“Reflection”
Sen. Teofisto D. Guingona III, Mr. Emmanuel Mirus S. Ponon, and Mr. Mark Conrad
R. Ravanzo spoke at the "1st National Congress on Citizenship" with the theme of
Youth Initiatives Toward Nation Building, via Zoom and Facebook live, on October 28,
2021. Citizenship is a bond between an individual and a government to which the
individual owes allegiance and is entitled to protection. When a state accepts a
person as a citizen, it usually means that civil, political, and social rights that non-
citizens do not have are recognized. Citizenship, according to keynote speaker Sen.
Teofisto D. Guingona, Chairman, BCYF Mindanao CSR Council, is "the habit of giving
of one's time and abilities for the benefit of others and causes rather than for
monetary gain." Employers' strategies and tools for supporting employees who want
to volunteer are referred to as volunteerism in the workplace.
Volunteering is beneficial because it allows people to assist others without expecting
anything in return. Volunteers can choose to help people, support philanthropic
causes, or serve their local communities. Many organizations can run in this fashion
by relying on unpaid volunteer groups. He also talks about the three types of
volunteerism: "Kusa," which means you do it on your own, "Para sa kapwa," which
means you do it for others, and "Walang kapalit na bagay," which means you help
people without expecting anything in return.
Speaker-Resource Mr. Mark Conrad R. Ravanzo, a Co-Founder and Chief Executive
Volunteer, shares how he translated his passion into action in "I am M.A.D." (Making
a Difference). His most important piece of advice is to dream. Dreams include
aspirations and more. They offer your life meaning, purpose, and direction. They
influence your life choices, assist you in planning for the future, and provide you with
a sense of control and hope. Everyone has dreams, and many of them come true in
their lives. What must we do as people, though, in order to reach these goals? To
reach my goal of obtaining a Doctorate degree, I will require dedication,
perseverance, and patience. These three essential keys are required for everyone to
fulfill their life's goals.
Speaker-Resource Mr. Emmanuel Mirus S. Ponon, Founder and Chairman of the
ASEAN Youth Advocate Network, speaks about active citizenship and shares his
knowledge. Citizenship, according to him, entails that you, as a citizen, must help
yourself and your community. You may help yourself by eating healthily and refraining
from damaging yourself in any manner, such as by abusing illegal substances or
having someone order you around like a slave. You can assist your municipality by
attending a town meeting to determine what or who requires assistance. You could
even do simple tasks like picking up trash on the side of the road, assisting an elderly
person across the street, walking your neighbor's dog, or raking leaves. Another vital
responsibility in becoming an engaged citizen is to follow the laws enacted by the
government and, of course, to vote! When you reach the legal voting age, voting is an
extremely important activity that you should complete. Your vote has a significant
impact on the destiny of your society.
A good citizen is trustworthy and has a strong moral character. In all parts of life, it is
a blend of one's own character characteristics of loyalty, honesty, and truth, as well
as strict decorum. A good citizen always puts his or her family's pleasure and well-
being first. A breakdown of family entails determining the worth of the citizens. Every
medal and achievement are worthless without a commitment to family; thus a person
must possess the quality of a moral citizen. A good citizen will encourage and
promote a good son or daughter right away. It aids in the strengthening of bonds
between family members and friends. So, in order to live a happy and peaceful life,
one must be a responsible citizen. Citizenship is "the practice of giving of one's time
and abilities for the benefit of others and causes rather than for monetary gain,"
according to keynote speaker Sen. Teofisto D. Guingona, Chairman, BCYF Mindanao
CSR Council. Volunteerism in the workplace refers to the techniques and resources
used by employers to help employees who wish to volunteer. Volunteering has the
advantage of allowing people to help others without expecting anything in return.
Volunteers can opt to assist individuals, support charitable causes, or serve their
communities.