Fil-Ams join UN youth assembly in New York

At least 13 young Filipino-Americans gave the Philippines a significant presence at the recent United Nation’s youth general assembly in New York. The group, selected by Washington, D.C.-based Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC), was the first sent by the MHC to the event, according to an Asian Journal report. “We take pride in sending our first batch of MHC youth leaders to the UN youth general assembly. We hope to do this every year for our youths, the future leaders of America," MHC co-executive director Grace Valera said in the report. The group include:

• Matthew Aninzo
• Raymund Valera Jaramillo
• Alex Valera
• Samantha-Jamilee Salazar Domigpe
• Hannah Grace Cabrera Johnson
• Lizane Joyce Mata
• Heather Marie Horner
• Nerissa Lumban
• Chessa Nekka Taboada
• Heather Carlson
• Joan Kate Salvacion
• Christa Langjahr
• Christopher Relos.

Citing the MHC, the Asian Journal said most of the delegates are active in MHC’s Fil-Am Dance Ensemble and are “straight A" students. “The nine female are also all teen beauty queens, holding titles such as Miss Teen Philippines-America, Mutya ng Amerika, Miss Teen Philippines Pageant Inc., and Miss Philippines Migrant Heritage," it said. The UN youth assembly gathered about 600 youth leaders from around the world to involve them in the achievement of the UN’s eight Millennium Development Goals. Janet Salazar of the Foundation for the Support of the United Nations said the UN Youth Assembly is “a great avenue to prepare our young people to continue the good work that we all started and carry on the torch of service to humanity." MHC — a non-profit organization that provides legal, cultural, information, and education support to immigrants in the US — chose the young delegates on the basis of “academic excellence and committed community service through active cultural and humanitarian outreach participation," the Asian Journal report said. — JE/VS, GMA News