The Pimentel Institute for Leadership and Governance (PILG) heightened its engagement with youth leaders in the country by reuniting the alumni delegates of the Batang Transformers. The PILG saw more needed to touch base with youth leaders to continue to discuss vital issues confronting the nation such as the global pandemic which has affected the lives of millions of Filipinos.
Guided by the initial objectives of the training camp, the virtual reunion of graduates of Batang Transformers aimed to realize the following objectives: to remind the BT about character-building through transformational and servant leadership, solidarity and service to the community. The reunion also sought to exhort them to become change makers in their communities and society considering that BT is an organized and like-minded group of young leaders across the country.
The Pimentel Institute for Leadership and Governance with its sponsors and partners, the Villar Sipag Foundation, Bronta of Belgium, Hanns Seidel Foundation-Philippine Office, Philip Sanctuary, and Philippine Society for Public Administration decided to continue with the BT program taking into consideration the “new normal” way of life. The virtual BT reunion is just the start of the new strategy adapted by PILG & it’s partners in ensuring the engagement of the youth through the exchange of ideas and continued sharing of experiences.
Under the present circumstances, the most effective method to continue our programs is through online conferences and trainings. Therefore, PILG will continue to organize BT virtual camp seminars in the coming year.
The theme of the BT reunion Activity was “BATANG TRANSFORMERS 1ST GRAND REUNION A Virtual Platform to Reunite the Batang Transformers, “With Open Hands, Nothing Is Impossible”
The Batang Transformers Alumni from Batch I to VI, came together to celebrate the 1st Batang Transformers Alumni Grand Reunion on November 7, 2020. It was a virtual event via Zoom. It was attended by more than 100 BT alumni.
The Batang Transformers Training Camp has been very successful in building bridges of friendship, breaking down barriers, erasing prejudices, and promoting tolerance among the emerging youth leaders of the country. The program has also sown the seeds of lifelong friendships. These young leaders returned to their communities imbued with the vision of National Transformation and are equipped to be catalysts of change.
It was also the aim of the event to bring together the BT alumni to prepare them to be part of PILG programs and make them aware of national issues like the pandemic and issues on federalism, so that these young people will fully understand its importance and implications to society.
We started our program with prayers led by Pastor king Flores and Mr. Pepito Sumayan.
Inspirational messages were given by speakers and partners like Senator Cynthia Villar, Senator Koko Pimentel, PILG President Gwendolyn Pimentel Gana, Mr. Gotz Heinicke, Dean Alex Brillantes, Ms. Marissa Pestano Basilad, Pastor Roy Carandang, Prof. Melba Agni and Nanay Bing Pimentel.
To make it also a learning experience to the participants there was a zoom workshop entitled “Suridiwa for Peace”, facilitated by Ms. Pauline Bautista.
To motivate our BT Alumni, we also invited the singer songwriter Mr. Joey Ayala, who shared his two compositions entitled, “Everything is possible and Open Hands”.
Also, part of the program were the video presentations of each batch showing their activities in the training camp before becoming a fully-fledged Batang transformers.
To lighten the mood of the event, the BTs had games too.
We are looking forward to continue with our Batang Transformers Youth Program with the help of our sponsors and partners in the years to come. Thank you. God bless us all.
(Note: You can watch the entire BT program on our PILG FB Page and YouTube channel. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/F2QAU2PvyUc)