MANILA. The Association of Young Boholanos in Metro Manila, Inc. (AYBM), through Cathy Biliran, the chairman of the AYBM Board of Directors, has bared the group’s banner activities & projects for 2010-11.

With the theme, “Strengthening Bonds. . . Touching Lives”, AYBM has been doing the following projects – Oplan Balik Eskwela: Para Kang Ondoy ug Inday; Pasko Espesyal: Gasa sa Gugma; Art Exhibits in Bohol; Dagan Para sa Yutang Tabunon; Wellness Programs; AYBM Newsletter: Handurawan.

Oplan Balik Eskwela: Para kang Ondoy ug Inday is an outreach activity aimed at promoting the welfare and true value of education since it is an avenue for success and prosperity. The highlight of the activity is the distribution of school supplies to the pupils/students of our chosen school in Bohol. This project started in 2009 in Cancatac and Tanday Elementary Schools in Corella, Bohol.

The 2nd project is Pasko Espesyal: Gasa sa Gugma aimed at showing to the less fortunate among the Boholanos what the true meaning of Christmas is. As Christmas means giving and sharing, AYBM will be distributing bundles of joy (Noche Buena grocery items, clothes, etc) to a chosen depressed barangay in Bohol.

Meanwhile, the Art Exhibits in Bohol project will showcase the talents of Boholano artists and will promote the value of art. On July 2011, AYBM will be having the Homecoming Exhibit of Sam Penaso, world-class artist from the Municipality of Guindulman who has already held solo and group exhibitions here and abroad. The Homecoming Exhibit of Sam Penaso aims to bring art consciousness closer to the Boholano populace.

The Dagan Para sa Yutang Tabunon project, on the other hand, is a “Fun Run for a Cause” to be held next year which aims to promote health consciousness and wellness among Boholanos. The activity will invite runners, not only from Bohol but also from Metro Manila and the nearby provinces. The Wellness Programs project will recognize the importance of the AYBM members’ wellness done through designing various sports activities that will cater to the diverse interests of the group like: running, badminton, bowling, basketball, tennis, planned expansion, mountaineering and surfing. To cap all these will be the inaugural season of the Annual AYBM Sports Festival and Family Day on February 2011.

Finally, the AYBM Newsletter: Handurawan project is a bi-annual electronic newsletter which will be launched early next year. This aims to facilitate effective communication among the members and the Boholano community both in Bohol and Metro Manila.