With cheers and excitement, more than 700 young students from Aleosan East and West Districts welcomed the much-anticipated opening of the Summer Kids Peace Camp (SKPC) 2025 held at Aleosan Central Elementary School on April 27, 2025. The event began with a lively parade and energetic district yells that set the festive tone for the three-day camp.
Participants like Abby D. Catubig of Sta. Cruz Elementary School and Micah Shane C. Clarito of Aleosan Central Elementary School shared their enthusiasm about the camp, expressing eagerness to learn, make new friends, and enjoy the fun-filled activities designed to enrich their knowledge and skills.
Meanwhile, in Pikit, a parallel SKPC event was also launched at Pikit Central Elementary School, gathering over 1,500 Grade 5 pupils from Pikit’s South, West, and North Districts. Like their counterparts in Aleosan, the young campers will undergo activities aimed at developing responsible individuals while fostering unity and peace among Christian, Moro, and Indigenous Peoples (IP) youth — collectively known as the Tri-people.
Participants from Pikit also voiced their expectations for the camp. Allysa Kaye Davis Palma from Takepan Central Elementary School admitted feeling nervous yet excited about meeting new faces, while Airamay Jeneve U. Lumigas from Pikit Central Elementary School said, “We are sure to learn how to take care of ourselves without our parents, and how to be responsible for our own duties.”
The SKPC is a program initiated by the Provincial Government under the leadership of Governor Emmylou “Lala” J. Taliño-Mendoza. It aims to build understanding, respect, and camaraderie among young students from different cultural and religious backgrounds by engaging them in arts, leadership, and peace-building activities.
In Aleosan, the event was organized by the Provincial Governor’s Office – Provincial Youth Development Division (PGO-PYDD) and the Public Affairs Assistance, Tourism and Sports Development Division (PAATSDD), in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd), the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the local government of Aleosan. Notable attendees included former Aleosan Mayor and Provincial Advisory Council (PAC) Member Vicente Suropia Jr., Mayor’s Executive Assistant Manuelito Gellado, DepEd Education Program Supervisor Lito Fernandez, East District Supervisor Alicia Chavez, and West District Supervisor Grace Pastolero.
In Pikit, the camp was overseen by PGO-PYDD, with support from the Provincial Engineer’s Office (PEO), Pikit’s Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), and Cotabato Young Leaders Congress (CYLC) Volunteers. Guests included Dr. Julie Lumogdang, SGOD Chief of the DepEd Schools Division Office Cotabato, representing Schools Division Superintendent Romelito Flores, CESO V, along with District Supervisors Ramla S. Ambag, Mohammad A. Ulangkaya, and Aida S. Mangansakan, Pikit Central Elementary School Principal Evelyn Kalantungan, and representatives from LGU Pikit, PNP, AFP, and BFP.
The opening of SKPC 2025 in both Aleosan and Pikit marks another milestone in the province’s continuing efforts to mold the youth into peace advocates and future leaders who value unity amid diversity.