The GenSan SummerFest: 1st Youth Festival is here!

The new administration of the General Santos City local government unit under Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera has recently re-launched the annual summer youth program of the city, under the bigger and broader GENSAN SUMMERFEST.

Lately, through its various offices, namely the Youth Affairs and Development Office, the City Agriculturist’s Office, the City Social Welfare and Development Office, the Public Employment Service Office, the City Sports and Games Development Office, and AKLAT Program, it has developed year-round flagship programs on youth development in various disciplines.

One of these is the GENSAN SUMMERFEST, a reinforced summer youth program of the honorable mayor that is envisioned to serve as a mechanism that would help mold a society where the youth are active, productive and leading partners in development at a time when they are on a summer break.

Dubbed as “GenSan Summerfest: The First Youth Festival“, a major component is still the Summerlympics involving different sports events involving young people from ages 13 to 22 years.  Its objectives are the following:

1. TO CREATE AN ALTERNATIVE FOR THE YOUTH TO ENGAGE THEIR TIME AND ENERGY ON WHOLESOME ACTIVITIES THAT WILL ENHANCE THE YOUTH’S PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING;
2. TO FOSTER CAMARADERIE AMONG SCHOOLMATES AND BETWEEN STUDENTS OF OTHER SCHOOLS AND BARANGAYS;
3. NOT ONLY TO COMPETE, BUT ALSO TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF SPORTSMANSHIP AND FAIRNESS AND DEVELOP UNDERSTANDING AND FRIENDSHIP; AND 
4. TO SERVE AS A LAUNCHING MECHANISM FOR THE ACADEME AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS AS PARTNERS OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT.

 This time, the list of the games of the Summerlympics has been expanded, and it consists of:

BASKETBALL (INTER-BARANGAY)

• Junior Division (13-17 years old)
• Senior Division (18-22 years old)
• Civic Division

VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN – INTER-BARANGAY; MEN – INTER-SCHOOL)

BEACH VOLLEYBALL (OPEN)

BOXING (INTER-BARANGAY)

LAWN TENNIS

CHESS AND DAMA

SOFTBALL

BASEBALL

SEPAK TAKRAW

FOOTBAL 

The SUMMERLYMPICS will run from April to May 2014.

But wait, there’s more.

In the GenSan SummerFest, Mayor Rivera does not ony want the young general to excel in sports but in other fields as well.  Hence, the Youth in Performing Arts Program was conceptualized to facilitate and nurture the creative ability of the youth, specifically in dance and music.

Four events that the generals are known to excel will be showcased in this first GenSan SummerFest:  CheerDance, Hip-Hop, BeatBox and FreeStyle Rap.

These will all be under the Youth in Performing Arts, a four-event competition, will be conducted on May 11, 2014 at the SM City General Santos.

Meanwhile, two activities meant to tackle the educational aspect of the GenSan SummerFest will also serve as a precursor to all these.  Aiming to attract 3,000 young people are the YOUTH CONFERENCE and YOUTH CONVERGENCE on April 7, 2014 and April 9, 2014, respectively.

According to YADO Chief Elmer Cequina, “This is a strategic opportunity to capture innovative ideas from our youth coming in from different levels on issues that are most valuable and relevant to them.  The two conferences will aso serve as a venue to define the outcomes of Youth Development Program themselves and through concerted efforts, come up with relevant best practices for all.”

Good luck to GenSan SummerFest: the First Pinoy Youth Festival!  May it develop more young generals into becoming our city’s pride and wealth in the future.