The HYLI, which was first held in Singapore, was established in November 1996 to help develop the potentials of young Asian leaders by providing a platform or leverage for these chosen students to exchange ideas and views on regional and global issues.
The HYLI promotes a shared sense of Asian values and cross-cultural understanding and harmony through common experiences and activities.
It is Hitachi’s objective, as a responsible corporate citizen, to give something back to society that has some significance for the coming generations. This will establish a communication network for students from all the HYLI’s, as this could benefit both the young people involved and the Asian region in the long term.
The 5th HYLI will bring together 24 students with leadership ability, academic excellence and strong extracurricular involvement from Asian countries Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. They will discuss issues under the theme "Asia’s Roadmap  Forging Regional Cohesion for Global Advancement." The sub-themes that will support discussions would be "Cultivating Entrepreneural Spirit in Asia"; "The Growing Importance of Corporate Social Responsibility in Asia"; and "The Changing Role of Media in Asia."
Professor Ernesto Garilao, associate dean of the Asian Institute of Management’s Center for Development Management, who will join the HYLI as a speaker said that, "the program encourages promising young leaders by giving them access to top-level leaders both from private and public sectors. It is an excellent platform for these students to exchange views on current issues that have potential regional and global ramifications."
Meanwhile, the guest of honor and first keynote speaker for the Initiative will be David Lim, Acting Minister of Information, Communication and the Arts of Singapore. The second keynote speaker will be MR Sukhumband Paribatra, ex-deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and a member of the Thai legislature.
During each of the two forum sessions, which include keynote speeches and panel discussions, student participants, as well as the approximately 300 members of the audience, will have the chance to pose questions to the speakers. Panel speakers include Tan Sri Francis Yeoh, managing director of YTL Corporation, Malaysia, who will speak on entrepreneurial spirit, and Claire Chiang, executive director of Banyan Tree Gallery, Singapore, who will speak on the sub-theme of corporate social responsibility.
"The four students selected by the Philippine selection panel had to go through a rigorous selection process which included university selection, submission of written essays and a panel interview. These are bright, intelligent and articulate young women and men, well informed on current issues, who will be able to contribute much to the discussions," says Hon. Antonio Eduardo Nachura, Representative of 2nd District West Samar, and chairperson of the Philippine Selection Panel for the HYLI. Among these bright university students we have the country’s number one-ranked debater, and Asia’s third-ranked debater; a full scholar of a top banking corporation; an Excellence in Economics Award Recipient; and a recipient of the University’s most prestigious award.
William Panlilio of the Ateneo de Manila University, is currently pursuing his masters in Philosophy at the same university. With the desire to become a lawyer or work in the legislative branch of government, he intends to pursue higher learning by taking up international law or political science.
An experienced debater, he is currently the number one-ranked debater in the Philippines and the third-ranked debater in Asia. His passion for debating is reflected in his coaching of the Ateneo High School Debate Team and the Philippine Team for the Worlds Schools Debate Championships, as well as being a resource speaker for the Debate Education Program. Aside from his outstanding achievements in debate, William also received recognition in the university including Vox Populi’s Awards for Service and Excellence (special citation), Departmental Award (candidate), and Knights of Rizal Search for Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (candidate), to name a few. He also displays his leadership skills by participating in the Vox Populi Voter’s Education Campaign committee and the Ateneo Debate Society as head and president respectively. William currently tutors students under the university’s scholarship program.
Marie Grace Tee Vera Cruz, University of the Philippines is a senior Economics student. She’s a magna cum laude candidate and was named Gawad Chancellor, Best Student Leader  UP’s most prestigious award  Marie Grace has taken a liking to the trivialities of Business Administration. She intends to take her Masters in Business Administration in two years time.
She is the founder and executive vice president of the UP-Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations. Marie Grace also spearheaded the Asian Debate Tournament joined in by the UP Debate Society. She was also sent to Canada as part of the Junior Team Philippines.
Marie Grace has been sent as UP delegate to various conferences such as the APEC Youth Leaders Confrence 2000, the National Conference for Constitutional Reform 2001 and the 3rd Accenture Youth Leaders Conference. Her social-responsibility projects have also given her the opportunity to reach out to others. She was part of the organizing committee for the medical-dental mission for the Payatas victims, and she is an advocate/volunteer of "Walang Ku-Corrupt Movement"  an anti-corruption campaign.
Leslie Ann Co Tan is a senior Economics and Business major of the University of the Philippines. As a university scholar, she has maintained a good academic standing, making her eligible to graduate with summa cum laude honors. Her other academic recognitions include an Excellence in Economics Award given by the Junior Philippine Economics Society, and membership to the International Honor Societies of Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Gamma Mu.
She first became councilor for Research and Education, then councilor for Finance; and the university’s Student Elections Registration Volunteer Corps as coordinator-general. Having the strong passion for writing, she assumed the positions of editor-in-chief of the university’s yearbook, publications officer of UP AIESEC and vice chair in Publications of the University of the Philippines Economic Society. An official correspondent of one of the country’s top newspaper broadsheets, she recognizes the vital role of media in creating common interest and cross-cultural understanding among peoples of Asia.
Dominic Pascasio of De La Salle University Manila is in his fourth year, majoring in AB-Economics/BS Business Management. A full scholar of the Allied Banking Corporation since his first year in the university, Dominic is working on a double degree. Yet he successfully balances and excels in his social and academic obligations. Dominic has worked his way to being a College Assembly President from being a Human Resource Chair. A debater with a clear sense of rebuttal, he also proudly dons the colors of the university in competitions outside the campus. multi-national companies that have seen Dominic’s drive to excel and pursue knowledge to the hilt have given him numerous awards and grants. Other than the full support of the Allied Banking Corporation, an Achievement Award and a Student Excellence Award were given to him by Procter & Gamble.
He has not neglected his social responsibility as a student amid his focus on his academic achievements. He teaches part-time at St. Anthony Parish Public School, volunteers to help out children at non-government organizations (Virlanie Foundation and For The Kids) and visits prisoners on a regular basis.
This early in life, he is exposing himself to the ways of the world with the sincere hope that he will one day improve the country’s economic status.
William, Dominic, Leslie and Marie Grace are our future leaders. Joining other delegates from other countries, the Filipino youth can be confident that our very own participants will contribute strongly to the success of the Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative, making us, above anything else, proud of the Filipino youth and hopeful for the brighter future that the youth can offer. Good luck and bon voyage!