Bayaning Kabataang Pilipino 2016-17

YOUTH CATEGORY

John Mark Odani (Winner)

• Maitum, Sarangani Province
• Region 12

John Mark J. Odani knew of hardship at an early age.  He lost his father when he was merely ten.  He had to help his mother make ends meet by selling boiled bananas to his classmates in school.  But Marky, as he is fondly known, has always had the heart to serve despite his own struggles.  That’s why he volunteered to help the indigenous people of Brgy. Batian in Sarangani as soon as he finished a two-year health provider course at a nearby college.

To get to Brgy. Batian, Marky has to cross nine rivers every day.  It gets especially hard when it rains because the river swells and there was always the danger of getting swept away.  But Marky was determined to help the T’bolis get healthcare.  Because of him, the indigenous tribe was able to get immunization, pre-natal check-ups, and family planning consultations.  He was also able to provide basic medical treatment to common illnesses, like colds and coughs.  Before Marky started helping the community, these common illnesses were often ignored and left untreated because the hospitals were too far away.

In 2015, Marky earned his degree in midwifery and passed the board exam.  With his history of exemplary service, he was immediately hired by the provincial office of Maitum.  His heart however, belonged to the community he once served and considered his second home.

It didn’t matter that it was an assignment that no one wanted – Marky insisted on going back to Brgy. Batian even if it meant trekking the mountains or crossing rivers just to reach the sitios.  He even learned the T’boli native language so that the community will be able to better relate to him – an indication of the level of commitment Marky had for the indigenous tribe.

Indeed there is no mountain too high nor any river too wide that Marky can’t conquer to serve the indigenous people of T’boli – feat that only can be accomplished by a true hero.

Patrick Franz Martin (Finalist)

• Pasig City
• NCR

The goal for Patrick Franz Martin was clear: spread happiness, inspiration, and hope in a world rife with so much negativity.  This is what he hoped to achieve with “The Happy Project” products he sold.  “The Happy Project” is a social enterprise that employs persons with disabilities.  Patrick believes that providing jobs for the PWDs will empower them and give them better lives.  Employment gave the PWDs a chance not only to earn money but to prove to the world that they’re individuals who have capabilities and talents like everyone else.  With the success of their first store at the UP Town Center, they were able to branch out to another location at Trinoma.  Patrick hopes that the support “The Happy Project” is receiving means that they have succeeded in their purpose.  More than the reminders of love and positivity his merchandise offers, the message of hope come primarily from the very people who created the products.

Mark Kenneth J. Bitoin (Finalist)

• Lopez, Quezon
• Region 4-A

When he was a small child, Mark Kenneth used the savings in his coin bank to buy school supplies for his fellow students who didn’t have any.  This was the start of Mark Kenneth’s journey as a student leader.  He later realized that his calling was even bigger: to bring out the best in his fellow youth.  With his group Youth for Peace and the help of local government units and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, he sets out all over Southern Luzon to conduct leadership summits that teaches young leaders the importance of team-building, personality development, and group dynamics.  Under Mark Kenneth’s leadership, a lot of young people who have lost their way regained their self-esteem and are now serving as youth leaders in their own communities.

Primitivo Ragandang, III (Finalist)

• Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental
• Region 10

One only has to look at the life of Primitivo to learn the value of giving back.  From being a student who had to eat fallen mangoes and survive on a pack of noodles for the entire day, he now teaches in the same school he attended as a young child.  Prime, as he is called by family and friends, saw his journey as a preparation for his future mission in life.  Prime is the founding member of Move This World in the Philippines, a local arm of the global non-profit movement that uses creative expression to transform conflict, violence, and bullying in communities.  Prime took this advocacy to Mindanao, helping alleviate the deeply-rooted cultural differences despite the dangers of doing volunteer work in the war zone.  But not one to rest on his laurels, Prime took on other roles as well.  He regularly goes on outreach programs to send clothes, school supplies, and food to Lumads living in the far-flung areas of Misamis Oriental.  A proud Mindanaoan at heart, Prime is committed in doing his part to make Mindanao a safer place to live.