By Deorenzie Frances Carreon
To some youth in Mindanao, having a mobile phone whatever the brand or model may be, at teen stage was a luxury. And to 16-year old Julie Kristine De Guzman, a farmer’s daughter, owning a cellular phone was a dream.
Julie is the First Place Winner in the ‘Dear P-Noy Letter-Writing Contest’ that was organized by the Voice of Mindanao (VoM) in partnership with the People Power Volunteers-Center Zamboanga. Being the winner, she was awarded by Smart Communications, a partner in the program, with a cellular phone and the Smart Plug In (Internet) mobile modem.
Julie is a second year college sophomore of the University of the Philippines-Mindanao in Davao City, where she pursues a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing, and the fourth of six children of Efren and Julia De Guzman.
Julie did not join the VoM-PPVC letter-writing contest for the prizes, however. The Voice of Mindanao took care in not announcing the prizes, nor awarding cash, so as to inspire Mindanao youth to write a letter to President Benigno Simeon ‘Noy’ Aquino, or P-Noy. Julie is among the 104 letter-senders from different places in Mindanao.
“Katong nabasa nako ang goal sa contest, there was something within me that really inspired me to write. While gaining the courage to do so, I thought of it not as a contest but as an opportunity to be able to write a message that will reach thousands of hopeless people here in Mindanao. And since bag-o lang ang pagkatungtung ni Pres. Noynoy, I thought that will be a good start and an effective way so he will hear the plea of the people,” the Tagum girl said.
“I never had my very own cellphone in my life. Dili nako makalimtan katong nangutana akong classmate nganong dili daw ko hatagan sa akong parents ug cellphone kay ako na lang man gud ang walay cellphone sa among room and considering na Class President ko during 4th year, I found a hard time disseminating information in my classmates so I just ask the Vice President to do the job,” she sighed.
She recalled, “Before entering college, they told me naman that they will provide me a phone, finally. But due to some circumstances, hindi matuloy-tuloy. Only then, after I won ‘Dear P-Noy…’ Letter-Writing Contest, I began to realize na siguro the reason why God didn't gave me a phone those times was because He will provide me in a most surprising way! This makes me consider the phone not just an ordinary phone but a gift.”
“I really consider SMART Communications as a bridge in providing the cellphone I longed to have and the SMART Plug in broadband which is very useful sa part ko as a student. At least, kapag nasa school dormitory na ako, i-pu-plug ko na lang yun and ta-daah! May instant time na ako to research!”
“As a youth, I believe there are a lot of ways in communicating peace. You can attend a rally, stage demonstrations and even speak your side directly. But it is up to us in what way we are going to do this. It's really a good thing na Voice of Mindanao thought of this letter writing to Noynoy as a form of creative peace communication and the contest lived for its name. By just using a pen and paper, we are able to let our thoughts and dreams written in a piece of paper. Tunay ngang "a pen is mightier than a sword". Kung gusto nating maging isa sa makapagtaguyod ng kapayapaan, sana'y idaan din natin ito sa mapayapang paraan -- walang dahas, pawang kapayapaan lamang,” she concluded.
Voice of Mindanao is a youth organization designed to empower the next generations for a better southern Philippines. In partnership with the People Power Volunteers Center-Zamboanga, VoM organized a Mindanao-wide writing tilt urging Mindanao youth to write their concerns for Mindanao to President Noy through letters that began with “Dear P-Noy…” The contest, which had the support of Smart Communications (as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility) and Bloomingdale’s Department Store, ran from August 1, and ended on August 18. The qualifying letter-entries were adjudged on August 19, and winners were proclaimed and awarded on August 20, the third year anniversary of VoM. President Aquino received the letters on August 21. This month, the President sent replies to the six winning letter-senders. (DFCR)
Voice of Mindanao: Today's peace-builders, tomorrow's Mindanao leaders...
Monday, October 4, 2010
‘Dear P-Noy…’ winning youth bags Smart phone, mobile modem
By Deorenzie Frances Carreon
To some youth in Mindanao, having a mobile phone whatever the brand or model may be, at teen stage was a luxury. And to 16-year old Julie Kristine De Guzman, a farmer’s daughter, owning a cellular phone was a dream.
Julie is the First Place Winner in the ‘Dear P-Noy Letter-Writing Contest’ that was organized by the Voice of Mindanao (VoM) in partnership with the People Power Volunteers-Center Zamboanga. Being the winner, she was awarded by Smart Communications, a partner in the program, with a cellular phone and the Smart Plug In (Internet) mobile modem.
Julie is a second year college sophomore of the University of the Philippines-Mindanao in Davao City, where she pursues a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing, and the fourth of six children of Efren and Julia De Guzman.
Julie did not join the VoM-PPVC letter-writing contest for the prizes, however. The Voice of Mindanao took care in not announcing the prizes, nor awarding cash, so as to inspire Mindanao youth to write a letter to President Benigno Simeon ‘Noy’ Aquino, or P-Noy. Julie is among the 104 letter-senders from different places in Mindanao.
“Katong nabasa nako ang goal sa contest, there was something within me that really inspired me to write. While gaining the courage to do so, I thought of it not as a contest but as an opportunity to be able to write a message that will reach thousands of hopeless people here in Mindanao. And since bag-o lang ang pagkatungtung ni Pres. Noynoy, I thought that will be a good start and an effective way so he will hear the plea of the people,” the Tagum girl said.
“I never had my very own cellphone in my life. Dili nako makalimtan katong nangutana akong classmate nganong dili daw ko hatagan sa akong parents ug cellphone kay ako na lang man gud ang walay cellphone sa among room and considering na Class President ko during 4th year, I found a hard time disseminating information in my classmates so I just ask the Vice President to do the job,” she sighed.
She recalled, “Before entering college, they told me naman that they will provide me a phone, finally. But due to some circumstances, hindi matuloy-tuloy. Only then, after I won ‘Dear P-Noy…’ Letter-Writing Contest, I began to realize na siguro the reason why God didn't gave me a phone those times was because He will provide me in a most surprising way! This makes me consider the phone not just an ordinary phone but a gift.”
“I really consider SMART Communications as a bridge in providing the cellphone I longed to have and the SMART Plug in broadband which is very useful sa part ko as a student. At least, kapag nasa school dormitory na ako, i-pu-plug ko na lang yun and ta-daah! May instant time na ako to research!”
“As a youth, I believe there are a lot of ways in communicating peace. You can attend a rally, stage demonstrations and even speak your side directly. But it is up to us in what way we are going to do this. It's really a good thing na Voice of Mindanao thought of this letter writing to Noynoy as a form of creative peace communication and the contest lived for its name. By just using a pen and paper, we are able to let our thoughts and dreams written in a piece of paper. Tunay ngang "a pen is mightier than a sword". Kung gusto nating maging isa sa makapagtaguyod ng kapayapaan, sana'y idaan din natin ito sa mapayapang paraan -- walang dahas, pawang kapayapaan lamang,” she concluded.
Voice of Mindanao is a youth organization designed to empower the next generations for a better southern Philippines. In partnership with the People Power Volunteers Center-Zamboanga, VoM organized a Mindanao-wide writing tilt urging Mindanao youth to write their concerns for Mindanao to President Noy through letters that began with “Dear P-Noy…” The contest, which had the support of Smart Communications (as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility) and Bloomingdale’s Department Store, ran from August 1, and ended on August 18. The qualifying letter-entries were adjudged on August 19, and winners were proclaimed and awarded on August 20, the third year anniversary of VoM. President Aquino received the letters on August 21. This month, the President sent replies to the six winning letter-senders. (DFCR)
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