August 12, 2014 was the International Youth Day, every youth organization globally celebrated Youth Day in different ways. As for Asian Development Bank (ADB) in partnership with AIESEC Philippines they hold the first International Youth Day Summit with the Theme “Empowering the Youth to achieve Great Expectations” at ADB Headquarters, Mandaluyong City, Philippines. The summit aims to gather youths in avenue to promote critical thinking, boost discourse, and encourage action.
Among the thousands of applicants globally the organizing team of AISEC Philippines assess and choose 300 applicants only for the First International Youth Day Summit (IYDS) and I was blessed to be chosen as one of the delegates and I am honored to represent my organization Philex and Outlying Youth Movers Society (POYMS) as well as my home Philex Mines, Padcal, Tuba, Benguet.
The Registration started 6:30-8:30am of August 12, 2014, the delegates started arriving. Entering the hall, we were distributed to specific facilitators. I am assigned in table 16th, my facilitator is Christiane Billones from the University of the Philippines an AISEC member and my group mates were Gail Mejis (University of Pangasinan), Miguel Perez (San Beda College) and Jastyn Alain Limon (University of Sto.Tomas.
Christiane Billones from the University of the Philippines an AISEC member, our facilitator
My group mates! Gail (University of Pangasinan), Jastyn (University of Sto. Tomas) and Migz (San Beda College)
At exactly 9:00am the program started with a warm-up dance followed by a Welcoming Remarks by Mr. Bindu Lohani the Vice President (Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development) of Asian Development Bank leaving us a question “How do you want to be empowered?” after which, Mr. Satinder Bindra the Principal Director of Department of External Relations, ADB Manila and the Senior International Correspondent of CNN based in New Delhi introduces Chris Morris (ADB Youth Initiative Founder), Efren Peñaflorida (CNN 2009 Hero of the Year) and Kesz Valdez (International Children’s Peace Prize 2012)on stage.
The first talk was with Efren Peñaflorida, he featured his journey on his project “Kariton Klasrum”/ “Push cart Classroom”. In the age of sixteen he started an organization called the Dynamic Teen Company advocating education with his friends and classmates in high school. The “Kariton Klasrum” that enables alternative education that underscores the value of community services, youth awareness and self-development for the street gangs and less fortunate children.Efren leave us with the acronym B.E.S.T.!
B- Believe that you can!
E- Excel in everything that you do!
S- Stand firm to what is true and noble!
T- Think of ways to improve yourself!
The next speaker was Kesz Valdez a 12 year old that advocates health and education, he as well showed video of his journey. He was a battered kid and he found home outside their house for him outside the house was the safest. As early as 8 years old he founded an organization called Championing Community Children (3C) for the street kids: It started on his Birthday, Kesz wrapped found items on the trash and gave it to the street children and begun teaching them Personal Hygiene. I was carried with his words “The fire that burned my skin was the fire that started the flame inside me. It is the fire that opened my eyes and pushed me to help my co-street kids”. He was indeed one of the youngest advocators for the betterment of the youth and I was challenged and inspired by him and I began asking myself why could have less fortunate help the less fortunate?.
The screening of “Great Expectation” video was presented next. The video was about one project of the Asian Development Bank to the ASEAN countries, in the video was Kids sharing their own dreams and their dreams for their own community. The dreams of the kids for themselves and for their community was very simple. After presentation the panel of judges shared insights about the video presented.
After the coffee break was the speech of Mr. Anthony Abad, the President and CEO of the Philippine International Trading Corporation and Managing Director of T/A Trade Advisory Services. He is an expert at international trade and economic law and held various positions in the government such as Harvard University Alumni Association and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. He’s topic in the summit was about Leadership, “Leadership is Dangerous” he said. Being a Leader is not a FAME, not an IMAGE, and not a PUBLIC RELATION. A real Leader is patient, willing to wait and a real Leadership is situational. It is an event of life rather than a career. He also shared his advocacy and mindset on INTEGRATION + COMPETITION for the country. He said “If you replace the people but you don’t change the system, nothing will happen” and “If you can change your country, then you can change the world”. I am inspired with Anthony Abad’s integrity.
Social Skills Workshop on Action Planning for the Sustainable Development and Goals and Post-2015 Development Agenda was done after Lunch. Each group was given a specific topic. Our topic was about Ending Hunger, Achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. We stated activities such as promotion of local resources and products from rural communities, conducting seminars for the residents to start livelihood projects with the use of their own products and creating youth organization that would help in sustaining the products of the community in the rural.
After the workshop was the speech of Ms. Risa Hontiveros an advocate for Human Rights and award winning broadcast journalist. She continuous her campaigns for anti-corruption, good governance, women and gender equality and health as the Chairman of Akbayan Party. On her speech she said “All we need is dialogue between the generations to create appreciation and cooperation” and “We need youth like you. We have to change the system”. Lisa Hontiveros was also passionate about the Youth, she said “I am against Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Abolish! We have been fighting for the SK Reform Bill”. I am motivated by her numerous advocacies as I see her burning passion, she is a strong person ready to fight for everyone.
The next speaker was the 20 year old Founder and Country Head of ONE MILLION LIGHTS PHILIPPINES; nationally awarded youth led organization, Mr. Mark Lozano. He is driven by his passion to uplift the lives of the poor, he has helped improved lives over 60,000 Filipinos from over 60 marginalized communities by providing them a solar powered lights. In his speech he said “One doesn’t have to be old to make a difference. Changing a life comes from the heart”. I am inspired with Mark Lozano’s passion of helping the less fortunate and uplifting them. Everyone must need to change, Change that has a positive impact on people. Together we can change the World.
Our last speaker was Arizza Noccum, she is a student, leader and peace advocate. She is one of the youngest nominees to the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World. She is the head of her organization KRIS (Kristiano-Islam Peace) LIBRARY, it provides education to the poor Filipino, and today KRIS Library has 6 local outlets. Her speech was very simple and direct to the point, after showing a video of her achievements she discussed and shared her Failures in life and how she overcome and turned it into a Success. I want to identify what she shared because it stocked and inspired me so much!
#1 Failure: Not winning on an international Speech competition in London as she represents the Philippines. She was very upset with herself of not winning the competition as hundreds of people showered her luck for this.
She turned this failure by thinking positive. She was able to internalize the good things that happened during her stay in London. She gained friends, they were able to exchange cultures and visit beautiful sites.
#2 Failure: “I become boastful, arrogant and self-centered. Every time that KRIS LIBRARY will be featured on social media, newspapers, interviews I wanted to be always a part of it! I want to be the center of attention! I want my name to be in publications”. Until come a time that she noticed that she was left alone doing all the work for Kris Library. What she did led the volunteers go away. The Kris Library became an organization that is all about her not all about the objective of Kris Library.
“I changed myself!” she said. Today, KRIS LIBRARY has 6 local outlets and now you can hear the volunteers talking about the Library coming from their own mouths. Everything had change, more volunteers are coming from the Philippines and of ASIA. “Of course with the help of AISEC” she said.
Arizza was the last speaker and she has given me the reason to continue of my own advocacy with a positive mindset and turning weakness into a success. It was very helpful. I learned Failure=Opportunity.
After the speech of Arriza Nocum. The activity “Because I said, I would” was introduced by Bea Luna, National Director of Project Management of AISEC Philippines. Wherein, delegates were given a piece of paper, tracing hands on it and writing a promise for own self and sharing the promise to the group members. This activity opened the open communication for the group, we were able to recognize and acquire the promises and the advocacy of each of us.
Michael Fua, President of AISEC Philippines closes the International Youth Day Summit 2014 leaving us with a saying “Youth must be involved in Nation Building! It has to be a movement, A power from the community”
I am so blessed attending this summit! It was a great experience! A great learning! It is empowering me more to continue my advocacy on Personal Leadership Development and youth empowerment. The flame of my passion is burning very big and strong. I am thankful for all the support! I promise to share my knowledge to the youth and to my community.
