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By Mary Blaise Calanoy, high school student and officer of PAGTATAP Youth
Do you know that we, the youths, can do great things for the welfare of the community? Yes, we can. Remember that "the youths are the hope of the nation."
Being a member of PAGTATAP Youth has been a valuable experience for me because in my little way I help our community Pandan and I enjoy doing my part with my fellow youths for the welfare of the Pandananons.
One time, we went to our cleanest river, the Bugang River, to have a river clean up. At first I felt nervous because I was afraid that something might happen to us while we were in the river, but nothing did. Our clean up became so enjoyable and quite an adventure. We sailed through the cold, large river while picking up and collecting garbage such as plastics, sacks, and even dead animals. Don't get me wrong. Bugang River is considered as one of the country's cleanest rivers. We wanted to make sure that it is indeed kept clean and stays that way.
That's not the only thing we do in PAGTATAP Youth. We are all students, but we are also teachers. How? By teaching, of course. Every Sunday, after attending mass, grade school pupils of Ciriaco Tayco Elementary School in Barangay Dionela gather at the school for our tutorials. I admit that we may not be as good as the real teachers and we lack the experience, but by helping each other, we are making it. How nice it is that through our own little way, the school children learn. I am glad that I have shared my time and effort for the betterment of the children's education because I firmly believe that education is the key and the way towards success.
Youths also need to grow spiritually. In Pagtatap Youth, we developed ourselves through Taize Prayer. We gathered in a solemn place. Together we offered our prayers to God. For me, the experience was the most essential thing that has happened because we cannot do anything without Him.
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