“BCNHS students, you have the future of Baguio in your hands.”

These were the words of Mr. Roberto Ocampo from Rotary International in the “Stand up Take Action against Poverty” campaign launched in BCNHS last October 16, 2009. The launching was also attended by City Councilor Richard A. Carino who led the pledge to fight poverty.

“Stand up Take Action against Poverty”, which was held from October 16-18, 2009, is part of a worldwide millennium campaign against poverty that started in 2006 and aims to achieve its goals in 2015. The goals of the said campaign are as follows: 1) To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; 2) To achieve universal primary education; 3) To promote gender equality and empower women; 4) To reduce child mortality; 5) To improve maternal health; 6) To combat deadly diseases; and 7) To ensure environmental sustainability.

The school launching was coordinated by Mrs. Vilma Agacer, a teacher from the Science department, in cooperation with Mrs. Marilyn Apiit, Mrs. Merle Garcia, Mr. Apolinario Soliven, and Mr. Joey Agacer. Baguio City National High School Main was chosen to be the venue of the activity because of its large population. According to Mrs. Agacer, ”It needs a massive participation of the students and teachers so it could respond to the need of the advocacy and to break last 2006’s record of almost 116 million participants.”

During the program, cash incentives from Rotary International were handed out to the victims of the typhoon “Pepeng”. The victims were Aries Sabado(3rd year) and Mark Gorospe(2nd year), from  Roxas Annex and the husband of Mrs. Nancy Gazmen, DepEd CAR Regional Education Supervisor (Values).

Various activities connected to the event were conducted that included a Tree Planting activity and On-the-spot Painting contest. The On-the-spot Painting contest was held last October 15, 2009 and the entries were displayed during the program. The tree planting activity was held after the program where the biology club and the guests planted 100 pine tree seedlings on one side of the athletic bowl.

Other guests and sponsors who attended the launching included Chairman Muricio Victa and Co-chairman Frank Cimatu of The Alliance of Media Advocates (TAMA), DSWD, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), ABS-CBN, GMA 7and other national media outfits.

By: MaryRuth Ramos, Gabrielle Retuta, and Kevin Geo Peralta