2nd Roco Youth Awards Underway

CAMARINES SUR (APRIL 4) –
For the second year in a row, the Raul S. Roco Foundation is searching for outstanding youth organizations in Bikol.

Established after his death in 2005, The Raul S. Roco Youth Achievement Award is annual search for Bikol-based youth groups with exemplary projects and programs which embody the ideals of the late Bikolano statesman.

According Roco Foundation official Riko Vinluan, the foundation will be much stricter than it was during the last year’s contest. Vinluan explained that there is a need for a screening this year.
Members of the Board of Judges come from different sectors: the city government of Naga, Archdiocese of Caceres, the academe, media, non-government organization, local government units, and the business sector. Another judge, representing the Roco Foundation, also joins the rank of the board.
Aside from the normal requirements asked of the participants, they are also obliged to implement and complete their submitted proposals within 6 months.

Submitted proposals are selected by the Board of Judges and are released to the public during the closing days February. The youth organizations then have until August 26 to complete their chosen projects. After submitting documents and proofs of implementation of their projects, the Board of Judges shortlist the entries to ten semi-finalists. For the next month, the judges will visit the project and inspect them, further screening of the ten semi-finalists and choosing the five finalists by September 26. The remaining five finalists then undergo final judging and interviews.

The awarding ceremony is held every year on the 26th of October, declared as Raul S. Roco in Naga City.
Four finalists-groups will receive a trophy and P10,000 in cash while the best youth group will receive trophy and a cash 50,000.

Of the five final groups last year, two came from Ateneo de Naga University, the late senator’s alma mater. Pathways for Education won the grand prize while Ateneo Eagles was one of the four finalists. Alec Santos

Published at Vox Bikol newspaper dated 31 March - 06 April 2008