Last week, the Pag-Asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) Region Eight Chapter ended its more than a month celebration of the 37^th founding anniversary of its mother organization, during the Monday Flag Ceremony of the DSWD Field Office Eight. The celebration started in July, with about three thousand and five hundred members regionwide participating in the various activities.

After a brief cultural presentation at the Field Office Eight grounds, a forum on Gender and Development was held at the An Waray Youth Center in Tacloban City. Also, the election of the new set of officers was made in said forum, with Reden Sabela of Tacloban City, coming in as the new president.

The other officers are Redem Del Corro of Catarman, Northern Samar – vice – president; Val Ducducan of Basey, Samar – secretary; Federico Balasabos, Jr. of Alang-alang, Leyte – treasurer; Hermie Oraya of Borongan City in Eastern Samar – auditor; Val Gregory Bagcat of Ormoc City – public relations officer for Leyte areas; Rommel Aquino of Catbalogan City in Samar – public information officer for Samar areas; and Albert Aban of Paranas, Samar – business manager.

Radio and television guestings, photo exhibits, sports and musical competitions, tree planting, livelihood skills demonstrations on waitering, candle and soap – making, and a forum on Adolescent Reproductive Health and Climate Change, were among the activities that contributed to making the foundation anniversary meaningful.

Alicia Severino, the focal person for the youth program, said the activities marking the anniversary served as a vehicle of information for programs being implemented by government agencies and organizations of and for the out-of-school-youth. It also provided a venue to showcase talents, skills, and potentials of the out-of-school youth.

The PYAP is a duly – constituted barangay – based organization of the out-of-school-youth organized nationwide, and federated from the municipal, city, provincial, regional, and national levels.