The 4th TAYO (Ten Accomplished Youth Organization) ASEAN and Cyber Development World Camp

It was a great privilege to be a part of the 4^th TAYO ASEAN Awards held last October 07, 2009 at Puerto Princesa City Coliseum. At first, all I know is that I will be an usherette in the said event, but during our meeting (2 days before the event) with City Councilor, Hon. Rebecca V. Labit, we were asked to join another event. It was the Cyber Development Corps World Camp which was coordinated with the TAYO ASEAN Awards.

And that very day came about. October 06, 2009 at 2:00 PM we went to Asturias Hotel to attend the Opening Program. There, I was sitting with my colleagues, Ralph Adrian Cabasal, Jayson R. Gabia our SSG President, Nikki Marie Velasco, Queenie Leoncio and our beloved Principal Madam Cristina G. Buenafe. At that moment, the truth of being a participant of that event can’t still penetrate on me. It was an exclusive camp and I can’t still believe that I am a part of it.

We had a roll call during the Opening program. There were delegates from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and other neighboring countries. The Opening program ended with messages from Hon. Richard Nalupta, Chairman National Youth Commission, CAYC and Hon. Sobri Ahmad, Sec. General, Commission on ASEAN Youth Cooperation.

The next day, at 8:00 AM we took the Asturias Hotel again for the continuation of the camp. (The local participants were stay out the hotel.) Day 2 is more about discussions in the morning. Mr. Lee Kwan Meng from International Youth Center in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia talked about Youth Volunteerism. Ms. Phanee Chunjitkaruna from Royal Government of Thailand discussed to us the true meaning of International Relations. The speakers were so good. Especially Ms.Phanee, for she don’t even have a PowerPoint presentation but we really understand her topic.

After the session, we were grouped into three. We had a group discussion and we had our own topic in each group. In our group (group 1), we discussed about Volunteerism through CDC in the ASEAN. We had a sharing of experiences that was related to our talking point.

After the group discussion we took our lunch and then we decided to leave but with the permission of course of the organizers. Actually there were still discussions after lunch but we have to go to the City Coliseum to prepare for the 4^th TAYO ASEAN Awards. I need to be there early because I will be a GSP usherette and will join the entrance of colors. I supposed to be a VIP for the event together with the other delegates of the camp but I chose to serve them and be a GSP usherette.

3:00 PM, the delegates started to arrive. The other delegates noticed me and asked for not wearing a National Costume. I explain them why while calling them “Madam or Sir” for I am in my Girlscout uniform. I am the only girlscout in the glass door of the Lower box who welcomed the VIPs. Fortunately, boyscouts from the school of PNS showed up and one of them accompany me.

It was really exhausting standing a long time there, smiling and greeting every person that goes inside the lower box. When the program started, we were called by the organizers and we were asked to give the foods in the audiences (students from different schools in Puerto). We have to take the stairs bringing the boxes of hamburgers and coke in cans with our hands and in there I got very very tired.

The awarding continues, but I, together with other girlscouts and boyscouts were busy distributing the foods.

The awarding ended. And it’s time for the Photo Opportunity. I have to dress with my Filipiniana because we (the delegates) will have a dinner with the Mayor and other VIPs, but there still orders to do.

Fortunately, we finished the works timely. I had a chance to sit down for a while and then joined the other delegates.

The awarding is finally through. We were fetched by the van and we were going to Asturias again for the dinner. There I was again a delegate, wearing my Filipiniana.

The dinner was so jam-packed with foods and presentations of different cultural dances of Palawan. It was really nice to be a delegate, especially knowing people from other countries. One was Mr.Nik Azuan from Malacca, Malaysia. He was so sociable and very nice to talk with. He approached us while we were sitting in our table after we ate. He asked us to have a picture with him and then he told us many stories. Actually he was a guest and he supposed to sit with the other guests but he preferred to sit with us and the other local delegates too.

October 08, 2009, at 7 AM I am already in the lobby of Asturias, waiting for the other delegates to come. We were supposed to go to the Underground River for our tour. I was really excited for it was my first time to go there. But there were still drizzle outside. Madam Becky told us that they were monitoring the river since 5 in the morning but still it was flooded and we need to wait for the river to become stable. And so we waited. We were on the lobby until 11 eating Zert Pies. Some of us fell asleep while some prefer to be awake to be able to hear any announcement. Mr.Nik conversed to us while we were waiting. He gave us some Malaysian delicacies and also a small flashlight as a remembrance. At the back of flashlight, there is a trademark “Rakan Muda” which means “Young Friend”. We were so overwhelmed with his kindness and we loved to hangout with him and to listen to his stories and trivia about his country. We never get bored that time.

It was past 12 when they declared that we cannot go to the river because it was still flooded. The organizers decided that instead of the Underground River tour, we will be going to take the City Tour.

We have been to the Crocodile Farm, Landfill, and Baker’s Hill. I didn’t enjoy that much because I have been to that places before except for the Landfill.

Around 3 PM when we came back the hotel. The Closing program will be on 4 in the afternoon and I need to go home and dress up for that.

I arrived on time in the Hotel. Together with Ralph, we proceeded to the Virginia Hall where the Closing program will take place. While waiting for the other delegates, Ralph and I were busy chatting when Mr. Nik came over. As usual, he told us stories. He even showed to us his late ID and the recent one. According to him, when he was a teenager, girls court him, but now that he’s “fat”……. He was really handsome during his teenage years. He even looks like an Army. But we don’t care about his past life. All we wanted is him right now. He was sitting at my right that time, taking many photos together with us.  When the Program started, I thought he was going to sit in front but he stayed.

It was so good having him as our friend. He kept on reiterating that we must study hard. We girls must protect ourselves. And in time when we graduate, he told us that we are so welcome in their state to come. He will tour us their and he told us that he will allow us to go in his house. He said that in their house, there is a cabinet, and when we open it, we can take whatever we want. That time, I know in myself that it will be difficult for me to let him back to their place. He said that he can’t promise to go back here in the Philippines for he has so many works to do.

At the end of the program, we had a community singing. We sang the song If we hold on together. That time, we all hold hands while singing the song. I felt like crying that moment, but I resisted.

The program ended and there still dinner together with the delegates and those who served in the TAYO ASEAN Awards at 7 PM so we decided to stay at the hotel. We went down stairs and we saw Senator Chiz Escudero at the Pescados Restaurant having a conference with the Jaycees.

The dinner was good. There were my co-GSP and the BSP. There were a lot of presentations and the awarding of the certificates also took place. Our very own Mr.Nik is also awarded as the FRIENDLIEST. While we were eating, one of my colleagues said that Mr.Nik was looking at us, he looked sad. Maybe he wanted to sit with us because that time he was together with his fellow guests from other countries.

After we ate, he went to us, there he told something very important. He wanted us to be good and the like. He said that he will be going to miss every one of us. Some of us were already teary eye. He became an important person for us. If only time will allow that he can stay even longer or even stay forever with us, we will grab that very chance.

I will now end this. I will truly miss Mr.Nik and I am truly thankful for the chance of knowing him and of being selected to attend a camp like this. My gratitude to the working committee, my co-participant, and most especially to my dearly loved principal who is over supportive for all the activities that we have attended, and we will be attending.

P.S. Photos will be posted soon. God Bless!