March 29, 2008
MEDIA RELEASE

Summer ’08 Beat the Break!
YOUTH ACT NOW! kicks off nationwide summer campaign

YOUTH ACT NOW! (Youth for Accountability and Truth Now!) launched its summer campaign and program of action today.

Some 12 schools in the South Manila Inter-Institution Consortium, including De La Salle, College of St. Benilde, UP Manila, St. Scholastica, Adamson, Lyceum, PLM, PCU, held an assembly hosted by the Philippine Normal University Student Government to plan for the alliance’s summer campaign.

More than 100 student leaders from the different schools attended the activity.

Similar gatherings are also scheduled to converge in the University Belt and Katipunan Consortia, as well as among YOUTH ACT Now! high school chapters.

Summer ’08 BEAT THE BREAK! is the youth alliance’s theme for this summer vacation.

“(We decided to dub it) ‘Beat the break’ because we do not plan to spend our summer vacation in the usual ways. Summer vacation does not mean that students are taking a break from the youth’s fight for truth and accountability,” said YOUTH ACT NOW! Spokesperson Alvin Peters.

Summer ’08 BEAT THE BREAK will be composed mainly of three components:

* Summer Camps will be composed of campaign teams from different schools with the goal to set up as many ‘truth centers’ in schools with summer classes, communities, local parishes nationwide.
* Summer Workshops on film-making, theatre and the arts, skills and leadership, and other discussions will be offered – all with the aim to encourage the youth to express their opinions and voice out their protest in their respective outputs.
* Summer Jam will consist of big events such as concerts, dance contests, sports fests, and medical missions with a ‘truth twist.’

All will culminate in a Grand Youth Action Day at the end of the summer vacation.

For his part, PNU Student Government Chairperson Pepe Ancajas said he was surprised by the overwhelming response and solidarity among his fellow students in the Taft area.

“This event is unprecedented and impressive. Not in recent years have students in this area reached out to each other in this manner, yet now all are willing and committed to cheer and support each other in the continuing fight for truth,” Ancajas said. ###

Reference:
Alvin Peters, Spokesperson, 09206209362