Goldenstate College, Inc.

Goldenstate College has successfully taken part in the recently celebrated international Youth Day together with participating schools and organizations within General Santos City organized by the Sanguniang Kabataan Federation. The event commenced at the Oval Grounds at 7:00 am and paraded its way onto Lagao Gym where different games were played between competing schools. Among the games participated by the school were Chinese garter, palo sebo, tug of war, breaking the pot, poster making, and extemporaneous speaking.

Among the selected participants were students coming from the Healthcare Services Department, Hotel and Restaurant Management Department, Computer Department and Technical Department trudged the long walk Lagao Gym carrying the school banner.

The parade route was very long that students complain all throughout the walk. There was no chanting or cheers directed to the students to ward off the burden of the heat. Traffic was not also fully directed by their respective marshals that students find it hard to follow through, as same parade lines are cut by inserting vehicles, which pose a great risk to the safety of students.

The walk was taxing,; nonetheless, the participants carried on with their enthusiasm as the roll call on different schools and colleges was initiated. A bit of disappointment was felt as we learned the keynote speaker was unable to join us in the celebration (Sen. Chiz Escuedero), but the commencement of the games surely brought back the unrelenting vigor of the participating youth.

In events like these, where it is aimed to showcase and celebrate youth contributions on society, our students' feedback is that it should have offered better venues for the development and emergence of talents and skills from the youth, apart from just parading the event to non-metro curbs (we took the left turn to the remote Leon Llido street where vicinity of the parade was ineffective) and entering the main venue (Lagao Gym) without any manner purpose of celebrating or welcoming play. The activities have not fully come in line with the purpose of celebrating the contribution of the youth to society. It has, on the other hand, brought back the feeding of youthful resurgence-reawakening the child in all of us again; from the parade, to the back to-basics games, to the cheers and shouts of the students.

We hope to join the next IYD celebration in anticipation that it will better itself in its endeavor of showcasing the profound contributions of the youth today. Even so, we commend the organizers and the participants for a day celebrating together with the same desires and dreams at heart.