Tabogon, Cebu - World Vision launched Project HOPE at the Tabogon Sports Complex.

Funded by Citi Foundation, Project HOPE (Helping Out-of-School-Youths Pave Towards Employment and Engaging in Business), aims to provide sustainable economic opportunities to out-of-school and vulnerable youth by providing entrepreneurial and employable skills training.

“True to the vision and name of this project, we want to spark hope among the youth,” said Jun Godornes, resource development director for World Vision.

About 2,500 youth will benefit from the project through capacity building workshops, as well as trainings on community issues and entrepreneurial development laid out by World Vision. They will also be taught how to save, to improve financial literacy.

“We believe that Project HOPE can empower the youth and arm them with competencies, values and confidence, to help them pursue their goals, improve their lives and contribute to their respective communities,” said Dorski Granada, Citi Philippines Head of Corporate Affairs.

World Vision’s operations manager for Visayas Faith Bullecer-Sy highlighted the project’s intent to provide opportunities for youth to also engage in the agribusiness entrepreneurship programs.

“We want our participants to love agriculture. We also want to invite other opportunities for skills development and other employment opportunities,” said Sy.

Sy also recognized the role of the youth in influencing their peers. “This group can act as advocates to help other youth in becoming educated, empowered, and engaged, and to be part of something that is innovative,” said Sy.

This project is supported by the local government of Tabogon, Cebu in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture.

 Leading developer in VisMin Cebu Landmasters, Inc. (CLI) has accelerated its expansion to Eastern Visayas with the recent launch of Casa Mira Homes Ormoc, a 685-unit subdivision project on a 9-hectare property expected to generate sales of Php 2 billion in revenues.

Set for completion in 2023, Casa Mira Homes Ormoc is Cebu Landmasters’ eleventh Casa Mira development in the region. The residential brand is designed with generous amenities such as chapels, swimming pools, play areas, basketball and tennis courts and wide open spaces in line with its promise to offer more for the Filipino family.

 Skechers, The Comfort Technology Company, is continuing its expansion in the Philippines with the opening of its largest store in the country at Ayala Center Cebu.

Following the recent opening of five (5) locations in Metro Manila and one (1) in North Luzon, the new Skechers store in the queen city of the south, Cebu City, is in the heart of the region’s premier shopping, dining and entertainment destination, and sets the global lifestyle brand up to deliver stylish and innovative footwear and apparel to more Filipinos in the Visayas.

 To be born again is to have the Holy Spirit transform our hearts from indifference and hostility toward God to a love of God and a desire for righteousness and holiness. The only way one can come to God and experience what it means to be “born again” is through repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ; read John 14:6.

1. Born Again Christian: The Birthmark of Confession

The first is the birthmark of confession, described in 1 John 5:1: “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” Before you can have assurance of salvation, you have to believe and be saved. You have to confess Jesus Christ as Lord. Some people assume they are saved because they grew up in a Christian culture, or they have gone to church all their lives, or they have been baptized, or they have tried to live a good life. Yet they’ve never distinctly and personally confessed Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.

The Bible teaches that we are sinners, separated from God by a sinful nature. We can never earn, buy, or climb our way into heaven. By our own efforts or goodness, we can never be saved. That’s why God became a man who lived a wholly righteous life, died on the cross, shed His blood for us, and rose from the dead. He paid our penalty, took our judgment upon Himself, and He offers us the opportunity to be born again.