Last May 22, 2008, the youth coordinator of DTC and FPOP Chapter Program Manager visited the FPOP Samar for an official trip of the chapter. In line with organizational strengthening, they both decided to visit them just to hear insights from their experience in the said city.
Remembering the history of DTC, WARAYA is one of the fruit of the center's initiative to empower the young people to be involve in the management of the FPOP at the same time incorporating young people perspective in its implementation of program.
We have talked on the members WARAYA like Ador, Dennis, Roldan, Steph, Leonor and other 3 members (I forgot their names, SORRY..:D). They just shared their thoughts that WARAYA is still in the right track. Despite of the low membership turn-out and less financial support from the funding agencies, which are very common in developing organization, continuous planning of activities is being practiced as part of their local implementation of plans and advocacy.
One distinguished asset of WARAYA is that one of their member is a very known personality of Catabalogan. Steph, which is a peer counselor of the organization, is a daughter of Mayor Tekwa. In addition to this, in her very young age, she became the youngest barangay captain of Catbalogan and also became the youngest ABC President of the said city. Thus, making her the youngest Councilor of the city. This seems very fortunate for WARAYA but then again, it becomes liability of others since young people in the other organization of Samar tend to conclude that she is using this opportunity and WARAYA is taking this advantages to cover WARAYA's expenses.
Despite all of these, WARAYA is still coping with some of the criticisms and continue giving their services to young people. In fact, one yearly activity that WARAYA conceptualized, which eventually they admitted that it is because of DTC's initiative, is the celebration of YOUNG PEOPLE's Day every month of August.
Upon hearing all these insights and thoughts, it just made us to realize that there are still more to do. It doesn't mean that we should not take our relaxation but to manage our time to fulfill the aspect of our social being. It quite hard to do this but eventually, seeing the smiles and hearing the thank yous of our fellow young people will make it more easier and self-fulfilling.
Thank you FPOP - Samar for your accommodation and double thank you for WARAYA's inspiring story.
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