The Philippines 21 Young Leaders are all set to change the world.

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is in a state of perpetual crisis. But from these crises spring a new generation of young leaders with fresh ideas and a strong commitment to get the country back on track.

These changemakers are the backbone of the Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative. A flagship program of Asia Society-Philippines, the program aims to develop a nationwide, multi-sectoral network of young leaders to meet, educate and inspire each other; collaborate and share ideas on public service and other meaningful initiatives, and build relationships of trust and understanding.

For those who may not be familiar with the Asia Society, it is one of the world’s leading international non-profit organizations that promotes understanding between the people and leaders of the United States of America and the Asia-Pacific region.

Those who were chosen to be part of the Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative Class of 2010 are Therese Clarence Fernandez (business/social entrepreneurship), Regina Irene Gaza (business), Maria Concepcion Hernandez (government), Bryan Albert Lim (health), John Piermont Montilla (non-profit/civil society), Cecilia Clare Reyes (government), Jed Christian Sayre (government), Jason Roy Sibug (non-profit/civil society), Erika Tatad (business/social entrepreneurship), and Mark Anthony Yu (business).

The fellows convened in a two-day forum organized with the support of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation and Philamlife Insurance, where they discussed issues of national and regional importance, with the ultimate goal of developing projects that address these concerns.

Heroes for health
Because Philippines 21 Fellows come from a variety of sectors, their chosen advocacies often reflect the country’s most pressing concerns. Two members of the Class of 2010 have made health issues their life’s work.

Newly-minted doctor Bryan Lim goes beyond his duties at the hospital, having founded the Quisumbing-Escandor Film Festival for Health, which showcases issues such as maternal and child health, or common diseases like tuberculosis. Screenings are held in local communities to generate awareness and empower the residents to make health-responsive decisions in their daily activities.

Johnpierre Montilla, on the other hand, focuses on a more specific health concern: reproductive health and HIV/AIDS. His organization, Kabataang Gabay sa Positibong Pamumuhay, counsels streetchildren about their sexual health and rights, while providing skills training and entrepreneurship opportunities as an alternative to exploitative employment.

Doing good business
With poverty at the root of most – if not all – social problems in Philippines, employment is the first step towards empowerment.

Mark Yu has made it his mission to effect social change by providing jobs and professional leadership opportunities through his family’s business.

Since coming in as chief financial officer of Seaoil, the company has recovered from negative equity and near-bankruptcy to increasing net income fifty times over and equity amounting to a billion pesos. He also founded the Canada-based Enspire Foundation, which enables privileged overseas students to volunteer in community-building projects for relocated slum dwellers in Bulacan.

Reese Fernandez, Erika Tatad, and Regi Gaza all work in social enterprise. Reese is president of Rags2Riches, best known for the chic rag bags created by the women of Payatas in partnership with designers Rajo Laurel and Amina Aranaz. Erika also works with a community of women – in this case, the sari-sari store-owner nanays of Hapinoy, whose daily operations she oversees. Regi, on the other hand, helps small enterprises develop fair and ethical trade partnerships and business models; her own small bakery serves as a resource for Hands On Manila’s Galing Mo Kid entrepreneurship modules.

Local leaders
Some Philippines 21 Fellows effect change from within the system.

Jeng Reyes is the youngest person and the first woman to serve as mayor of her hometown of Alicia, Isabela. One of her major concerns is to provide support for her town’s entrepreneurial and agricultural sectors.

Con-con Hernandez was recently re-elected as councilor of Lipa City, Batangas, where she champions gender equality and children’s empowerment, and the rights of persons with disabilities.

Jed Sayre brings his insight as a social entrepreneur – his initiatives include ecological sanitation, home gardening, and microfinance – to his first term as councilor of Libertad, Misamis Oriental.

And though he does not hold public office, Jason Sibug is a leader in the Manobo tribe, and is president of Tuklas Katutubo, an organization for young tribal leaders. The organization draws on indigenous knowledge and culture in addressing social concerns, fostering an alternative healthcare program and indigenizing school curriculums.

Representing the Philippines
Philippines 21 Fellows serve as the country’s official delegation to the annual Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit, a regional leadership conference organized annually by Asia Society New York, and attended by some 200 changemakers from the United States and across the Asia Pacific region. This year’s summit is slated in December in Jakarta, Indonesia. For more information about the Asia Society, please visit http://www.asiasociety.org or you can send an email to patriciav@asiasociety.org.ph