07 July 2013 - Ten (10) selected Filipino-American youth leaders arrived yesterday to participate in an immersive program dubbed as the Filipino-American Youth Leadership Program (FYLPRo).
The delegates were selected from all over the United States based on their scholastic achievements, leadership skills, advocacy and a sincere commitment to pay back to the Filipino community in the United States and in the Philippines.
As part of the three-day program in the Philippines, the delegates met today with the young leaders of the Ayala Foundation headed by its President, Luli Heras de Leon.
The Ayala Group’s Head of Corporate Resources group, John Philip Orbeta, spoke on the importance of empowering the youth and the value of giving back to the society.
“To whom much is given, much is expected,” he said to the delegates.
The delegates had a renewed appreciation of the rich history and cultural heritage of the Philippines during their tour of the Ayala Museum.
The Philippine Embassy in Washington DC and the Philippine Consulates General in the United States have been in partnership with the Ayala Foundation since the inception of the FYLPRo last year. The media partner for the program in the United States is ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel. Corporate sponsors are Chevron, Ayala Corporation, SGV, Plantersbank, Philam Life, The Phinma Foundation and CLSA Exchange Capital.
At the welcome dinner for the delegates hosted by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. the night before, two delegates from the 2012 FYLPRo had the chance to share their experiences with the new batch.
“It is a life-changing experience,” said Michael Vea.
Also present during the dinner were Philippine Consul General to New York Mario de Leon, officers and staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Ayala Foundation President Luli Heras de Leon.
The FYLPro aims to tap these outstanding young Filipino-Americans, whose civic involvement and advocacy of causes could contribute to advancing important issues in the Filipino-American community and the further development of the Philippines.
FYLPRo’s three-day program is specially crafted to give the young leaders a chance to meet with high-level Philippine government officials, including the President and the Vice-President, the Speaker of the House and young legislators from the House of Representatives and the Senate, captains of industry, principally from the Makati Business Club, successful traditional and social entrepreneurs and other prominent Filipinos. They will also join the 8th Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour (ACGTDT) from 09 to 11 July 2013. END