Tandag City kicks off youth celeb with advocacy awareness
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY (PIA) — The city government of Tandag, together with the Federation of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and the Local Youth Development Council (LYDC), kicked off this year’s Linggo ng Kabataan with a symposium at the Tandag City gymnasium on August 12.
Putting the spotlight on young voices and the challenges they face, the youth convergence tackled pressing social issues like mental health, teenage pregnancy, and the infection on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at the Tandag City gymnasium on August 12.
Barangay Telaje SK Chairperson Vladimir Alexis G. Luna said, “These concerns are not just topics of discussion, but realities that many young people continue to endure, often silently and alone.”
“Today’s gathering is more than just an event, it is a platform for awareness, education, and compassion. Mental health is health; it is just as important as physical well-being. Teenage pregnancy is not just a statistics, it affects lives, dreams, and futures. With education and community support, we can guide our youth toward informed choices and brighter paths,” Luna added.
First-ever Youth Market Bazaar in Caraga
Beyond awareness, the Linggo ng Kabataan also marked a historic milestone with the launch of the first-ever Youth Market Bazaar in Surigao del Sur and the Caraga region.
Organized under the ANGAT KABATAAN Program (Aksyon ng Nagkakaisang Kabataan na may Galing Alang-alang sa Tagumpay), the three-day bazaar held from August 15–17 at the Tandag City Boulevard provided young people with an avenue to showcase entrepreneurial skills, foster teamwork, and generate support for their advocacies and community projects.
The bazaar empowered the youth to raise their own funds, reduce dependence on government assistance, and pursue sustainable initiatives. Organizers stressed that every purchase and visit is more than just an economic transaction, it is an investment in the dreams, talents, and leadership of the next generation.
City officials and youth leaders rallied the community to support the activity, emphasizing that its success reflects the capacity of the youth to break barriers, inspire change, and drive progress not only in Tandag City, but across the Caraga region. (NGPB, PIA Surigao del Sur)
