SFA-AGR-164-08

FILIPINO NATIONAL FIRST RUNNER-UP DURING THE ASEAN YOUTH EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING COMPETITION ON DRUGS IN BRUNEI

17 March 2008 - Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Virginia H. Benavidez reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that Ms. Jordan Kate Herrera Bakani emerged as the first runner up during the ASEAN Youth Extemporaneous Speaking Competition held on 29 February 2008 at the Dewan Raya, Radio Television Brunei (RTB), Bandar Seri Begawan. The theme of the competition was “Do Drugs Control Your Life?” Mr. Jonathan Lim Kok Haw, a third-year medical student of the Universiti Brunei Darussalam was the competition’s champion.

Ms. Bakani is a youth member of the Philippine Council of NGOs Against Drug and Substance Abuse (PHILCADSA). She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Asian Studies and Philosophy at the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila and Bachelor of Science Degree in Child Development and Education at Miriam College in Quezon City, Philippines.

After successfully undergoing treatment for drug dependence at the Self-Enhancement for Life Foundation, Inc. (SELF), Ms. Bakani decided to help other drug dependents by working as a Program Facilitator under the Supervised Practicum Internship Program (SPIP). She is also one of the Media Officers of SELF, which is a non-government organization dedicated in the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals suffering from drugs and alcohol abuse and other attitudinal disorders.

Other contestants who joined the competition were youth leaders from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The competition was a joint project of National Anti-Drug Association of Brunei Darussalam (BASMIDA) and National Youth Council of Singapore (funded by the Singapore-ASEAN Youth Fund). It aimed to provide the contestants with an opportunity to share their knowledge and ideas while competing in the skills of advocacy on anti-drug abuse issues.

BASMIDA President and event chairperson Datin Hajah Masni binti Haji Mohd Ali was quoted as saying that the competition’s theme was chosen to “strengthen our shared responsibility in creating a drug free community. As members of regional body ASEAN, we are all have a responsibility to reduce demand for illicit drugs and to protect young people from abusing drugs.” 

Ambassador Benavidez, who hosted a “victory and thanksgiving dinner” at the “Ang Bahay” (Philippine Ambassador’s residence), congratulated Jordan for doing the Philippines and the Filipinos proud, and thanked her mother, Mrs. Teodora Doris H. Bakani and coach Ms. Lea P. Tumbado as well as Datin Hajah Masni binti Haji Mohd Ali, Ms. Nur Judy binti Abdullah and the members of BASMIDA for inviting the Philippines to participate on this laudable endeavor. She likewise highlighted the significance and importance of mobilizing the youths who have pivotal roles to play in attaining ASEAN’s vision of a drug-free regional community by 2015. END.

wingret