08 July 2015 - Delegates to the 4th Filipino-American Youth Leadership Program traveled to Pampanga today to engage with Gawad Kalinga (GK) founder Antonio Meloto and other social entrepreneurs.
The multi-awarded founder of GK, a Philippine-based poverty alleviation and nation-building movement, talked to the group of ten next-generation Filipino-American leaders about the economic opportunities in the country and how social entrepreneurship is the ideal vehicle to take advantage of these.
“The way to end poverty is to make everyone rich and you have to create the wealth that will not leave people behind. You have to create wealth that does not leave others to poverty. We have so much untapped potential but the Filipino people do not become rich because they do not have access to resources and land,” Mr. Meloto shared with the delegates.
FYLPRO delegates were inspired by the optimism and vision of GK and the various avenues available to contribute to nation building. Kevin Gabayan, a delegate from Sunnyvale, CA who is working in Google shared, “I hope to learn to better support technology education in the Philippines.”
The delegates also visited Nayong Pilipino in the Clark Economic Zone and partook of lunch at the famous Bale Dutung of Claude Tayag.
Founded in 2012 by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia and Mrs. Ma. Victoria J. Cuisia, in cooperation with the AFI, FYLPRO each year gives 10 high-performing next-generation Filipino-Americans the special opportunity to travel to the Philippines and dialogue with the highest officials and policymakers in the Philippines, including leaders of industry, legislators, media, artists and cultural experts, entrepreneurs (both traditional and social), as well as innovators in different fields.
The 2015 FYLPRO is made possible with the invaluable partnership of the Ayala Foundation, Inc. and the generous support of corporate sponsors Ayala Corporation, Chevron Holdings, Chevron Philippines, Chevron Malampaya, Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Philamlife, PHINMA, Philippine Airlines, and SGV and Co. END