KABATAAN! NIGHT!

KABATAAN NIGHT, more than the usual

"A modern method of organizing youth activities using electronic media."

This is how Comm. Marc Castrodes of the National Youth Commission defines the
project dubbed "Kabataan Night", which was organized by Voice Of The Youth
Network that was held in the Conspiracy Garden Café on November 9. The said
event also became the launching date for the organization's radio program
referred to as "Lakas Kabataan-Tinig Kabataan: Recharged!" (LKTKR).

It is quite interesting to note that Voice Of The Youth has not considered the
lack of Funds as a constraint in pursuing the said project. There were about a
hundred of individuals and organizations that participated in the said
activity, thus, making the whole place jam packed. Who could have thought that
it is possible to organize an activity by focusing on the strengths of every
members rather than the weakness of the organization. We all have talents that
we can share to other people however we don't usually find a venue where we can
share these talents. Sometimes even those close to us mock us whenever we try
expressing ourselves. That's the reason why sometimes we feel down and tend to
hide our talents and skills instead of developing them.

I never really got the chance to recite poems since our society is more into
singing rather than the classical "Balagtas" way of reciting poems. But during
that night I was given a chance to recite and it feels good on my part that
knowing that I do have a talent which I could say makes me unique from other
people. But more than this, I realize that I was not the only person who was
into poetry reading, a lot of people who also performed recited poems, even an
actor of a certain beer commercial, Ronal Tupas who was dubbed in the screen as
"Baby Toy" recited a poem entitled "Ako ay may Alaga" which really made a lot of
us cry out in laughter.

The more interesting skills that were shown was that of Ateneo Arnis group,
where I really have to move away from the stage because of my fear of being
chopped in the head of their arnis. They really move so fast just like your
martial artists that is often seen only in the big screen. There were a lot of
individuals who sang, these include people from the UP Music Circle, and other
individuals who have been part of Voice Of The Youth. Ms. Laiza Milo, a host of
a certain horror reality TV was also seen there singing "Insensitive" and "Make
me Real" songs. Who could have thought that these people who are only seen
casting away ghosts and demons are seen there smiling beautifully and singing
charismatically as if serenading all those who are listening.

There were announcements made by different organizations who have been involve
in Voice Of The Youth activities for the last two years of its existence as a
network of organizations. There were artists and people in the government and
the private sector that graced the event. Philippine Society of Youth Science
Clubs came there as a pack while there was some students who came from Schools
like Mapua, UST, DLSU, Ateneo and UP.

Indeed, the "Kabataan Night" had become more than a showcase of youth talents.
According to Prof Vim Nadera of UP Diliman, it was "the youth running the whole
show altogether."

Congratulations to Voice Of The Youth for the success of "Kabataan Night".
Mabuhay ang Kabataan Pilipino!