ELIJAH Mer Dela Cruz, chairman of The Manila Times College of Subic-Creative Arts & Multimedia Program (TMTCS-CAMMP), has been cited as one of 10 Natatanging Kabataan ng Olongapo awardee at the GAPO Awards 2022.
“I never thought that I would receive a prestigious award like this in recognition of my efforts as a youth volunteer and a youth leader advocating Youth Empowerment and development,” said Dela Cruz.
“I’ll make sure to be worthy of this award and will continue to be an inspiration to my fellow youth. I’ll use this opportunity to have more youth initiated activities that spark positive changes to the community. Because like what Roy T. Bennett said, ‘Great leaders create more leaders, not followers.'”
The GAPO Awards is a project of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation that gives recognition to the young leaders and volunteers of Olongapo.
Also cited were Mark Joel Morales, Donnah Kan Lim, Aeron James De Leon, Christian Amistad, Lancelot Segovia, Allen Dale Olonan, Rose Anne Cañeda-Dumlao, Steve Paulo Mayo and 1Lt. Rolando Mondoy Jr.
City Mayor Rolen Paulino, Jr. City Councilor Tata Paulino, City Sport Director David Bayarong, Gordon Heights Chairperson Kasp Echie Ponge and the 17 Sangguniang Kabataan chairmen of Olongapo City were on hand for the event at the SM City Olongapo Central SMX Convention Center last August 16.
Before this, Jhonny Mercida Bobier 2nd, a member of TMTCS-CAMMP, also earned accolades from various cinematic award-giving institutions for his short film “Pagtatapos”.
The 22-year-old self-learned filmmaker and director won the Jury Special Citation from the 34th Gawad Cultural Center of the Philippines’ (CCP) Alternatibo for the experimental category and Best Film in the Region Cinema in Region 14 from the National Center for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) National Committee on Cinema.
The film is a depiction of how the despair, anxiety, harassment and pressure students go through in and outside of school constantly threaten to kill their passion to continue.
The TMTCS-CAMMP aims to provide learning opportunities and experiences in the creative arts and multimedia to young people. It continuously builds and hones the skills of the youth to become future leaders in the creative sector.
For more information on TMTCS-CAMMP, visit www.tmtc.edu.ph or contact The Manila Times College of Subic at 09273658270.
