29 October 2015 – As celebrations for the Filipino-American History Month continues, the Philippine Consulate General in New York held the fourth and final leg of the Leadership and Mentoring Seminar (LMS): Empowerment for the Emerging Generation series for an energetic and accomplished group of young attendees at Rowan University Glasboro, New Jersey last October 24.

Co-organized by the Rowan University Philippine-American Coalition (RUPAC), the Office of the President of Rowan University, and Board of Trustees Member Lita Abele, the event attracted more than 60 Filipino-American youths which consists of students, young professionals, and organization leaders.

Rowan University President Dr. Ali Houshman welcomed guests to the Rowan Hall Auditorium, expressing his pleasure at the Filipino-American youth’s interest in learning about their heritage and acquiring skills that will help them succeed later in life. 

Philippine Consul General to New York Mario De Leon gave the keynote address, where he explained how the LMS for second-generation members of the Filipino community came about. He talked about the LMS for the first-generation leaders back in 2013 to professionalize Filipino community organizations and inspire senior members to re-think and repurpose their groups. One resounding outcome of that program was a resolution to transition leadership to the emerging generation of Filipino-Americans. Consul General De Leon reiterated the Consulate’s mission to encourage the youth to take on leadership positions in the community and, ultimately, in mainstream American society. He cited trailblazing Filipinos in the U.S. public and government service, and urged the youth in the audience to be the best representation of Filipino-Americans in the “real world.”

Historical background and context was provided by published author, poet and university professor Patrick Rosal during the first module “Understanding the Filipino.” Professor Rosal related his own personal family struggles and how he turned to his passion – poetry and literature – in expressing his identity, feelings, views, and sentiments articulately. The Rutgers English professor also encouraged the young attendees to be more involved in the world around them and use art and their creative side to find an intellectual way to empathize with others. He highlighted celebrated Filipino artists and writers who are “revealing to America and the world the stories that they have forgotten,” especially in the Philippine-U.S. shared history.

Associate State Director for AARP Pennsylvania Grace Rustia led the dialogue on “Leadership and Motivation.” Drawing from her personal experiences as a broadcaster during the 9/11 attack and her volunteer work with the community, she spoke about the value of servant leadership and goals that can inspire one to be a leader: be bold in going after your goals; seize every good opportunity to change lives; soar high and dream big; and recognize yourself as a leaders of service to others.

Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Commission on Asian American Affairs Appointee Brad Baldia stressed the importance on building a network and making impactful relationships in the module “Managing a Mentoring Program.” Mr. Baldia is a beneficiary of effective mentors and eventually passing career knowledge and experience to younger colleagues and friends, Brad encouraged the attendees to tap into the more seasoned professionals, experts and community leaders for mentoring on personal, political and career advice.

Ms. Agnes Jamora, CEO of 13 Degrees North, an events and marketing company, gave a lecture on Events Management, where she illustrated how she used project management and design principles in her work as an event organizer and interior designer to plan successful events. In her interactive presentation, she advised the future leaders to not be shy in promoting their events, be willing to reciprocate what they ask of their sponsors and peers, and to always present the best face in every stage they appear.

Two panels in the afternoon discussed issues and opportunities that second-gens are faced with in the community, and ways they could look back and give back.

Maria Torculas, President of RUPAC related her experience in the University of the Philippines Diliman as an exchange student and her takeaways in her summer spent in the Philippine State University. She acknowledges her participation in the community as a support system and a connection to her heritage.

RJ Lualhati, La Salle University and CEO of –bot, a technology startup that builds prosthetics, described his joy in using his company in giving back to the Philippines through his inexpensive prosthetic body parts that changes lives of disabled patients in low-income provinces in the Philippines.

Jessica Villa, founder of Superbands, an online community which aims to empower and encourage depressed, bullied and struggling youth through music to break barriers and build connections with peers and find confidence among their co-music fans.

Winchelle Delfin, a youth member of Philippine Community of South New Jersey illustrated how she and her peers use dance as a medium to promote the Filipino culture and enhance their bond to the motherland. She recognized that the youth members are the future leaders of the community and are responsible for expanding the base of the community to connect with the non-Filipinos and reach out to the mainstream society.

Kaya Collaborative CEO Rexy Josh Dorado spoke about fellowship opportunities for the Fil-Am youth to understand life in the Philippines better. He encouraged the attendees to take advantage of immersion programs available for them and enrich their appreciation for the Philippine heritage.

Councilman Jonathan Wong, the youngest Filipino in elected government, gave a political and civic leadership view of being a second-gen member. He described his work for the community and urged aspirants to pursue politics to enact tangible and impactful changes in the society.

Filipino Executive Council of Greater Philadelphia Ferdie Luyun shared his experiences as a volunteer of Gawad Kalinga through their medical missions to the Philippines. Mr Luyun invited the young ones in the room to look into social entrepreneurship to help improve living conditions and raise dignity of our less privileged kababayans.

The Leadership and Mentoring Seminar: Empowerment for the Emerging Generation is an initiative of the Consulate which was launched in New York last September 2014. The previous sessions were held in Boston College last April and earlier this month in Yale University. END