"BANYUHAY: VYLH-Philippines' Metamorphosis to the New Normal."
Around this theme, the Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health-Philippines (VYLH-Philippines) celebrated its 11th Founding Anniversary amidst the pandemic.
Since on-the-ground advocacy works are yet to be encouraged, VYLH-Philippines deliberately thought of activities that would mobilize its members through the different social media platforms. This year, to continuously showcase the volunteers' creative juices in the "new normal", social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter were used to increase public awareness on the network's advocacy.
Having said that, an 11-day online festivity from July 8 to 18, 2020, was conceptualized in celebration of the network's advocacy and the more than a decade work of volunteer youth leaders throughout the country in promoting the network's four advocacies: newborn screening, folic acid supplementation, rare disorder support, and the latest addition, preconception health.
This year's roster of activities is a fusion of traditional VYLH-Philippines activities and several social media trends, such as TikTok.
On its culminating day, VYLH-Philippines had its annual online "Kamustahan" get-together dinner via Zoom, which was well-attended by its members. It was a blissful night as everyone got to enjoy the short program and participate with the online games. The highlight of the night was the premiere of the the VYLH's song "Be One, VY." The song, composed by Ms. Beau Tinio (Hiraya) of Bohol, was first played during the network's 4th National Leadership Congress.
Video by June Abellar (Hayaw, Negros Occidental)
Despite the situation we are facing, everyone enjoyed celebrating the success of the network. Another highlight on that night was the message given by the network's founding adviser, Dr. Carmencita D. Padilla, or Tita Menchit, as what we volunteers are used to calling her. It only goes to show that the pandemic can't stop the volunteers from performing what they love doing even in this very challenging time when most activities are interdicted.
Additionally, in observance of this year's Nutrition Month and National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week, the Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health-Philippines, together with the Institute of Human Genetics, National Institutes of Health-UP Manila, organized the 5th #FolicacidPH National Social media Day for Folic acid Awareness. The event spearheaded by VYLH-Philippines North and Central Luzon Cluster and supported by Newborn Screening Central Luzon and partner youth organizations, was held under the theme, "Folic Acid Supplementation: Key to Better Health of our Future Generation". Various social media activities and a webinar on folic acid were also organized by the network in support of the observance of the social media day.
For this year's anniversary, the VYLH-Philippines Mindanao Cluster was tasked to spearhead the activities and be the overall-in-charge of the celebration. The Newborn Screening Center - Mindanao, through the generosity of the Unit Head and VYLH-Philippines Mindanao Cluster Adviser, Dr. Conchita Abarquez, or "Tita Conch," sponsored tumblers. The tumblers were sent out to the active members, especially those who have completed the 11-day challenge.#
