Pinoy young leaders to lead simultaneous activities nationwide

Filipino youth leaders will be initiating various activities in up to 20 cities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao on Saturday, December 12, to celebrate youth empowerment.

Dubbed "YSEALI YOUnified," the event marks the second anniversary of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), a youth program launched by US President Barack Obama in Manila in 2013.

YSEALI is Obama's signature program to strengthen ties among leaders with ages 18 to 35 across all ten-member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Each of the Philippines’ three major island groups is organizing its community activities around a separate theme.

Five cities in Luzon—Mindoro, Tarlac, Ilocos Norte, Baguio, and Metro Manila—will participate under the banner “Luz-on!” with the aim of activating youth engagement. 

YSEALI members from Cebu, Tacloban, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Dumagute in Visayas will focus on giving back to their communities, particularly in areas with high populations of indigenous peoples, under the banner of #BeSaya, or “Be Happy”. 

Mindanaoan YSEALI members from Davao, CDO, Iligan, Pagadian, Bukidnon, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Sarangani, Cotabato, and Marawi will be holding interfaith and intercultural activities under the banner of “Mindanao-One.”

All activities will connect via video, social media, and/or phone to a central YSEALI event in Manila, providing a platform from which to coordinate, celebrate, and promote the youth activism undertaken by YSEALI members nationwide under the hashtag #YSEALI.

The main event in Metro Manila will be held in Nayong Pilipino (formerly Orchidarium), Rizal Park from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. in partnership with the National Youth Commission (NYC).

Youth organizations will introduce their advocacy efforts and recruit new volunteers to be part of their programs, while young entrepreneurs will highlight their products and discuss the challenges of starting their businesses.

GMA News Online is YOUnified's official media partner. Editor-in-chief Jaemark Tordecilla will be speaking about the power of the Internet and social media in youth empowerment and involvement. — LBG, GMA News