'Yosi Kadiri' is back!

That’s right, Yosi Kadiri, is here again, spreading the dire message that smoking is bad because it causes cancer and leads to death. The relaunch took place on November 25 at the Manuel A. Roxas High school in Paco, Manila, with Pres. Jun Jun Dayrit, IPP David Ackerman, Community Service Dir. Chris Ferareza and Louie Aseoche in attendance. Also there to give support to the project were four members of the San Beda Red Lions Basketball Varsity Team that won the championship in the NCAA. The Club first launched the anti-smoking campaign in March 2017 during the term of IPP David. Held at the Tandang Sora National High School in Quezon City, it revived “Yosi Kadiri,” the mascot that was at the front line of the Dept. of Health’s nationwide anti-smoking campaign in the early 90s under Sec. Juan Flavier. The event was graced by 39 Bb. Pilipinas candidates and included an on-the-spot art contest and a students’ forum that raised awareness of the evils of smoking. On June 23, the campaign was brought to V. Mapa National High School in Manila, with seven Ms. Philippines Earth candidates in attendance. The anti-smoking information campaign was the club’s signature project last year. A personal advocacy of IPP David, it was spurred by his father’s death from lung cancer caused by smoking. David’s father was Irving “Irv” Ackerman, a long-time member of the club who passed away in 2008. As luck would have it, the campaign has received a big push from an unexpected source at an unexpected time—Executive Order No. 26, which bans smoking in public places and requires the designation of smoking areas in buildings, malls, arcades, parks, and other areas.