BONTOC, Mountain Province – Bontoc Mayor Jerome “Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr., and Vice Mayor Eusebio Kabluyen took part in the celebration of the 2nd Youth Arise! Season of Creation at Bishop Claver, Pastoral Complex, Teng-ab, Bontoc, Mountain Province on September 30, 2023.
Speaking before a jam-packed audience of youth, Mayor Tudlong, Jr., highlighted that the presence of the youth in the activity is an important reminder that age does not matter in terms of energy, passion, enthusiasm, drive, and hope in making a difference in the community.
He said that the Season of Creation is a time to renew relationships with the Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment to protecting our common home, the planet Earth no matter what our age is.
“For the youth, may this gathering inspire you to continuously take the lead in being a catalyst for change and an inspiration to your fellow youth to do the same. However, please remember that before you can empower others to make a difference, you must first start within yourselves,” the mayor emphasized.
He went on to say that the gathering is a testament that humanity still can work together in building the common home.
“Men and women, young and old, are still capable of intervening positively. It is then my fervent hope that our commitment to take care of our “common home” should not end in this gathering, but it should be a continuous renewal of the call to care for and sustain our planet so that all creatures may find their place in our common home,” Tudlong remarked.
It is to be noted that the present administration’s roadmap which is ENLANGAKHA: Achieving the Vision for a Dynamic Bontoc, encompasses four pillars namely: Ecosystems Regeneration; Empowered Communities; Economic Empowerment; and Good Governance.
Ecosystem Regeneration covers proper solid waste management; reviving biodiversity and damaged ecosystems: implementation of climate adaptation and disaster resilience programs; and expansion of water systems and maintenance of sanitation.
Empowered Communities includes strengthening the support for education and youth development.
Meanwhile, Kabluyen lauded the tireless effort and initiative of Rev. Fr. Marcial Lloyd Castañeda, Director of Moral Formation of Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe, President of the Provincial Ecumenical Ministers Association of Mountain Province and Director and Chaplain of Bishop Claver Complex, along with the organizers for their initiative in mobilizing the youth to be advocates on the protection of the environment, thus, part of the occasion was the tree planting which was participated in by all attendees.
Also in attendance during the event were Department of Education Regional Director Estela Cariño who was the keynote speaker, Mountain Province District Representative Maximo Dalog, Jr., Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan, Jr., police officials, different religious sectors, teachers, students and members of the KKDAT-Mountain Province Chapter.
