Mass Communication students help communities communicate

This story was published in Sunstar Davao on January 25, 2011

Mr. Angelo Aportadera (center) supervises the public speaking workshop with the youth leaders of WMYC

          With the goal of utilizing available communication models they’ve learned in their program and sharing it with communities and organizations in the locality, a group of graduating Mass Communication students spearheaded a series of workshops in various related media on a local youth organization.

            The Watershed Management Youth Council (WMYC) gladly took part in the pubic speaking and news writing workshop held at Ateneo de Davao University, Sunday, January 16.

            WMYC President Migrio Vina Cagampang expressed her excitement saying that “WMYC members need to be provided with the basic concept of news and press release writing since our advocacy entails educational approach, and massive public information, thus, have to be equipped with communication skills as well as the ability to facilitate public forums.”

            “We are thankful to the Mass Communication students of Ateneo de Davao University for spearheading the workshops as these are helpful to the organization and its advocacy,” Cagampang added.

            The aforementioned workshop was first among a series of workshops in building better communicators within the members of WMYC.

            Alex Justin Abando II, alongside Kristine May Jabay, Claide Kinneth Saludar, and Florencio Sarmiento IV, saw to the activity with excitement and vigor.

            “We are very much eager to come up with such an activity tied up with WMYC because we believe in the organization’s advocacy and we want its members to be equipped with skills in effectively and efficiently communicating its advocacy,” Mr. Abando said.

            The news and press release writing lecture and workshop was facilitated by Mr. Claide Kinneth Saludar.

            Mr. Angelo “APO” Aportadera, who is the group’s instructor, was also present as he took reigns in the public speaking workshop.

            The said activity stemmed from the students’ subject Community Communication, a public service subject that is part of the curriculum.-Florencio Sarmiento IV

More Photos from the workshop:

WMYC youth leaders undergo workshops and lectures on news writing and public speaking.

WMYC youth leaders attentively listening to the concepts used in news writing.

A fun workshop on public speaking under Mr. Angelo Aportadera.

Publish Post

WMYC: TAYO 8 National Finalist

Now on its 8th year, the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) of the TAYO Foundation spearheaded by the National Youth Commission (NYC) in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to recognize the efforts and collective work of youth organizations that promotes unity and teamwork which are necessary components in the important task of nation building. And a group, like the Watershed Management Youth Council (WMYC) with noteworthy and remarkable advocacy projects already implemented, TAYO is always worth a try.

With their project entry entitled Davao City Youth: Working towards Saving Davao’s Last Water Resource, WMYC made it to top 5 for Area Finals in Mindanao and in the top 20 organizations for National Finals.

WMYC President Migrio Vina Cagampang (3rd from left, 1st row) together with the representatives of the other organizations vying for the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations Award.

For the organization’s president Ms. Vina Cagampang, making it to the list of top 20 organizations vying for the TAYO Awards, makes the organization already a winner.

“All of the finalists are already winners. Even by listening alone to the stories of each other would amaze you especially on how our fellow youth can make a difference in their own little and different ways. The issues and advocacies we address may be different, but we believe that our actions are beginnings of our conviction that we can do something for the country,” Cagampang said.

This is not the first time WMYC has joined the prestigious search. In year 2004, the organization made it to the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations. And in year 2006 and present, WMYC made it to the top 20 organizations for National-level Finals.

The inclusion of the organization in the top choices for many years now proves that the organization truly has significant and remarkable projects for watershed management and protection.

Rising above apathy, today’s youth really are examples of nation-builders. The Filipino youth working together can and will build a stronger, brighter future for the nation.

And indeed, WMYC’s projects and programs for the past 10 years of its existence not only benefit the youth and the organization, but also the 1 million residents of Davao City. - pr/Claide Kinneth Saludar

 Here are some of the captured  moments and memorable experiences 

the members of the organization had

during TAYO 8 finals

Ms. Cagampang proudly showing everyone the finalist trophy

Vina Cagampang with her mother who is also proud of the achievements the organization had especially under the latter's daughter term as WMYC President

President-Elect for 2011-2012 Jade de los Arcos strikes a pose with the TAYO finalist trophy - an inspiration for him to continue what WMYC has started and proven for the past years.

WMYC officials Ramel Paragas, Von Ryan Mosquite and Jade de los Arcos poses with National Youth Commission Chair Mr. Richard Alvin Nalupta.

The WMYC promotional video is finally here!

Please share this video with the world and help us spread this advocacy!
Save our watersheds! Save our future!

What is a watershed?

 

A watershed is a geographic area of land which “sheds water,” or drains precipitation into a common point - a stream, river, pond, lake or other body of water.

Water that falls on the region drains downhill, over the surface of land and underground (aquifer) and converges into streams and rivers. This network progressively grows larger, eventually reaching the ocean.

It’s Importance

Watershed is an indispensable natural resource. It is more than just a drainage area. It is an ecological system that supports life – a habitat for plants and animals, and most especially a key source of drinking water for people and wildlife. Watershed also provides enjoyment for nature and recreation, such as boating, swimming and fishing.

John Wesley Powell, scientist geographer, put it best when he said that a watershed is:

"that area of land, a bounded hydrologic system, within which all living things are inextricably linked by their common water course and where, as humans settled, simple logic demanded that they become part of a community."

Life without watershed is unimaginable. Certainly, protection of watersheds is essential to maintain the health and well being of all living things.

Sources:

www.mywatershed.org

www.nsrwa.org

www.water.epa.org

Empowering themselves for a greater battle

Ten years after Watershed Management Youth Council (WMYC) has been organized and established, the organization continues to strengthen its core through various trainings and workshops that would equip its officers and active members with the skills they must possess in carrying out their advocacy.

            With emphasis on Public Speaking and Events Management, WMYC officials gathered in Malagos Park, Malagos, Davao City for a 2-day leadership and public speaking training and workshop last December 18 and 19, 2010.

            “It is our goal to provide ourselves with the proficiency and expertise that would aid us in achieving our vision and goals towards the environment and the youth,” WMYC President Migrio Vina Cagampang explained.

            Ms. Cagampang and the other members of the organization find such activity as an essential means of preparing themselves for a battle -  of continually informing the youth of the importance of managing and protecting the water sources of Davao City and proposing policies and legislations to the city council.

            “Since our advocacy entails educational approach, we have to be equipped with communication skills as well as the ability to facilitate public forums.”

“We will never grow tired of honing ourselves because we want to be effective and efficient speakers and communicators of Mother Nature’s message not only to the youth but to everyone, after all, protecting the environment particularly our water sources is an intergenerational responsibility,” Cagampang added.

Other activities for the training include teambuilding workshops and action planning facilitated by WMYC seniors Aaron Daniel Arpafo, Ramel Paragas, Claide Kineth Saludar and the president herself Migrio Vina Cagampang.

WMYC will continue visiting communities, barangays and schools in the coming months for forums on various issues affecting the watersheds of Davao City as part of their advocacy and Information Education and Communication Campaign (IEC). - pr/Claide Kinneth Saludar

What is the Watershed Management Youth Council (WMYC)?

The Watershed Management Youth Council (WMYC) is the youth sector of the Watershed Management Coordinating Council (WMCC) which aims to promote watershed management advocacy among the Davao City student leaders and advocates.

Formed in 2000 by a group of local student leaders under the supervision of the Davao City Water District, the WMYC has grown to become a community which made a considerable impact in the city’s watershed management advocacy especially among its youth.

WMYC envisions having “young people nurturing and sustaining the watersheds of Davao City as the life source of the good of all” and therefore looks for ways to echo its advocacy to youth leaders from various high schools and colleges in the city to gain more support for the fulfillment of its cause.

Some of its regular activities are the Annual Ecological and Environmental Camps, Youth Congress, Eco-tours, Information, Education, and Communication Campaign, Tree Planting, Growing, and Parenting Activities, Annual Leadership trainings, and the Millennium Development Goals Interpretative Dance Competition. These activities aim to open the WMYC’s advocacy to more youth advocates who are willing to hear and support the group’s cause.

Because of its noble cause, the WMYC is supported by a number of Government Organizations (GO), Non-Government Organizations (NGO), private individuals, and various advocates of watershed management.

The WMYC has been consistently fighting for its advocacy on watershed management since its formation until this very moment and will definitely continue for the protection of not only the city’s watersheds but also the hope of the future generations.*