SUGPAT awarded as one of Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations in the Philippines

Out of more than 300 applicants, Ateneo de Zamboanga University’s SUGPAT Program is recognized as one of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) in the Philippines.

“This TAYO award is given to SUGPAT, that has worked hard for harnessing creativity and innovation,” TAYO Awards Foundation President Perci Cendana said.

The national awarding was held on February 13, 2020, at the GSIS Theater, Pasay City. Twenty national finalists gather to award the ten accomplished youth organizations for this year. 

SUGPAT was represented by co-founder and Education Officer Rogin Eribal. Eribal said this entire experience proved to him that when a team continuously pursues their purpose, everything will fall into its perfect place. 

“TAYO gave us the seal that what we do can be sustained and replicated so that there will be more out-of-school youth who can benefit. Their success stories are our true awards,” he added.

The 17th search for the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards started the search last September 2019, with applying youth organizations going through field validation, regional finals, and the national finals.

In Zamboanga City, SUGPAT is the fifth program to be awarded this recognition alongside other youth organizations in this city.

Besides SUGPAT, three other Mindanaoan finalists also made it to the top ten organizations: Peace Crops, Super Lumba, and Kilusan ng Kabataan para sa Kalikasan.

During the national awarding, key note speaker Former Senator Bam Aquino said that the youth are like bright stars on the dark sky, he continued, “Ngayon ang mundo’y nababalot ng kadiliman, hindi na sapat na maging ilaw lang. Kailangang hanapin natin ang mga kapwa ilaw sa paligid. Kapag nagsama-sama tayo, maaabot natin ang inaasam na maliwanag na kinabukasan sa mundo.”

SUGPAT also won third place in the Video Sprint Challenge, a 90-second video presenting the organization and the project. 

“SUGPAT has come a long way through the support of every volunteer and partner who believed that every dream matters,” SUGPAT Founding Director Kiko Miranda said. 

This year’s TAYO awardees are SUGPAT, Peace Crops, Super Lumba, Kilusan ng Kabataan para sa Kalikasan, Junior Bedan Law Circle – San Beda University, UP Bike Share, Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu Leaders Council, BNHS 4H Bahay Kubo, Quirinian Youth in Action, and Youth for Mental Health Coalition Inc.

SUGPAT launched in 2015 as an Arts for Development Project to address the displaced youth and adolescents brought by the 2013 Zamboanga Siege. SUGPAT has transformed into a program addressing adolescent programming through innovative strategies covering areas on policy, research, and barangay and youth leadership, while still continuing and even advancing the alternative education program.

The Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO)  is Philippines’ only award-giving body that recognizes and supports the outstanding contributions of youth organizations to the country. The Search aims to recognize, reward, and encourage youth organizations all over the country with programs and projects that help their communities.

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