80 teens graduated at Bacman Energy Camp 2011

80 teens graduated at Bacman Energy Camp 2011 

By Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY April 25 (PIA) - "Where most summer camps focus on sports and physical development activities, the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) Bacman Summer Camp emphasizes the need to develop a person's whole being, both mind and body", former EDC President and Chief Executive Paul Aquino  and author of this summer camp explained during the graduation of the 80 graduates of the  Bacman Summer Camp 2011.

A total of 80 incoming 4th year high school students mostly from the public schools in the province of Sorsogon participated in the seven day summer camp that started April 6-12, 2011 sponsored by the Bacman Geothermal Production Field (BGPF) here and graduated yesterday as the 7th batch of this annual summer camp started in 2005.

This annual Energy Camp is a project of the EDC for qualified public high school students in its geothermal projects sites in Leyte, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental ,Cotobato and Sorsogon.

The summer camp included activities first with lectures on the care for the environment and appreciating our God given natural resources and taking care of them together with developing a wholesome well-being by activities like martial arts, rope rapelling, slide for V traverse, ball games, and ballroom dancing.

Lecture and demonstration to do safety outdoor survival skills were also taught starting from map reading and basic first aid application.

They also undergo career orientation with EDC pool of engineers and scientists as their guest speakers.The highlight of the summer camp is the adapted version of the activity of the "Amazing Race" where the campers apply everything they have learned in the camp to hurdle battery of competition of physical and mental challenges.

"We envisioned a program where teenagers can learn about life, the environment, the geothermal energy as all these teens have fun , acquire leadership skills that will help them maximize their own potentials to expand their horizon and improve their communities" Aquino stated.

Aquino also explained that in the camp the teens are taught how to be more responsible by learning the process in a more interactive manner and that at the end of the summer camp it is always observed that this teens develope a deep sense of camaraderie, share an extrordinary bond and exudes their confidence and beautiful personalities in a very short time.

EDC Vice President Engr. Liberao S. Virata said that the EDC scholars look forward to being admitted in the camp.

"We have 25 secondary student scholars each  in our 9 host barangays here in Sorsogon City.This summer camp also serves as an incentive to those scholars that when they are on their third year they will be admitted to the summer camp through their academic achievements and recommendation from their school principals" Virata said.

"It is a looking forward to chance to join this camp so that our scholars maintain their academic performance. It is a continuing gift of empowerment to children of our host communities enabling them to have a 7-day stay, immerse, interact and engage in worthwhile activities here in the camp and enhance and hone their talents and skills', Virata said.

The EDC Energy Camp has not only earned praises from the participants, parents, teachers and the community but have received the very prestigious Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) and the Gold Quill Award GQA) from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) for this very outstanding sustainable community program  that has created a very lasting results to the commuity and the students as well. (PIA-Sorsogon)