Conference Venue:
Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center, Iloilo City, Philippines
Organizers of the Conference:
United Nations Association of the Philippines (UNAP)
United Nations Youth Association of the Philippines (UNYAP)
Conference Partners: (TBC)
United Nations Development Program
United Nations Volunteer
Philippine National Volunteers Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA)
Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
Department of Education (DepEd)
Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
National Youth Commission (NYC)
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines (UNACOM)
Hosts:
Central Philippine University
The University sits on 240,000 sq. m. (24-hectare campus), located along Lopez Jaena Street, Jaro, Iloilo City which is considered a Tourism Site by the Iloilo City Council. CPU offers programs in the kindergarten, elementary, high school, undergraduate and graduate levels. CPU is the home of the largest library in Western Visayas, the Henry Luce III Library, with more than 200,000 volumes including holdings of special collections like the 40,000 United Nations documents, World War II documents, etc. It has its distinction of having its own cable channel and oldest student government in the country, among others. Scientia et Fides – motto. (Science and Faith)
Provincial Government of Iloilo
City Government of Iloilo
Iloilo City (Filipino: Lungsod ng Iloilo, Hiligaynon: Siudad sang Iloilo) is a highly urbanized city in the Philippines and the capital city of Iloilo province. It is the regional center of the Western Visayas. The city was a conglomeration of former towns, which are now the geographical districts, composing of: Jaro, Molo, La Paz, Mandurriao, Villa Arevalo and Iloilo City Proper. Although Iloilo City is the provincial seat of government for the province of Iloilo, it maintains its independence from the province. Iloilo City is served mostly by passenger jeepneys, white metered taxis and tricycles within the city limits. The passad jeepneys of Iloilo are known for its sleek and sedan-like design. These often serve fixed routes and mostly plies on city's major and secondary roads. Led by Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and VM Joe Espinosa III
Provincial Government of Guimaras
Located southwest of Panay, Guimaras is separated physically from Iloilo by a narrow channel, which takes about fifteen minutes to cross by pumpboat from the Ortiz landing on Iloilo to Jordan. Guimaras is also famous for its beaches. Clear blue waters, white sand and marine life rivals that of Boracay. Commonly visited ones are at Roca Encantada, Alubihod and Puerto del Mar. House of Representatives: JC Rahman Nava, Governor: Felipe Hilan Nava, Vice Governor: Aurelio ą¦¤ীą¦Æ়ą¦Øাą¦¦
Background and Rationale of International Youth Day Celebration
Much has to be done in order for the Philippines to meet the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the United Nations. According to the latest Philippine MDG Progress Report published by NEDA and UNDP, the Philippines is not on track in meeting three of the eight goals—the ones on maternal health, on combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases and on achieving universal primary education. The other millennium development goals are eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, promoting gender equality and empowering women, reducing child mortality, ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development.
The United Nations Association of the Philippines (UNAP) believes that the youth sector can help the country in attaining its millennium goals provided that they are given the proper information. Since 1999, UNAP has organized various projects and programs for the youth sector of the Philippines because of the need to engage them in community development and nation-building. The 1st International Youth Day Celebration and Conference was conducted in Manila, Philippines last March 20-23, 1999. It was a fitting tribute to youth volunteers in the preparation for the UN International Year of Peace. With the theme “The Role of Youth Volunteers in the Promotion of the Culture of Peace and Sustainable Development”, eighty (80) youth leaders from Japan, the Philippines, Brazil, Cambodia, East Timor, Korea, Indonesia, Israel, Thailand, Germany, Myanmar and Vietnam drafted action plans for the regional and national celebration of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (IDPNCW). Furthermore, regional chapters of United Nations Youth Association and UNESCO Clubs were established.
UNAP has organized and continued to initiate programs promoting the culture of peace, tolerance and respect for human rights directly targeting the youth sector as beneficiaries especially when the UN Millennium Development Goals was signed by the Philippines in the year 2000. Recognized as a unique group in society due to the many aspects of vulnerability they faced while passing through major stages in their lives, the youth are considered as a potent force, a human resource and capital with enormous potentials for contributing to the evolving culture of peace. Since 1999, UNAP has forged strong linkages with various national and international organizations in implementing the various programs such as Youth Empowerment Summit for Peace-building (YES-PEACE), Ecological Camp, PEACE CAMP and Asia Pacific Youth Leaders Encounters. These organizations include Teachers College of Columbia (National Peace Education Conference –1999), UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines (YES-PEACE, ECO-CAMP & PEACE CAMP 1998-2003), UNESCO Principal Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific-Bangkok (1st Asia Pacific Youth Leaders Encounter-2001), UNESCO Headquarters-Paris (Participation Program-Establishment of UN Youth Network in the Philippines-2001) and Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEM Youth Network on Sustainable Development).
True to its vision of educating future leaders towards personal renewal and social transformation, these collaborations have strengthened the UNAP’s role not only in teacher training but also in training youth leaders on global issues of peace, human rights, sustainable development, and global citizenship. Recently, UNAP engaged with United Nations Volunteers Program to conduct the Youth Empowerment Series for the Millennium Development Goals (YES 4 MDGS!). This project takes special focus on the role of youth volunteers in HIV Care and Prevention. According to the Second Philippines Progress Report on the Millennium Development Goals, “The cumulative number of HIV/Ab seropositive cases increased from 1,451 in 2000 to 2,200 in 2004; despite the increase, the prevalence rate remains below one percent.” However According to the report, however, the presence of preconditions for full-blown epidemic was noted, the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) describes the epidemic to be “hidden and growing”. It is in this context that this project was organized to provide one hundred fifty (150) young leaders in Ilocos Sur, Negros Occidental and Mindoro Oriental a proactive action in combating AIDS in the Philippines though volunteerism and collective stance.
The above-mentioned projects and activities of UNAP produced tangible results, Her Excellency President Macapagal Arroyo signed Executive Order No. 229 Declaring Every August 12 of every year as the Philippine International Youth Day in August 12, 2002. UNAP Board member Mr. Roderick Cruz work tirelessly to pass this executive order that will mainstream the MDG achievement in every International Youth Day celebration. For nine years now since 1999, UNAP has awarded 45 youth leaders with Her Excellency PGMA in Malacanang. These youth leaders are already engaged in various government offices, elected as local executive in the different provinces and gaining executive positions in international diplomatic community and NGOs.
12th IYD celebration aims to mobilize youth leaders from the student councils, the City/Municipal/Provincial/National SK Federation by providing them a venue to enhance their skills in project planning, management, monitoring and implementation using the eight (8) Millennium Development Goals. The SK is in itself the largest youth organization in the country. While it is supported by the government, it is not a governmental agency in the real sense of the word. It has more of a civilian or private character and as such may operate with all the qualities of an NGO. SK Federation President in the City/Municipal/Provincial sits as a regular councilor or board members in the City/Municipal/Province. They can legislate local ordinances and provincial resolutions to allocate funds for the youth.
OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the 12th IYD celebration, the participants must have organized themselves and shared their personal plans in championing the attainment of United Nations Millennium Development Goals through volunteerism and affirmative actions.
During the 12th IYD conference, the participants must have –
· artistically presented their common understanding on the role of the youth in building a culture of volunteerism as well as the link between peace, human rights, the MDGs and sustainable development;
· established their networks and functional partnerships between youth and various institutions (government and non-government organizations, business, media, academe);
· taken an oath of commitment to attain the UNYAP/Youth Vision Statement as well as their Youth Declaration for MDG Attainment through Volunteerism
· enjoyed learning from the practices on the ground along MDGs through activities such as a recognition of Outstanding Youth Leaders, community immersions, academic contest and cultural exchanges; and,
FOOD, ACCOMMODATION AND ATTIRE
Participants shall be provided with meal stubs for the five-day conference (7 snacks, 4 breakfast, 4 Dinner and 4 Lunch). If meal tickets are lost, the participants will be required to purchase new tickets. For special provisions on food, please inform the secretariat. All participants will be billeted at the Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center (4 participants in a room). If in case you prefer to stay alone in one room, you can pay directly to the hotel cashier and your registration fee shall be reduced by 1,500.00Php. Check in shall be on August 3, 2011 at 12:00 noon and checkout shall be on August 7, 2011 at 12:00 noon. Arriving early or extending beyond this date is at the expense of the participants.
Formal clothing is recommended for Plenary Sessions and Special Events. National dress should be worn during the International Cultural Night on August 4, 2011. Some sporting attire (e.g. jogging pants) is also required for the International Ecological Tour in Guimaras Island on August 6, 2011. The weather is expected to be warm, sunny, humid and rainy throughout the period of the 12th IYD celebration in Iloilo City and Guimaras Island.
TRANSPORTATION
The Secretariat will arrange the accommodation and food of all official delegates including transportation for the trip to Guimaras Island. There will be no transportation available to fetch the official delegates at the airport. All participants must arrange their arrival in Iloilo City on August 3, 2011 and departure on August 7, 2011.
Iloilo International Airport (Iloilo Airport) is the airport serving the general area of Iloilo City. It is located at 19 kilometers (12 mi) northwest of Iloilo City on a 188-hectare (460-acre) site in across the towns of Cabatuan, Santa Barbara and San Miguel. It opened to commercial traffic on June 14, 2007 after a decade of planning and construction, replacing Mandurriao Airport in Iloilo City which had been in service for over seventy years. The new airport inherited its IATA and ICAO airport codes, as well as its position as the fourth-busiest airport in the Philippines, from its predecessor. It is linked to the city through Tomas Confessor Highway and served by metered taxis, airport shuttle vans and multicabs. The new port of iloilo is strategically located in the Southern coast of Panay Island, in the Panay Gulf, it has one of the country’s safest and most natural harbors. Guimaras Island guards the port from violent storms and makes it ideal for harboring ships and vessels.
· The Iloilo Domestic Port (formerly the Old Foreign Pier) The Iloilo Domestic Port or popularly known as "Fort/Port San Pedro", serves inter-island passenger and cargo ferries which serves the routes Manila, Bacolod, Cebu, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro. It is located near Fort San Pedro and the mouth of Iloilo River at the City Proper district. It is also the port of call for several domestic shipping companies such as SuperFerry, Negros Navigation, Sulpicio Lines, Cokaliong Shipping, Trans-Asian Shipping and others. The colloquial name "Port San Pedro" refers to the old Spanish fort besides it that was destroyed during World War II.
· Muelle Loney/Iloilo River Wharf It is the original port of the city. Opened to international trade in 1855, it has served as the trans-shipment docks for muscovado sugar in the late 19th to the first half of the 20th century. It has undergone several times of expansion and improvement. Today, it serves smaller cargo ships, roll-on roll-off ferries bound for Guimaras and Negros Island and fast ferries that ply Iloilo-Bacolod route regularly.
· Iloilo-Guimaras Jetty (Banca) Ports Jetty ports for Guimaras outrigger ferries are located at Calle Ortiz and Parola. The terminal at Calle Ortiz serve Jordan, Guimaras-bound passenger and cargo outrigger boats, while Parola terminal serve Buenavista, Guimaras-bound ferries. On the other hand, the City Government of Iloilo plans to construct a modern ferry terminal serving Iloilo and Guimaras through public-private partnership.
INSURANCE AND LIABILITY FOR LOSS
Participants are expected to arrange their own travel insurance. The 12th IYD Celebration and Conference Secretariat is not responsible for loss of private property (such as luggage, gadgets, wallets, etc). For personal medical conditions, please consult your health insurance provider about international travel and prepare all the necessary documents in the event of an emergency. This should include but not be limited to the exact contact information of your doctors, prescription detai
