Boys and Girls Week observed in Manila

MANILA, Philippines - The City of Manila has a new Batang Mayor 2009, Maria Angelica Chiu of Ramon Magsaysay High School and Batang Vice Mayor 2009 Lorenzo Maria De Guzman of G. Perfecto High School who will reign over Manila for a week starting Dec. 7 to Dec.11.

A total of 32 public schools and six private high schools including Academy of Sakya, Espiritu Santo, St. Anthony, St. Stephen, Republic Institute, and Holy Child were chosen. The students have taken over the positions of city officials since Monday and started their hands on training on city governance as Manila observes Boys and Girls Week, with its theme, Kaagapay, Kabalikat sa Higit na Maunlad na Maynila.

The Batang Mayor and Batang Vice Mayor together with other officials attended the city’s regular Monday flag raising ceremony at the City Hall Freedom Triangle and were introduced to city officials at the breakfast with their counterparts held at Bulwagang Villegas, before visiting their respective offices.

Lim said: “Dito binibigyan natin ng pagpapahalaga ang linggo ng mga kabataan lalo na yung mga nahalal bilang alkalde at bise alkalde, ito ang napakagandang yugto sa inyong buhay mag-aaral dahil ito ay pagsasanay para sa darating na mga taon na kayo ay makakagraduate sa high school at college at magampanan ninyo ng buong husay at katapatan ang panunungkulan hindi lamang sa pamahalaan kung hindi pati sa pribadong sector.”

Lim advised the students to study very hard, respect their teachers and love their parents and family.

He recalled his childhood days when he grew up in Hospicio de San Jose, an orphanage, and eventually taken under his grandparents’ custody.

Lim told the young students that he was orphaned at a young age and at 13 years old he worked by selling native rice cakes to earn a living so he could support his studies. Before finishing high school he had to transfer school four times because he needed to study near his work place to save transportation fare.

The young officials came from Magsaysay, G. Perfecto, Lakandula, Torres, Tondo, Araullo, Manila Science, Manila High, Abad Santos, Roxas, Nolasco etc.