Student-leaders from the Main Campus’ Supreme Student Government (SSG) attended the Philippines I Transform! Leaders’ Convention (PITLC) held at the Teacher’s Camp in Baguio City, November 14 to 19, adopting the theme ‘A Decade of Action: Saving Our Seas, Saving Our Planet.’

Organized by Youthlead Philippines (YLP), the 11th PITLC is an advocacy program where young leaders and partners find solutions to developmental challenges anchored on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs.)

Highlights of the convention are the: Primus Tourney & SDGFest, which includes contests on Poster Making, Essay Writing, Video Making, Advocacy Photo, and Extemporaneous Speaking; and the Kabataan Fair, the first annually-held national project proposal making contest in the Philippines.

Vice President John Michael Bulgado expressed that Zero Waste Management is one of his takeaways in the program, where he said that the principle that nothing should go to waste because everything can still be used is ‘powerful and inspirational.’

“Among the many lessons we brought home, I believe we can start with Zero Waste as a program to inspire future leadership. This approach redefines waste as reformed resources in an unwanted appearance, paving the way for a more sustainable and impactful leadership vision,” he said.

He also expressed the student government’s willingness to implement the Sustainable Development Goal in the university’s student policy making.

Meanwhile, College of Architecture and Allied Discipline (CAAD) Senator Charles Matthew Garcia won 3rd Place in the Poster Making, while Student Affairs Office (SAO) Head Prof. Eliditha Easter Gervacio was also bestowed the YLP Magnus Medal.

The college senator also emphasized that they hope to be able to share the knowledge they gained in the program with fellow students in the university, upon knowing that only 7% of the population understands the SDGs.

“We are hoping that we can share the knowledge with our dear EVSUnistas through seminars and provide more opportunities for them to learn more about sustainable goals especially about proper waste disposal and promoting the practice of the zero waste,” Garcia said.

It can be remembered that Baguio City declared a code red status as the city was under the tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) 4 due to Super Typhoon Pepito, resulting in some of the contests’ cancellation.

Article by Ton Sierolf Cairo