ESFDB takes part in Red Ribbon Week activities

Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja students and school board chair Edward Maratita Jr. pose for a souvenir photo with U.S. Attorney for the CNMI and Guam Alicia Limtiaco. (Contributed Photo)

In celebration of National Red Ribbon Week, Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja kicked off its 10th year of promoting a drug-free campus and drug-free community.

The theme for this year is “YOLO (You Only Live Once), Be Drug Free.” This year’s Red Ribbon Week took place on Oct. 23-31.

This school year, the school’s Student Council Organization spearheaded the Red Ribbon Week campaign led by student council president Jeremy John Atalig II.

“Our Red Ribbon Week activities basically started Oct. 16 that included an educational outreach at the Guam Micronesian Mall center court, and about a dozen organizations took the opportunity to spread the anti-drug message,” said Atalig. “We believe it is more important than ever to promote healthy life choices and the recognition of the dangers of substance use and abuse.”

“Red Ribbon Week encourages our entire community to adopt healthy, drug-free lifestyles,” said ESFDB administrator-principal Carmen H. Atalig. “The campaign brings together parents, schools, and businesses as we look for innovative ways to keep kids and communities drug free.”

The red ribbon was adopted as a symbol of the movement in honor of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, an agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration who was kidnapped and killed while investigating drug traffickers in Mexico.

“Since its beginning in 1985, the Red Ribbon, which commemorates the life of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena, has touched the lives of millions of people around the world. It is seen as a symbol of raising awareness of the killing and destruction caused by drugs,” said event coordinator and class adviser Edward Maratita Jr.

The Student Council Organization had numerous activities to promote the message of Red Ribbon Week: wearing red ribbons, roadside waving and campaigning, speaking to students about the importance of making drug-free lifestyle commitments, watching a movie about the story of Camarena, and a rosary prayer.

In addition, the school is celebrating its anti-bullying month. The campaign is held in October and is also on its 10th year at ESFDB.

This year’s theme is “The End of Bullying Begins With Me!”

What a great way to combine and celebrate both anti-drug and anti-violence/bully programs. The Student Council officers and I remind every students of the importance of pledging to be drug-free and violent-free,” said Atalig. “We need not only stomp out drug bullies but also school bullies.” (ESFDB)