headed by Sk President Jun jun Binay. A new set of future City official for Makati. City Mayor, councilors and barangay officials.

With Youth Commissioner Felizardo Sarge Colambo.

CREATION OF NATIONAL MOVEMENT OF YOUNG LEGISLATORS

Young Councilors Lead by Councilor Kiko Pangilinan created the National Movement of Young Legislators and our office was part of the preparatory committee.

THE SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN.

Hopefully with good national program in place, Sangguniang Kabataan be able to get a set of good leaders.

Let us give them inspiration, guide them, provide them moral, national pride and dignity to truly serve our youth and not just seek the position for their own benefits . Its sad to note that some people say that this became a ground for corrupt leaders. Bata pa lang corrupt na.

May this testimony leave a positive note. BAWAT GALAW MAGING MAKABULUHAN.

May they be like our National Heroes willing to sacrifice for our motherland.

Makialam!

KB ! The Eyes and the Mouth of our Youth Noon hanggang Ngayon.

Our great speakers told us that we need to do something as a youth and let this be our legacy for our children and for the next generation. Did my share and this is my story