VILLAR FAMILY HONORS 11 YOUTH GROUPS:

Members of the Villar family pose with representatives of outstanding youth groups that received recognition through the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance. They are (seated, from left) Francis Solliano, Youth For Livable Communities Region 7; Roel Donato, Family Help Project Region; Jhonly Cacho, Quirinian Youth in Action Region 2; Rowel Lumangtad, Quinput 4H Club Region 9; Krietelle Mae del Mar, Power Seven Region 13; Llarenz Dayo, GOA Young Farmers Association Region 5; Hafssah Hassan, Ulama League for Call and Guidance Inc. NCR; Adrian Jules Tacua, Cultivators 4Hers Club of Ilocos Sur Prison Jail Region 1; Ammer Mohammad, Food Secure Philippines Region 12; Karla Camille Inofre, Tanay Mountaineers Search and Rescue Inc. Region 4; and Jarrah Brillantes, Saving Innocent Lives Amidst War Region 6. Behind them are (from left) Justice Undersecretary Emeline Aglipay Villar, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Vista Land CEO Paolo Villar, Sen. Cynthia Villar, Bishop Jessie Mercado, former Senate president Manny Villar and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar.

The Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance through its program, the Villar SIPAG Awards, honored on Saturday 11 groups that emerged as Most Outstanding Youth Social Enterprises.

Sen. Cynthia Villar, director of Villar SIPAG, said the program is her “family’s way of recognizing the efforts of the youth in creating positive change in our society.”

“This is our way of supporting empowerment of our young people with the hope of further encouraging them and also inspiring others to significantly contribute to our goals as a nation,” she added.

Now on its third year, the Villar SIPAG Awards creates a friendly competition among the Filipino youth whose social enterprises contribute to poverty alleviation in their respective communities.

Candidates for the awards are groups composed of college or master’s degree students; out-of-school youth; young professionals; social enterprise groups; young entrepreneurs; youth organizations, and other community organizations.

After going through thorough evaluation, comprehensive screenings and rational project defense, finalists were selected according to originality and uniqueness of service or product; adaptability; sustainability, and community upliftment.

Each awardee received a cash prize of P150,000 to help their projects and initiatives on poverty alleviation.

This year’s recipients received their awards in ceremonies held at the Villar SIPAG Hall in Las Pinas City. They include: The Cultivators 4H Ers Club of Ilocos Sur Prison Jail (Bantay, Ilocos Sur); Quirinian Youth In Action (Quirino, Isabela); 4h Club-Goa Chapter/ Goa Young Farmers Association (Goa, Camarines Sur); Tanay Mountaineers Inc. (Tanay, Rizal); Ulama League for Call and Guidance Inc. (Bgy. 648, Manila); Saving Innocent Lives Amidst War (Leon, Iloilo); Youth for Livable Communities (Beverly Hills, Cebu City); Family Help Project (Merida, Leyte); Quiniput 4h Club (Quiniput, Zamboanga); Food Secure Philippines (Midsayap, North Cotabato), and Power Se7en (Limaha, Butuan City).