BRINGING HAPPINESS. Kythe-Ateneo holds different activities throughout the year to spread joy to young cancer patients. Photo by Kitkat S. Lastimosa
OUT OF 269 entries in the 2012 Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards, Kythe-Ateneo was identified as one of this year’s National Finalists, with their “Be Brave, Get Shaved” project.
The 20 National Finalists consist of five organizations chosen from each of four identified areas in the Philippines: the National Capital Region (NCR), Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
“Reaching the finals round of TAYO Awards helped our advocacy reach a bigger audience and, for that, we are grateful. All throughout the TAYO journey, the Ateneo community, more especially other orgs and the students, cheered, wished and dreamt with us,” said Kythe Vice President for Advocacy Kara Guioguio.
“The national attention being given to our project and to Kythe-Ateneo is ultimately for our Kythe kids who we celebrate each new day of hope and happiness for,” she added.
On December 6, formal awarding ceremonies took place in the Heroes’ Hall at the Malacañang Palace. The event was aired on PTV4.
The TAYO Awards is an annual search for youth organizations whose projects made remarkable contributions to their “local communities, schools and workplace.”
It is organized by the National Youth Commission and the Office of Senator Francis Pangilinan, and is presented by The Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines.
Entering the contest
As early as 2006, Kythe has already been entering its projects for the TAYO Awards. Kythe President Paula Lantin said that their decision to join the competition was not as difficult as that of choosing which project to enter.
“We decided to enter a project that is not necessarily considered as one of our flagship projects mainly because we wanted to show how minimum efforts could still have maximum impact in a community,” Lantin said.
“Be Brave, Get Shaved” is one of the events held during Kythe Week every February.
This project “provides an opportunity for individuals to show their solidarity with pediatric cancer patients by getting their heads shaved,” said Be Brave, Get Shaved 2011 Project Head Alberto Antonio, Jr.
Antonio added, “We felt very strongly [about] this advocacy and the support it gives to these kids fighting the big C and we thought of entering it to a bigger stage.”
Guioguio handled the paperwork and applications for the first round of screenings. Antonio represented Kythe during the judging proper.
Aside from competing with other equally remarkable organizations, the National Finals judging added pressure on the finalists. The presence of several notable people such as Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World awardee Bam Aquino, TV personalities, and executives from top companies added more to the tension the finalists were already feeling.
“All for the kids”
Kythe-Ateneo aims to help pediatric cancer patients “enjoy their childhood despite being confined in the hospitals,” Guioguio said. Kythe members hold events, weekly hospital visits and parties for the children.
“Be Brave, Get Shaved” is just one of the many projects of the organization in line with its advocacy.
“Aside from uplifting spirits, we aim to raise awareness of the often overlooked sector of our society, the pediatric cancer patients,” Antonio said.
“All throughout the emotional roller coaster of TAYO week, especially during the moment when the names of the winners were being announced by the judge, I was reminded that whether we win or lose, what matters is that the spotlight was rightfully given to the kids that we deserve and love,” he added.
Lantin added that being able to share their advocacy outside the walls of Ateneo was more important to them than the cash prize or the trophy.
President Benigno Aquino III, in his speech during the awarding ceremonies, recognized the many efforts and the impact the youth have in society.
“The youth are different now. [Older people] say that [the youth] have nothing better to do than sitting in front of a computer all day or going out to the mall. Perhaps for some, this is true,” Aquino said in Filipino.
“But it is clear that the important things—concern for others, caring for those in need, and taking the initiative to help the country improve—these are still in the hearts of the Filipino youth.”
“The organizations we are recognizing prove that no matter what our age, gender, or social standing is, if we all work together to do the right thing, we can bring ease to others and to our country,” Aquino said.
The organizations that made it to the Top 10 are the I CAN Make a Difference (Zamboanga), Angat Kabataan (Rizal), One Million Lights Philippines (NCR), Ramon Magsaysay Technological University–Electrical Engineering Society (Zambales), Cebuano Youth Ambassadors, Monte Verde 4-H Club (Zamboanga), The College of Business Administration–Katipunan & Marketing Junior Executives in the University of the Cordilleras, University of Luzon Students in Free Enterprise (Pangasinan), Dire Husi Initiatives (Cagayan de Oro) and The La Salle Debate Society.
