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NEWS The Youth Speaks in AFAD’s
VOICE December 2008
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Copyright 2008 AFAD - Asian Federation Against
Involuntary Disappearances |
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NEWS The Youth Speaks in AFAD’s
VOICE December 2008
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Copyright 2008 AFAD - Asian Federation Against
Involuntary Disappearances |
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Art is
a compelling form of advocacy that has been used throughout the ages.
Human beings throughout history have used arts to express themselves to
attain a higher level of meaning and better understanding of life. In an
essay entitled, “How Human is Formed?”, art is considered the most
human form of communication and expression which reflects one’s views
about himself or herself and society. Young people are often
appreciative of arts as they are in the process of discovering their
inherent talents. They are more inclined to use these talents to make a
difference in society and to get themselves involved in a noble cause.
The
Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), a
regional federation of human rights organizations working directly on the
issue of enforced disappearances in Asia was founded on June 4, 1998 in
Manila, Philippines as a response to the need of addressing enforced or
involuntary disappearances as a global phenomenon and an imperative action
to establish a regional and international solidarity among the families of
disappeared persons.
As part
of the commemoration of its 10th year anniversary, AFAD launched its
First On-The-Spot Poster-Making and Essay-Writing Contests on
May 16, 2008 at Sacred Heart Novitiate in Lagro, Quezon City. The contests
aimed to serve as a venue to create public awareness on the issue of
involuntary disappearances as a social and global problem, to encourage
the direct and active participation of the youth in AFAD’s human rights
work and to highlight the achievements of AFAD in its 10 years of
existence as a regional human rights federation.
Although,
any contest is viewed as a competition for awards and recognition, AFAD
believes that through this kind of activity, it could provide a venue to
educate the youth and to get their active involvement in its advocacy
work. Through its video presentations and a brief discussion on the global
phenomenon of enforced disappearances and what AFAD is and its efforts to
put an end to this heinous crime against humanity as conferred in the
Welcome Remarks of Ms. Mary Aileen Diez-Bacalso, AFAD Secretary General,
twenty five (25) young contestants (20 for the poster- aking and 5 for the
essay writing) were substantially informed about the issue and even urged
to do their best not only to win the prizes but more importantly, to
contribute to the cause of the disappeared.
With
the theme, “Enforced Disappearance is Anti-Life… Stop Untold
Sufferings… Ratify the UN Convention for the Protection of All Persons
from Enforced Disappearance”, the contestants astoundingly put their
ideas and feelings in paper and illustration boards. By using different
materials (such as charcoal, oil pastel, watercolor, craypas, crayons
and/or ballpen), the contestants for the poster-making had creatively
shaped up avant-garde images and mosaic poster designs. Combining logic
and critical thinking in narrative and argumentative forms, the
contestants for the essay writing had convincingly articulated the voice
of the voiceless victims of disappearances.
From
its network, AFAD selected distinguished personalities in different fields
of endeavors to form the panels of judges for the contests. Entries for
the postermaking contest were judged by a notable panel of artistjudges
namely Alvin “Tado” Jimenez, a TV personality and comedian, Gerald Borrero,
a painter, Achilles “King” Montebon, propaganda officer of Peace
Foundation, Benhur Bobis, AFAD webmaster and former member of Polytechnic
University (PUP)-Panday Pira and Candy May Nabaunag, AFAD Librarian and
multi-media graphic designer. The set criteria included the following:
creativity and originality (35%), presentation (25%) and relevance to the
celebration (40%). The judges for the essay writing contest were
internationally-renowned human rights advocates namely Gabriela Citroni,
member of the Italian delegation of the then Inter-sessional Working Group
to Elaborate a Draft Legally-Binding Normative Instrument for the
Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance; Mugiyanto, AFAD
Chairperson, Mary Aileen Diez-Bacalso, AFAD Secretary General, Atty.
Cecilia Jimenez, Philippine NGO Support Group based in Geneva, Switzerland
and Daisy Valerio of the Nilo Valerio Foundation (NVF). The criteria set
are as follows: substance (40%), logic and coherence (30%), style and
presentation (30%). AFAD also sought the assistance of Redor, Emerson and
Associates, a respectable accounting firm, to tabulate the judges’ score
cards.
After
the meticulous evaluation and careful tabulation of entries, winners were
announced and awarded during the AFAD’s Solidarity Night and Dinner
Celebration of its 10th year anniversary on June 4, 2008 at Jade Valley
Hotel in Timog Ave., Quezon City. 
