Asia Society picks 10 young RP leaders

MANILA, Philippines – At the young age of 31, Mark Ruiz is one of the founders of two highly successful social enterprises, Hapinoy and Rags2Riches.

On one hand, Hapinoy helps sari-sari store owners earn more by helping them access business loans from microfinance institutions and linking them up directly to manufacturers of the products that they sell, thus enabling them to purchase the products at a lower price.

On the other hand, Rags2Riches helps mothers from Payatas in Quezon City who make rags earn more by helping them innovate their rags into bags, purses, wine bottle holders and yoga mat holders. These new products made out of rags are also designed by well-known fashion designer Rajo Laurel.

For those who love to travel all over the Philippines, Ivan Henares, 29, would be a household name. Ivan has effectively harnessed the power of the Internet toward helping promote the wonders and beauty of the Philippines through his famous website, http://www.ivanhenares.com.

Aside from this, Ivan is a very active trustee of the Heritage Conservation Society that aims to protect cultural and historical sites all over the Philippines. In his talks, he always mentions that by protecting our heritage sites, we are also helping provide jobs and boost our economy through heritage and cultural tourism.

As the vice president for identity and mission of the Notre Dame University in Cotabato City, Sheila Algabre has made it her mission to help uplift the lives of Filipinos who continue to live in poverty in Mindanao. She has done this by spearheading technical education programs for the out-of-school youth and providing capacity-building seminars for cooperatives.

Aside from these initiatives, Sheila continues to promote the rights of women in Mindanao by serving as commissioner-at-large of the Mindanao Commission on Women.

Mark, Ivan and Sheila are among the 10 Filipino Young Leaders that the Asia Society-Philippines has selected as part of its yearly Philippines 21 Young Leaders Fellowship Program.

The other young leaders selected are Paul Buenconsejo, Atty. Myrish Cadapan-Antonio, Natalie Christine Jorge, Capt. Diosdado Pambid, Quintin Pastrana, Love Gregorie Perez and Atty. Oliver San Antonio.

These 10 fellows will represent the country at Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit to be held in Tokyo, Japan this November.

The Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit will gather 250 of the most dynamic next generation leaders of the Asia-Pacific region to explore and develop ways to address the most critical issue facing the Asia-Pacific community today.

This year the theme of the summit will be, “Challenges Beyond Borders, Solutions Beyond Cultures.”

As part of their preparations for the Asia 21 summit, the fellows attended a two-day Philippines 21 Young Leaders Forum last Aug. 28-29, 2008 at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Conference Center in Makati City.

The forum, which focused on corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship and good governance, was facilitated by former Philippines 21 fellows Gilbert Remulla and TJ Tijam.

Guest speakers in the forum included Ayala Foundation president Victoria Garchitorena, Jollibee Foundation executive director Gisela Tiongson and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Government Service, Mayor Jesse Robredo of Naga City.

For more information about the Asia Society’s Philippines 21 Young Leaders Program, contact Patricia Vega at (02) 752-4374.