YOUNG STAR ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: The Fellows Speak
Therese Clarence Fernandez
My Vision for our Country as a Leader
MANILA, Philippines - I am envisioning a country that is well loved and well respected by Filipinos and the global community. We can only realize the potential of something we love.
We need to see that there is so much potential in our country and our people. Even if our history is still wounded by years of oppression and corruption, we have the resilience and competence to be successful as a nation.
We just have to start falling in love with our country again through understanding our history, speaking positively about ourselves, and representing our country with pride and dignity everywhere we go.
Social Problems I would like to Address
I believe that social problems of all kinds and types are linked and related in some way. Although I understand that there is a lot of work to be done, I would like to start through ‘enabling through empowerment.” Behind livelihood and employment, we have to enable people to create that ripple effect that will allow them to help themselves, help others, and help the planet. I am currently doing my part as head of Rags2Riches, Inc. Rags2Ricehs provides opportunity for community-based enterprises to earn, learn, and share.
Through Rags2Riches, I also hope to advocate and promote that empowerment and environmental concern, make good business sense. More than just good business sense, these are also good for our shared future. We can only sustainably solve social problems when we integrate our causes into the mainstream of our economy, systems, and lives.
My Expectations from the Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative
I am expecting this initiative to bring young leaders together, foster relationships, build a community, and allow the “magic” to happen.
The workshops, fellowships, conversations over coffee, presentations, and even the moments of silence, in the presence of passionate minds would be exciting and invigorating. Beyond the program, the friendships and relationships developed would be enriching. The new ideas and partnerships that could come from these interactions could potentially be world-changing. These are the beautiful things that happen when young leaders come tonight.
Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative is perfect glue for this community of young leaders and change-makers.
* * *
Regina Irene Gaza
My Vision for our Country as a Leader
I envision the Philippines as a growing nation with small and micro-entrepreneurs [SME’s] driving local economies through the practice of fair and ethical trade. I believe it is possible for our generation to pass on to our children healthy lifestyles, quality education, sustainable livelihood as well as a safe and natural environment. Each community no matter how small or big it is represents an island of hope which can be transformed into a network of relationships anchored on fair and ethical trade.
Social Problems I would like to Address
Poverty and marginalization are attributed to the exploitative nature of social relationships, unfair business practices and the lack of enabling environment where a citizen can live with decency and liberty. The context of SMEs presents a microcosm of Philippine society where dynamics of power define relationships between and amongst the entrepreneur, workers, traders, and customers. They are part of a bigger context which includes government, the private sector and civil society. Any exploitation in the relationship amongst them impacts the nation. When local initiatives promote culture changes from the community level, the probability of success is higher than aspiring for leaders to change corrupt practices.
As an enterprise development specialist, I seek venues for people and organizations to dialogue on development issues, develop partnerships, advocate for fair and ethical trade to address the disparities in relationships and the lack of enabling environment.
My Expectations from the Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative
It is my hope that through Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative, the leaders who are endlessly searching for good governance and social development will continue to provide a platform to share best practices, affirm people and institutions for innovations in promoting social change and human development. I hope the stories that are shared inspire many more to devote their time and efforts to join our call for one goal and one nation.
* * *
Maria Concepcion Hernandez
My Vision for our Country as a Leader
Build self-reliant communities, governed by officials with integrity and excellence, where each person is able to realize his maximum potential and exercise his rights towards the betterment of life, preservation of the rich local culture and safeguarding the future of the new generation.
Social Problems I would like to Address
Discrimination against women and children.
To be able to promote gender equality and empowerment of women and children, aligned with the Millennium Development Goal, it is important to address the social problem through participative governance which encourages collaboration with various sectors of the community. Key structure must equality in policies, plans and budgets of governments. In order to achieve representation in all levels of government, a mother legislation mandating women representatives should be put in place.
Promote the economic rights of women and children through investing in their entrepreneurship programs and micro-finance ventures, providing each access to livelihood and giving recognition and incentives to business establishments which assist women economic empowerment.
Strengthening of women and children’s security against violence through crisis intervention by social services, greater accountability for law enforcement agencies, affording legal protection and building recovery centers among to allow victims back into mainstream society.
My Expectations from the Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative
The Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative is an avenue for both personal growth and synergy, it should be able to provide opportunities for interaction and sharing of best-practices and resources, enhancement of knowledge base and rekinding of common passions for national development. The linkages it will build should be able to sustain challenges of bureaucratic practices and traditional fence-sitting.
* * *
Bryan Albert Lim
My Vision for our Country as a Leader
As a medical professional and community organizer, I envision a country where healthcare is not based on one’s ability to pay but rather based on one’s needs. The concept of health should not be limited to the clinics. Instead, it should be recognized that health is an integral social phenomenon. Through addressing social determinants (eg. Sanitation, education, economics, etc.), a healthy nation can be fully realized. There shall no longer be Filipinos who are pushed to bankruptcy due to a catastrophic illness, nor will there be patients denied of care because of poverty. A nation where the elderly are taken care of, and the vibrant productive age-group realize their full professional and financial potential.
Social Problems I would like to Address
I intend to dedicate my life and career for the realization of Universal Healthcare in the Philippines. As I stated above, the achievement of which involves a paradigm shift – from the clinics to the communities. Health is an outcome of society. It measures how well the other social-economic-cultural factors function. Also, health is a social factor affecting society as a whole. This requires a multisectoral approach. This would involve reforms in health education, sanitation, employment, environment, economics. I plan to address this in several entry points. First, Education. Currently, I have founded a nationwide film festival on health that aims to generate films to showcase specific health issues (maternal health, child health, etc). Such films are being shown to various schools and communities. We are planning to penetrate mainstream media to reach more people. My team is currently creating short documentaries to show the social aspects of important diseases (eg TB, cancer, diabetes) and document best practices of LGUs, which we aim to show to medical and paramedical schools to make medicine more humane and relevant. Second, I am currently involved in 3 community-based projects. One involves creating a health model for indigenous people, and creating a health module for teachers. Another involves establishing a health and wellness center in a relocation site. The third involves health management of the urban poor. The approach for all three is addressing social determinants to improve health outcomes. Particular targets are sanitation, care for the elderly, entrepreneurship, establishing sustainable health centers.
My Expectations from the Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative
I could only imagine what it would be like to be amongst individuals who are passionate in using their professions for social and national development. Indeed, the Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative is an opportunity to meet and collaborate with kindred spirits. It is a venue to share ideas, be inspired, and initiate multisectoral efforts. But equally important, this is a celebration of hope, passion and friendship.
If accepted, I intend to maximize the opportunity to learn and share my experiences and network. Also, I look forward to the program’s ability to provide a fertile ground to mingle and flourish.
* * *
John Piermont Montilla
My Vision for our Country as a Leader
I wrote a poem "We shape wings that make youth fly and paint their dreams across the sky, propelled by winds and soar them high and be the change as days pass by" and with, I would like to see my a future that creates avenues for its children to build their dreams, freely express their views, involve in decision-making and take action positioned to bring about positive change starting from within the self individual, their peer groups, their families and their communities. I envision empowered emerging young leaders who lead their generation to be more resourceful, inter-dependent, self-sufficient and sustainable social entrepreneurs
Social Problems I would like to Address
Poverty, illiteracy and exploitation has succumbed our country’s young generation and most of them are unable to level-up their aspirations, maintain to live under exploitative conditions and continue to live in their respective communities that provide them punitive rather than transformative interventions that cannot be sustained, furthering them into clandestine occupations that are more exploitative and end being exposed to health and psychosocial ills. Highly stigmatized, their ability to be involved in democratic processes though afforded by law are disabled and their bid and ability to transform for better are lost.
As one who transcended these life concerns, I feel a deep responsibility and passion in rebuilding their shattered dreams and capacities they once have through entrepreneurship, employability and education by providing young people avenues for dream-building and facilitate small yet determined steps positioned to bring about positive change in their lives and set their life stories as examples of hope.
My Expectations from the Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative
I just knew the Initiative from Atty. Jocell Batapa-Sigue and just discovered that my long time colleague Paolo Benigno Aquino III is also one of the recipients. I felt inspired of being nominated and I expect Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative to be a progressive, open and supportive avenue for youth development particularly on my passion and deep engagement on sexual and reproductive health and rights movement in the Philippines. I hope that the initiative promotes a sustained dialogue and discourse among emerging young leaders that by their example, idealism and passion, they can steer this country where the future for children, youth and adults all moving towards where all of our dreams brings us.
* * *
Cecilia Clare Reyes
My Vision for our Country as a Leader
As a leader, my vision for our country is a nation that has job opportunities and source of livelihood for its people, health programs that will ensure a fit and well society, a good and globally competitive education for our children and an environment and natural resource that may sustain its people. These are basic necessities for survival nowadays, and when properly addressed, uplifting the lives of every Filipino is an ultimate dream for all who want to make a difference in this world.
Social Problems I would like to Address
Lack of employment is one problem that should be addressed. Employment provides financial capacity for families to fend for their children, provide quality education, good health and food on the table. Unfortunately in the Philippines, due to lack of and underemployment, many Filipinos resort to work abroad as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). The typical Filipino family has changed, at least one in every family member is working abroad therefore resulting to marriage breakups or juvenile delinquents.
This can be addressed by providing enough jobs and livelihood, inviting investors in the country for more job opportunities, support for the agriculture sector and assistance to small and medium scale entrepreneurs to boost their economic capacity, if properly managed, Filipinos will think twice before leaving their families. This is a personal challenge that I want to address in the municipality of Alicia, if successful, then may be replicated for the entire country.
My Expectations from the Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative
As a first term Municipal Mayor, I am faced with many challenges, from the social problems to issues of Market, taxes, tricycle franchises to peace and order concerns. I believe that through Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative, I will be able to learn from the other participants, from their best practices and approaches in dealing with these social problems, and to have the network and linkages for possible partnership for future programs.
There is no monopoly of knowledge, I believe that each participant will learn from the other, and this is the goal that I want to achieve from this worthy program.
* * *
Jason Roy Sibug
My Vision for our Country as a Leader
My vision for the country reflects my vision for my indigenous community. I want to see my fellow indigenous peoples to be free from poverty, oppression, human rights violation, development aggression and a sector embodied with qualities of being assertive, self-reliant and capable of building their own community. I envisioned my community where basic services of education, health, livelihood and agriculture are available and affordable to their reach.
And we want to see our indigenous community that is empowered which can compete with the mainstream Filipino society.
Social Problems I would like to Address
Basically, the claim for ancestral land to indigenous peoples is my outmost concern. It begets all our needs; it is our source of medicines, food and livelihood. We are interconnected with the land that feeds us –it is never one or the other. However, a large-scale mining company penetrated into our domain without our consent. This led to a series of threat and harassment to the members of our community because of our hesitation and refusal. We are afraid if such deprivation of our right will continue to stimulate. This year our organization is scheduled to conduct a training in the community by covering the importance of our rights as indigenous peoples; integrating the policy on human rights; full implementation of the rule on free, prior and informed consent. By doing this, the community will be become more assertive in terms of resorting their legal defenses against such development aggressions.
My Expectations from the Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative
My expectation to P21YLI is to provide the participants a venue where we they can air their grievances, share their struggles, and learn from others’ best practices on how they were able to contribute, volunteer, and organize their communities to becomen more active, responsive and assertive in the fields of promoting human rights, strengthening education, health, civic empowerment, transparency, volunteerism and ensuring ancestral domain protection in their local communities.
This is also the perfect venue to network and partner with other organizations for possible sharing of resources and ideas.
* * *
Jed Christian Sayre
My Vision for our Country as a Leader
A developed Philippines with improved environment via people’s initiative such as tree planting, coastal resource management, solid-waste management and other activities with people cooperating and helping each other for the common welfare. Local livelihoods and improved social and economic status for all, especially for the base of the pyramid.
Social Problems I would like to Address
I want to address the problem of lack of sanitation facilities (eg. toilets) in the rural areas due to water scarcity and lack of proper technologies by the introduction of ecological sanitation systems (urine diverting, dehydration toilets) and the re-use of human waste for small-scale agriculture and peri-urban gardening in order to enhance food security and lessen the dependence in using chemical fertilizer by going organic, low external input farming. Aside from food security will be lessening the spread of diseases and pollution and making use of local resources such as human waste. I am starting this already but I need to develop the technologies some more as well as manage an education campaign in order to educate the bottom poor as well as support institutions and funders that human waste is indeed a useful and cheap resource.
My Expectations from the Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative
I expect to interact with peers and with leaders in development. I want to share my experiences to others and imbibe in a competitive setting the vision of colleagues and experts. I want to improve my potentials. As a newly elected municipal councilor at 22 years old, I want to develop well-crafted programs and projects following my vision of a peaceful, environmentally-enhanced and socio-economically improved society.
* * *
Erika Tatad
My Vision for our Country as a Leader
My vision for the country is to have a Philippines that fulfills its potential, a country where opportunities exist especially for those who need them the most, a home that harnesses the gifts and skills of its children, a Philippines that every Filipino can be proud of.
More concretely, my vision for the country is founded on placing the human person at the center of development by prioritizing access to basic needs (food, clothing, shelter), education and livelihood within the next ten to fifteen years.
Social Problems I would like to Address
I would like to continue my work and involvement in addressing economic and social equity by linking productivity with the creation of opportunities for the most vulnerable and least privileged of communities. By partnering with communities and bringing the expertise and experience of professionals (from the Philippines and abroad) to these places, I’d like to work on the idea of a National Entrepreneurship Center that creates programs with market-based responses to community-based production. The program begins with education and training, especially in specialized areas such as production quality, product marketing and so forth. In addition, the Center will help communities bring their goods to market by linking them to smaller to medium enterprises positioned in the more formal economy and/or regional to national points of sale, such as the Hapinoy Sari-Sari store program.
My Expectations from the Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative
I have always recognized the power of ideas. Ideas become great once they are realized; their impact is furthered through the passion and effort of a team. Furthermore, there is a strong link between good ideas and the possibility of changing lives and improving countries.
I expect The Young Leaders Initiative to serve as a platform for ideas to fulfill their potential and become real through the efforts of like-minded individuals. I believe The Initiative provides the first opportunity for a collective to come together and from there, continuously better the Philippines.
* * *
Mark Anthony Yu
My Vision for our Country as a Leader
The Philippines is a leader in the practice of human rights. Its people are grounded on the basic tenets of faith, hope, and charity. Its public, for-profit and non-profit sectors work together to provide opportunities for all to reach their full human potential. It is a nation where basic education and healthcare are free, where businesses engage in sustainable activities, and where society operates in a framework that recognizes cultural context.
Social Problems I would like to Address
Social problems in the Philippines are rooted in the injustice of inequality. The concentration of wealth among a few oligarchs presents a formidable challenge to effecting change.
In this regard, I believe that the business sector is the most effective medium in moving the fulcrum of inequality. It is not hostage to the politics of fear and is in a better position to make long-term value-adding decisions. As such, the vehicle by which I have chosen to effect large scale societal changes is through our family business.
In 1997, the Asian Financial Crisis brought the company to the brink of bankruptcy. Its equity was negative and its loan stood at hundreds of millions. Since my involvement 8 years ago, we have been able to increase equity to PHP1B and net income by 50 times.
It is now our vision to be the largest conglomerate in the country. Our mission is to continuously provide leadership opportunities, holistic developmental training, and clearly defined performance measurement and recognition systems to all our employees.
My Expectations from the Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative
There is one truth and there are many truths. The unique experience of each individual presents a vast set of perspectives that collectively represent the truth. I am eager to dialogue among peers to develop a greater understanding of the complex societal issues that our country and world face. I am ready to collaborate with each participant to turn ideas into actions and move one step closer to bringing each other’s vision for the country into a reality.
