A few days before the Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics 2008, the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation China Scholars are back in the Philippines. They have witnessed China’s preparation to the biggest Olympics by far and the coming out party of China to the whole world. During their 10-month scholarship program in Beijing, they have interacted with various individuals who have made an impact in their respective fields.
They have interacted with the likes of the CNN Beijing Bureau Chief, Jaime FlorCruz; National Broadcasting Corporation NBC Beijing Bureau Chief, Eric Baculinao; Reuters Thompson Chief Political Correspondent for Greater China, Benjamin Lim; American Broadcasting Corporation ABC News Beijing Bureau Chief, Chito Sta. Romana; They also had the privilege of meeting world-class pinoys like the General Manager of Hilton Beijing, Vlad Reyes; Communications Director of Red Capital Group/Shambhala Foundation, Corrine Alphen Cordero; Communications Director of China World Hotel, Diane Fermin-Roeder; Director for Shopping Malls of Jones Lang Lasalle, Riza Silva; and the Executive Chef of the Courtyard, Chef Rey Lim; Other speakers were Laurence J. Brahm, an American lawyer who is a global activist, international crisis mediator, and an author of over 20 books about economic reforms in Asia; Dr. Jack Buchanan, and a Harvard professor and CEO of Enterprise Development Corporation. They also had a crash course on diplomacy with the United States Military Air Attache of the US Embassy in China, Col. LeRoy Coleman and the Philippine Ambassador to China , H.E. Amb. Sonia Cataumber-Brady.
During the program, the scholars learned a lot about the language, culture, and foreign policies of China. Atty. Lesley Jeanne Y. Cordero, batch president of the GBF China Scholars said that “the program did not only teach us to speak Mandarin but it gave us a global mindset and an international perspective. This is what our country needs right now to be able to survive the challenges that we are facing and to be globally competitive with the rest of the world.”
Now that the Gokongwei scholars are back in the Philippines they commit to give back to their country. Inspired by their benefactor, Mr. John Gokongwei Jr. the scholars are embarking on a Hope Warrior Caravan. Project Hope Warrior refers to a series of talks/visits in the different universities all over the Philippines to share about their China experience and how it has transformed their lives. The project has one very basic goal: to revive young Filipinos’ ability to dream and to dream big by encouraging them to move beyond what is safe and familiar and to explore everything that the world has to offer. This activity will allow them to inspire other young Filipinos not to lose hope in the Philippines.
The Hope Warrior Caravan is scheduled to last throughout August 2008. The Gokongwei Scholars will be visiting the following Universities: August 4 - Far Eastern University; August 5 – Silliman University (Dumaguete); August 7 – University of San Carlos (Cebu); August 8 – Southwestern University (Cebu); August 11 – Central Philippine University (Iloilo)
For parties interested in inviting the Gokongwei Scholars to visit their universities and becoming a part of the Hope Warrior Caravan, please send all inquiries to thehopewarrior @yahoo.com.