UNVAPE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY CELEBRATION 2026
The Rotary Club of Makati Paseo de Magallanes is always committed to supporting young people and expanding opportunities for them to thrive. The organization believes that the youth are not waiting for change, they are leading changes and our responsibility is to ensure that they have the opportunities, resources, and support they need to shape a better future for all.
RCMPM once again joins with the City Health Office (CHO) of Urdaneta City in the UNVAPE International Youth Day Celebration on August 15, 2026 at the city’s Cultural and Sports Complex featuring competition among Urdaneta City’s Department of Education’s Secondary Schools contestants presenting their entries in the UNVAPE Short Film Festival category and the Advocacy Placard Modeling and Presentation awards.
UNVAPE stands for United Network of Visionary Adolescents Preventing E-Cigarettes — a program designed to raise awareness about the dangers of e-cigarettes, prevent nicotine addiction, and empower teens to choose a vape-free lifestyle. RCMPM RCC and TBF ’92 assisted with the City Health office of Urdaneta City in the celebration of its culminating activity by providing nutritious snacks to all present and contributing individual inside the event venue. The RCMPM booth also extends information educating adolescents and community leaders on tobacco control and the health risks of vaping.
The first of its kind in Urdaneta City to launch an activity that aims to promote a Smoke-free and Vape-free lifestyle among the City’s local youth which brought together in-school and out-of-school youth, youth organizations, schools, health professionals, and partner agencies for the city’s first-ever UNVAPE youth-centered advocacy culminating activity—united in the call for a healthier, smoke-free, and vape-free Urdaneta.
Young people were given a platform to extend their views, opinions, vibes and creativity while letting them showcase their talents in educating their peers on the bad effects of smoking cigarette and using vape.
City Mayor Hon. Julio RAMMY Parayno III opened the program with his welcome remarks followed by the Exhibit Ribbon-Cutting and Ceremonial Vape Surrender. The celebration was joined by Dr. Aguedo Fernandez, CESO V, represented by Mr. Isagani O. Narciso; Hon. Councilor Onofre C. Gorospe, represented by Dr. Cristina
H. Gorospe; Dr. Sheila Ann Perez; Dr. Mark Jayson Mina; Ms. Cheska De Vera; Ms. Maria Eloisa Sarmiento; RCMPM-CP Jeannette Andrada Mendoza, represented by Rtn. Gemini Sison Zamora; Dr. Lyn B. Dela Cruz; Dr. Daniel Darius Aquino; CHO doctors Dr. Rachel Ann A. Parayno, Dr. Marjorie Manongsong, Dr. Shaina Sofia Andrada, and Dr. Ma Fe Lagmay; and Program Manager, Mr. Neil Tablada.
In attendance are the City’s valued partners and supporters from the Rotary Club of Makati Paso de Magallanes, UCNHS Batch 92 Foundation, Inc., Pangasinan Medical Society – Eastern Chapter, and the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP).
Urdaneta City National High School (UCNHS) an RCMPM adopted school wins 1st Place in the UNVAPE Short Film category with their entry piece ALPAS: To Break Free" while a Special Award is also presented to Palina East National High School which is likewise an RCMPM adopted school; for its proactive implementation of school-based tobacco and vape control measures, resulting in the highest number of properly confiscated and voluntarily surrendered vape devices which honors the school's dedication to protecting the health and well-being of its learners, fostering a safe and healthy learning environment, and supporting the goals of UNVAPE.
Event Lecturers were Dr. Lyn B. Dela Cruz – Effects of Smoking and Vaping on Lung Health, Ms. Cheska De Vera – Ill Effects of Smoking and Vaping,
Dr. Mark Jayson Mina – Youth Empowerment and Preventive Strategies & Ms. Katrina Mata – Impact of Smoking and Vaping on Adolescent Nutrition.
The activity concluded with the Closing Remarks of our City Health Officer II, Dr. Rachel Ann A. Parayno.
The Rotary Club of Makati Paseo de Magallanes supports the youth’s UNVAPE campaigns to put teens at the center of the story, letting them showcase their talents and boldly proclaim why they choose not to vape and inspiring their peers to join the movement.
Prepared by: Rtn. Gemini Sison Zamora
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