The EDC Binhi Youth Camp was not only a once in a lifetime experience. It proved to be more than that: what we thought was going to be just another three-day camp turned out to be a life-long venture for the willing youth who participated and played a part to help the environment in simple ways.
EDC: Enables me to Develop Character, Competence, and Camaraderie.
On our first day at the camp in the geothermal facility in Puhagan, Valencia, Negros Oriental, we were asked to introduce ourselves and describe Energy Development Corp. in one word. Many said that EDC is amazing, fantastic, wonderful, and all those sort of common impression from an excited camper.
However, it was the word ‘’thrilling’’ that eventually came out from one of us. And so indeed, there was an unending thrill for us in the next three days at the camp.
EDC and the BINHI Youth Camp has been very welcoming to each individual participants. They are very much willing to create promising leaders for the future generation through various programs such as this. It is my gratitude to them for giving this chance to experience a ‘’life changing’’ opportunity that enables me to see myself as a human being essential to the life support of our world. To develop better characteristics within me and at the same time acquire characteristics for a greater contribution of my growth as a person. Moreover, this experience made me realize the value of myself, the value of the environment and the value of life that we enjoy abundantly.
Leaders. Followers. These are two essential elements for a nation, group, or corporation to attain its goals and objectives.
However, being able to lead and follow is never enough to win your gold. Each one of us should develop competence along with our characteristics.
In a healthy and fun way, a leader and a follower must strive his hardest to be able to play the game with passion despite adversity.
Dr. Ted Esguerra, one of our facilitators, has been the inspiration for this learning. He is one competitive man that never looked down on people, but has been a living testimony of the burning passion for the things that he loves to do.
And we learned that a leader should be able to compete in whatever situation, excel in spite of the pressure, and remain humble with his her success.
EDC did not just gather students and youths, they also gathered future leaders in the hopes that one day, all the learnings acquired could be put to good use in the never- ending journey of protecting the environment.
At the camp we learned how to enhance a skill that many can use in school and in the real world. And that is to be able to meet new people and work with them despite the unfamiliarity.
During and after the activities, we gained new friendships that we would value for the rest our lives. A friendship, higala, amigo and amiga that we would cherish along our journey.
And thanks to them as they continue to inspire us to become the best persons in all the things infront of us.
They will always remind us of the competence and character that a leader must possess every time.
Other than that, the most important things about relationships and bonds is that it doesn’t have to be with people always… sometimes, we have to be acquainted with our nature. We have to befriend our environment. After all, our life depends on it.
We used to think that EDC conducts destructive paths to nature. That all they would do is cut trees down for their geothermal business. People would blame them for the floods and typhoons that kept coming. That was our initial impression.
Most of that changed in those three days we spent at camp. We witnessed first hand the efforts and endeavors of this wonderful corporation, and decided then and there that as students and future leaders, we must do our own part as well.
EDC has been very kind to share the values they live and abide with. It has been an inspiration to many. It has changed and touched hundreds of lives. We thank EDC for such a thrilling opportunity. We were able to complete the camp activities with a developed character, a passion for competence, and a lifetime support of friendships from every people we met all throughout the camp experience. (Nelly May Dableo, Faith Llera, Princess Abellon/SU Masscom)
