1st National Gathering of Girl Representatives

After a month and a half hiatus, I'm finally back, and glad to be. School kind of gotten busier than usual, barely giving me free time to do posts. Seriously, I want to write the whole Christmas break away. #DEPRIVED

Last November 28 - December 4, 2013 had been memorable. It was a week (almost) of GREENness, of girls in green, that is.

With fellow Girl Representative Donnah

With the theme: "Timek, Tingog, Tinig: Hundred Voices of Girls in Action," the Girl Scouts of the Philippines celebrated its 1st National Gathering of Girl Representatives (NGGR) in Ating Tahanan, Baguio City. 144 scouts joined the national event, each representing their respective councils. It was from the 1st NGGR that I met girls from different parts of the country, yet girls with one same ideal--to become change-makers.

Ating Tahanan photo credits

Too AWESOME for words. Too awesome that in my excitement, I forgot to take a picture of the whole venue. Whoopsies. After settling down on the 29th of November, we had an orientation led by the planning team, staff and consultants. By night time, we went to Baguio Country Club's very own Christmas Village. I wonder when we're going to have one in Cebu, hmmm?

Photo opp with Kuya Panda

 There were lots of pretty, Christmassy sights, peg Santa with friends and all. We were just in time, too, to see the reenactment of the first three Joyful Mysteries (Annunciation - Birth of Jesus). It was a great welcome present indeed.

If only breakfast ALWAYS had strawberries...

              

On the rest of the days, the event's agenda included the Opening Ceremony, sessions, dinner at the Philippine Military Academy, International Food Festival, Women Icon Night and the Closing Ceremony. 

Selected Girl Scouts leading the Colors Ceremony

 

I had missed seeing Girl Scouts leading the Colors, you don't get too see much of these ceremonies in college (oh, the agony). Parade and review, pasa masid, and all that stuff. The hours of being excused from class just so you could prepare for the Arrival of Honors, the sacrifice of joining that ceremony, even if the sun takes delight in painting me tan and making my feet hurt from standing, was PURE discipline.

Tita Lina from UBE Media Inc.

One of the sessions we've had focused on the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs are goals initiated by the United Nations that aims to lessen eight identified global issues.

Advocacy awareness in the field of Digital Media

These issues were generalized into four, and each scout was made to rank the MDGs according to which we believe was the most important. I chose the MDG relating to education and that became my advocacy.

Tita Patti from SAVE Ourwomen

The session on Violence Against Women and their Children was one of my favorites. In this session I met an amazing woman, Tita Patti Gallardo, the Founder/ Executive Director of Save Our Women, a Baguio-based NGO aiming to raise awareness of the realities of violence around women.

Health and wellness session

It makes me wonder how did GSP ever get such bigtime guest speakers, wow. Just wow.

Si Jorgie na make-up artist for the night

During Women Icon Night, we were all dressed up into our women icon. Too bad I didn't have a photo...cause I missed the program, more like slept through the program. Sorry Ates, peace out. Shhh....

Hannah. Isn't she lovely~

Talo ako ng mga 'to eh. Ako nga may-ari ng make-up, 'di na man marunong gumamit, 'di rin gumagamit. HAHAHAHA! :)

¡hola mi amiga!

Representing the Western Hemisphere for the International Food Fest, we dressed up as Chica Mexicanas. Each region had its own dance number and delicacy to share.

This is what Visayas region's table looked like...

Goodness, what big appetite girls have! Food Fest was exactly after dinner, and after a few mouthfuls of siomai, popcorn, biscuits, nachos, and..I don't know what else I ate, I was still craving for more. Ahh, food is LOVE. Love is LIFE, therefore. Love food, eat food, if you love life! Food for long lifeeee.

...and after half an hour

Sadly, to every happy celebration is always an end. The following night, the gathering finally reached its conclusion. The closing ceremony was full of thanksgiving and parting words at the same time, but the real conclusion was this... 

Fireworks display c/o Ate Kyla, 1st NGGR Chairperson

 ...and with the fireworks display came the promise of the 1st NGGR marking the beginning of the hundred voices of girls that will soon echo throughout the whole of Philippines.

Some places we've been to in Baguio catching the bus ride to Manila included Mines View Park where I got a shot with this big doggy (cost me Php 10.00). Now I want my own Saint Bernard! Although a Siberian Husky would be nice too. Someday, someday.

All I want for Christmas is YOU, you dog.

The boat ride at Camp John Hay was pretty enjoyable too sans the embarrassing moment of paddling (nearly) the whole half-hour in circles compared to some fellow Girl Scouts with their Tita who paddled the boat by herself to the middle of the lake in just minutes. Thanks to those Kuyas whole helped get our boat to shore. Great first boating experience for me, oh yes.

Groupie with these beauts.

The trip even though time-bound and too hurried, was still worth bucks of money spend on travel expenses. It's the people I was with that made everything worth while.

Hoping I'd see the all the ladies I've met thoughout the 1st NGGR someday.

Congratulations to the Planning Team and Staff: Ate Kyla, Ate Angeli, Ate Michelle, Ate Precious, Demie, Shamah, Kyara, Megan, Katrina, and Fara for a job well done. 

Thank you also to Tita Salud,Tita Cristina and to the rest of the people who've made the 1st National Gathering of Girl Representatives possible. 

Whatever dreams you all have for us girls, Titas, Ates, we will make a reality. The effort you've all put through will not be put to waste. 

One year, one project, one change-maker. We will all be change-makers.