HNU youth club picked Among Visayas' bests

WINNING POSE. The Achievers Club members took a pose with some of the beneficiaries of its project “Banging the Gavel”.

(HNU) HOLY Name University 's the Achievers Club thru its project entry “Banging the Gavel” was recently chosen as one of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) in the Visayas – a feat grabbed in just barely 2 years of existence. TAYO is an annual nationwide search sponsored by the National Youth Commission (NYC) and Office of Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan. It aims to recognize youth organizations who have conducted a recent program or project that made an impact on the community and which best reflects the efforts of young people as partners in nation-building.

General Criteria of the Search is the Impact of the project entry to the local community. It also counts Social Mobilization or the involvement of the community, in planning, implementing and evaluating the program or project. The criteria for evaluation also include Innovativeness or the uniqueness of services and application of new technologies. Finally, the evaluation also looks at and Sustainability and Probability of project Duplication. The Achievers Club, composed primarily of honor students with a full-year scholarship grant at HNU.

The Club aims to elevate its members' well-being and perform service benefiting the community in the form of social, civic, intellectual, recreational, and scientific programs. Seen as an avenue to realize its thrust, it conducted free-of-charge Student Governance Workshop (dubbed as “Banging the Gavel”) on the Saturdays of October 1 to November 12, 2005 participated in by officers and members of student organizations of nine (9) secondary schools in the City of Tagbilaran. Gavels, donated by Congressman Edgar M. Chatto, City SK Federated President Frances Marnelli Abellana and City Counciors Leonides Borja and Jose Antonio Veloso, were also given to schools' student government.

The support of HNU SAO Director Nilo Bulawin, Student Activities and Women's Affairs Officer Joan Llanos and Interim City Schools Division thru Dr. Elpidio Jala was indispensable towards the success of the endeavor. Representing the organization during the interview done by NYC Officials were David S. Maulas, Consultant; Christine Hontanosas, President; Suzette Magallano, VP for Internal Affairs; Charlon Razon, VP for External Affairs; Andrea Cubeta, Secretary; Josephus Anthony Bumaat. Treasurer; Baylani Cabatos, Auditor; Karyl Fritz Lahoy, PIO; and members Fatima Adem, Lilibelle Brillantes, James Visto and Nesty Joy Anto.

Also present were some of the beneficiaries of the project. The organization's project entry however fell short of banging it to the National Finals. Even then, “we are very overwhelmed” says Club's Adviser Meinard T. Butalid, HNU Scholarship Coordinator. After all, the project was tailored to make a difference in the lives of others and winning any award is merely a bonus, he rationalized. The Achievers Club continues to offer free technical assistance to youth organizations. For inquiries, contact Maulas at 411-5160 or visit the Office of the Scholarship Coordinator at HNU-Janseen Heights Campus.

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