The Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Local Youth Development Office (NVPLYDO) spearheaded the celebration of Linggo ng Kabataan 2025, a two-day event for the youth sector of Nueva Vizcaya that included such activities as the Nueva Vizcaya Youth Parliament 2025, the Provincial Organizations Fair, and the Skwad Night, which included The Voice of SK singing competition, the Sayaw-Garaw dance competition, and the closing ceremony. The Panagtalyaw: Moral Development Program, a joint activity for the young Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs), was also conducted concurrently in the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Jail.
Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito attended the opening ceremonies to give his message to the Linggo ng Kabataan attendees. Known for his ardent support of the youth of Nueva Vizcaya, the governor not only reiterated the promises made during his oath-taking, but also provided valuable advice to those present, on life and leadership.
“My advice to you is that you have to know experience and develop all aspects of your life,” said Governor Gambito. “(You must also have your) emotional quotient, adversity quotient… not just your intelligence quotient. The simplest way to define leadership is the ability to convince. If you can master that ability to convince, then you are ready for any challenge outside of campus. You are still young; be active, be concerned, be bold. Prepare yourselves, as I prepare the province for you.”
The Nueva Vizcaya Youth Parliament 2025 saw the attending youth subdivided into committees to draft ordinance, with attending subject matter experts to guide them in the process, with the eventual hope to see one of the ordinances ‘picked up’, written by a board member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and implemented. The affairs and achievements of last year’s Youth Parliament were also discussed during the opening.
The Skwad Night on September 6 included the talent competition portions of the celebration and the awarding of such and the Orgs Fair, as well as the launch of Cine Vizcaya, the first-ever Nueva Vizcaya Film Festival. On behalf of both the Governor and Nueva Vizcaya Youth focal person Nickson Millo, SP Board Member Emerlene Galanta-Martinez formally opened the program by addressing the young people in attendance.“Linggo ng Kabataan has expanded from just the SK to student leaders from different schools and organizations,” exhorted BM Galanta-Martinez. “Thank you for reflecting the true spirt of Novo Vizcayano youth. You are a living testament to how youth is still meaningful and fun. Continue what you started and what you are doing; the trust of the people in the youth is slowly coming back. Let us not waste it, let us safeguard it.”
BM Galanta-Martinez also echoed a sentiment expressed by Hon. Nickson Millo during the opening ceremonies the day before, the oft-repeated quote from Dr. Jose Rizal: Ang Kabataan ay ang pag-asa ng bayan. With this conviction fresh in the minds of the province’s young people, the change coming to the province will be done not only by the provincial government, but by the youth of Nueva Vizcaya. /igmb
[This article was initially created on Facebook – Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya. For PGNV updates, visit: https://www.facebook.com/vizcayareporter]