Do you have concerns in the community that you want to resolve immediately but would require much greater voice or means for you to be heard and recognized?

Malnutrition, poor sanitation, polluted canals and waterways and, not to forget, impoverished housing are the by-products of industrial revolution. These ill-factors can lead to a much bigger problem in which it would take greater time and loads of resources to ease and resolve the crisis.

Societal problems arise because of human negligence and complacency. However, this does not mean that all humans are the same. But perhaps, of a greater multitude committing the similar sins, many innocent lives are affected.   Cliché as it may seem, there is no problem that cannot be resolved. And yes, this is where resolution and actions come into play.

Youths of today can play a big role in transforming a community into a more livable one. Despite the notion of degrading morality and liberal attitudes among youths, still there are youngsters who initiate creative concepts and put them to actions. As young as college students, engaging in activities for social concerns is a noble undertaking, if coupled with the sincerest attitude in doing the outreach programs.

Because of the transition of college students from teens to adulthood, their mindset tends to switch from just fun to serious fun. And yes, there is more fun in indulging in activities intended for social responsibility.

I believe that college students possess the right attitude to initiate ideas that can be beneficial for the community. I highly and plausibly agree to that because I was once a college student.

Hence, it is no wonder that Unilab is encouraging college students to be the drivers of change in their respective communities and to be the problem-solvers and game changers, if I may add.

Through the campaign, Unilab Ideas Positive, 15 communities from different parts and regions in the Philippines will be transformed. But how can this possible?

With the help of college students from different colleges and universities in the Philippines, 15 communities will experience changes and societal development. These groups of students will contribute ideas on how they can transform their communities into livelier and more livable places for happier people.

But there is more to that…

Unilab Ideas Positive is encouraging more college students to conceptualize better ideas. The best ideas garnered will be rewarded with seed money to be used for their communities. Aside from that, 15 groups of students will undergo a 3-day boot camp, training the students about social marketing and the right approaches in implementing this discipline in marketing.

Now, for college students, here’s the catch:

If you want your group to be flown to Manila, booked in a hotel with transportation and meals for free, then join the contest. You and your team will gain the privilege to attend a 3-day boot camp and be trained by social marketing gurus and expert speakers.

 But first as mentioned, you must register as a group, and yes, you must be college students.

For clearer mechanics and a sample entry form, you can check this page out: http://unilabideaspositive.com/mechanics.html

Unilab Ideas Positive was launched in 2010. Last year, speakers for the boot camp included social marketing guru Dr. Ned Roberto and Efren Penaflorida, if you know him; he is the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year. Rocked Founder Gang Badoy was also one of many trainers of last year’s social marketing boot camp.

Interested college students can join by teaming up and registering at www.unilabideaspositive.com. Deadline for submission of entries is on April 16, 2012.

The mechanics is simple. You just have to do the following:

1. Write an article that should relate more on Globe and its Tattoo brand. Make your articles well written and informative. You can even write it in any style you like.
2. Submit your article links to this thread in the CBSi forums.

The editors of the Content Management Committee will be the judges of this contest, and the article that bested the rest will be the winner of a Globe Tattoo 4G Stick.

Deadline of the articles will be on January 28, 2012. There’s nothing more to wait for, so go ahead and get your brains thinking and your fingers tapping — write away!

Then came the moment. Last April 30, a big task was given to me: to lead CBSi and steer it on the right track. Having been elected as the 3rd CBSi President (after Mark Monta and Vernon Joseph Go who both graduated from CIT University also) is a challenge to my leadership skills and my capabilities. It would push my limit and test my strengths. The daunting task of elevating CBSi a notch higher would be something impossible without the Board of Trustees’ and members’ enthusiasm.

CBSi was founded on a Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2008, by bloggers Mark Monta together with me and Jerry Gervacio. It was made out love that encompasses all aspects of society:

• Love for camaraderie. We envisioned a group that would unite Cebu-based and Cebuano bloggers under one spectrum. Bloggers who discuss about a range of topics and niches was an impossible thing to imagine but with CBSi, despite our differences, it has proved to be possible.

• Love for Cebu. We want to show to the Philippines and to the world that Cebu has a vibrant blogging community. Cebu is a province rich in diversity and with blogging, I’m definite that a lot of topics are worth blogging about.

• Love for blogging. We bloggers, whether it be hobby or career, are passionate of how our blogs can impact our readers. In CBSi, different colors unite under one rainbow. Yes, we might have different stand on different topics but we are united when it comes to blogging.

The first activity under my watch was the successful World Bloggers’ Day 2011 last May 2 which CBSi was the founder and organizer. Different bloggers around the world from as near as Australia to as far as Lebanon participated the event both offline and online with events in their respective countries to recognize the role of bloggers in our society. We feel so proud that this global event is a Cebuano product and of CBSi.

More than 3 years have past and CBSi is going stronger and moving forward. The group that started with 3 persons is now composed of more than 60. Yes, this is still a young group but it has reached the point where we never imagined it would. But we wouldn’t stop from here as we continue to grow and mature, together.

I’m looking forward for CBSi to be a role model blogging community that would be emulated by other blogging communities in redefining what bloggers and blogging are about; that we are not merely those online geeks but we are also people who support community development.

AIM HIGH CBSi!

Presidential Post by:

Kevin Ray N. Chua

CBSi President

www.kevinraychua.com

I didn’t sleep; instead I managed to upload our team lunch pix within an hour! When I’m done, I took a shower, put on my dress to kill fit, slid my portable to my white Corz bag and rushed to Figaro, the terraces of Ayala to see old and new faces of Cebu Bloggers Society! For those willing to join, click! You may register in our forum too.

Important notes:

That waitress in Figaro got into my nerves when she reprimanded us while taking pictures of the Figaro interior! Hell! We asked permission from the OIC and it’s a YES! Grrrr… I hate people butting out not knowing the obvious thing of being informed! We hang out in Figaro (in IT PARK) often times and their service screws are friendly! That old-looking filthy bitch waitress is so rude at all! Mind you! Good thing, I’m at my most gradient speech giving her a nosebleeding answer (in fluent English). I can’t imagine the looks on her poor old face! She needs botox! Hahaha

Some CBS are camwhores! Why? Check:

More after the jump.