Posts by Val Amiel Vestil
A hero to his siblings, a hopeful dreamer to the world
In this season of graduation, it would be normal to see waves of people in black togas throwing their caps in the air. This speaks of a celebration of reaching a new milestone. Out-of-school learner Franuel Follosco, 24, has found satisfaction in simply being a mere spectator to this time of festivity—for three times now. …
Read MoreHow a teen mom carries the weight of the world, but carries on for the dream
For 22-year-old Diane Besino Alberto, life never went around the way she had expected it to. Diane had to stop schooling at the age of 16 because of financial problems within the family. She had to constantly transfer households between her separated mother and father, with the former get into a new marriage, and the…
Read MoreA young Sama-Bajau’s search for hope, meaning, and belongingness amid diversity and difficulties as an out-of-school youth
When his father died at the age of 9, Omar Sharif “Qoy” Mohammad felt as if the world had ended. He lost the very source of his strength, and most importantly, he lost confidence in himself. After that, everything else around him started to fall apart: he quit school intermittently, went into vices, and detached…
Read MoreSUGPAT unites fellows and their parents, guardians in family strengthening program
“Our family is important because they are our lives, they guide us every day and every time. When we fail, when we face trials, when we have disappointments, they give us strength, courage, and comfort us when we hurt inside.” These were the words that came straight from the heart of Jenny Samarinta, SUGPAT-ALSPA fellow,…
Read MoreSUGPAT-ALSPA president elected as sectoral representative in local youth council
The class president of the SUGPAT Alternative School for Peacebuilding and the Arts was elected as a representative of the out-of-school youth sector as part of the city’s youth development council last November 20. Omar Sharif Mohamad was among three sectoral representatives who will sit at the Consejo de Desarollo de Jovenes dela Ciudad de…
Read MoreFirst ever regional leadership camp for out-of-school youth held in Zamboanga City
More than 40 out-of-school youth (OSY) from all over Zamboanga Peninsula gathered last December 12 to 16 at the Mercedes Retreat House in Zamboanga City for the first ever leadership camp of its kind in the region. The Ateneo de Zamboanga University’s SUGPAT Program in partnership with UNICEF Philippines and the US Embassy in the…
Read MoreMental health put on focus in 4th youth talks forum
Aiming to capacitate the youth of Zamboanga City on “first aid intervention” regarding mental health issues, the last SUGPAT Youth Talks of the year was organized last November 30. Considered the most engaging Youth Talks yet, more than 50 youth from all over the city gathered for “SUGPAT Youth Talks 4: Prioritizing Your Mental Health…
Read MoreSUGPAT speaks at national youth volunteer convention
Last November 26, Ateneo-SUGPAT attended the first ever Filipino Youth Volunteers Convention as a speaker for the Social Innovation & Community Development break-out session at the SMX Aura Convention Center, Manila. SUGPAT was represented by its program director, Kiko Miranda, who shared the stage alongside Mr. Prim Paypon, founder of The Dream Project. During his…
Read MoreSUGPAT co-organizes Galing Pook Governance Fair 2018
The entire AdZU-SUGPAT team flew to Manila last October 10 and 11 to help co-organize the Galing Pook Governance Fair 2018 with the theme “#BagoTayo: Youth in Innovative Governance” at the Novotel Araneta Center, Quezon City. This year’s theme, Youth in Innovative Governance, is using #BagoTayo as its battlecry. Guided by the collective goal of…
Read MoreAteneo Social Development Council organizes SUGPAT Youth Talks 3 on youth vulnerabilities to violent extremism
Seeing the need for educating grassroots communities about the issues on violent extremism in the city, Ateneo de Zamboanga’s Social Development Council (SDC) invited an esteemed researcher from the Institute of Autonomy and Governance (IAG) for the SUGPAT Youth Talks 3 last October 2 at the Subanen Room, Garden Orchid Hotel. IAG research consultant Dr.…
Read More