A solemn night turned radiant with the vibrant energy of the members of the 4-H Club, the Volunteer Leaders Association of the Philippines (VLAP), the International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE), and the Rural Improvement Club (RIC). They were joined by the President of Benguet State University (BSU) and representatives from Local Government Unit offices in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and the Department of Agriculture. Together, they lit up Aspulan Hall during the 4-H Candle Lighting Ceremony.
The event marked a meaningful moment for the 4-H members as each candle was lit, it illuminated more than just the surroundings, but it shows the light of dedication and commitment of the members to club and their personal development. Each flame represented the clubβs core ideals Head, Heart, Hands, and Health and the vast opportunities found within the organization.
Through this simple yet deep tradition, the 4-H Candle Lighting Ceremony supports the clubβs theme: βHarvest through 4-H Milestone: Harnessing Agricultural Resilience Through Vision, Education, Sustainability, and Technology.β
In his message of support, President Kenneth Alip-Laruan of BSU challenged the youth to sustain food security in the country. To have food secured country, he underscored four components to be considered, to wit: 1) Physical availability of the food (wherever you go, there is food available and can be accessible for all); 2) economic existence and stability (where prices of products should be reasonable so that even the poor can afford to buy it); 3) Food Stability (food is readily available all year round); and 4) Utilization (food should be of various varieties because our body needs various vitamins and minerals to function well.)
The ceremony is part of the βBig Brother, Big Sister, Stronger Together Strengthening Success Through Mutual Support with the theme "Harvest through 4-H Milestone: Harnessing Agricultural Resilience through Vision, Education, Sustainability, and Technologyβ held on May 15-17, 2025 at the ATI-RTC-CAR, BSU Compd., La Trinidad, Benguet.//Jomar Guerzon, PAFES Technical Support Staff
