Harvey Keh's Blog

Asia Society’s Philippines 21 Young Leaders Initiative Class of 2010

The Asia Society is based in New York and is the world’s leading international organization in fostering understanding between the peoples and leaders of the United States of America and Asia. For more information about their programs, you can send an email to  tiezasantos@gmail.com . The Philippines 21 Young Leaders initiative is an annual program that aims to select the most promising young leaders of the Philippines to become representatives of the Philippines in the annual Asia 21 Young Leaders Forum which gathers the most promising leaders of Asia. Here are the members of the Philippines 21 Class of 2010:

Regina Irene Gaza (NCR)Managing Director, Business Fair Trade Consulting
Business, Fair Trade

Regina provides business development and fair trade consulting for small enterprises, institutions, and organizations. Her own business enterprise, Atiseret Haus of Bakery Products, served as a resource for the entrepreneurship module of Hands On Manila’s Galing Mo Kid Program. Regina is concurrently president of Kabahaginan Foundation, a volunteer organization for returned volunteer-members of VSO Bahaginan; she spent two years as a volunteer-consultant to vocational schools in Kenya.

Therese Clarence Fernandez (NCR)
President, Rags2Riches, Inc.
Business, Social Entrepreneurship

As President of the eco-ethical accessories brand Rags2Riches, Reese was responsible for the 300% increase in sales from 2007-2008 and the establishment of innovative partnerships with local designers and institutions. She previously worked with Ashoka Youth Venture and Ateneo School of Government’s Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship program. Reese was a YouthActionNet Global Fellow for 2008, Paragon 100 Fellow for 2009 and was recently selected as part of the inaugural batch of the Rolex Young Laureates.

Maria Concepcion Hernandez
Councilor, Lipa City
Government (LGU)

Recently re-elected for her second term as councilor of Lipa City, Concon chairs the city council’s Committee on Women and Family and Committee on Information Technology. She remains active with local civic organizations JCI and Rotary Club, and is a director of the National Movement of Young Legislators.  An accomplished youth leader, she is an alumni of the Ayala Young Leaders, Bayer Young Environmental Envoy, and Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines programs.

Dr. Bryan Albert Lim (NCR)
Medical Doctor (Internal Medicine), UP-Philippine General Hospital
Health

Bryan’s healthcare advocacy goes beyond his duties as a doctor. He heads the Department of Internal Medicine’s study group on Universal Healthcare, which aims to develop a website database for patient education, continuing medical education, and medical case profiles. He spearheaded the Quisumbing-Escandor Film Festival for Health, a nationwide film competition that seeks to highlight the impact of social, cultural and political factors on the current state of healthcare; winning films are screened in communities and schools as part of a health awareness campaign. He also co-organized the Health Young Leaders’ Congress, which brings together upcoming leaders in the health sector.

John Piermont Montilla (Iloilo)
President and CEO, Kabataang Gabay sa Positibong Pamumuhay
Non-Profit/Civil Society, Reproductive Health

Johnpierre is known for his reproductive health and rights advocacy, particularly his work on HIV/AIDS and highly exploitative risk environments. His organization’s HEART art therapy program of children with HIV/AIDS has been recognized by the National Youth Commission (TAYO Awards), Coca Cola Foundation (Coke Barkada Award) and Starbucks (International Entrepreneur Fund). Johnpierre’s prominent regional engagements include serving as YouthActionNet Ambassador of the International Youth Foundation, Peace Ambassador of the World Youth Peace Summit, and a Young Leaders in Governance Fellow of the UN Democracy Fund.

Jed Christian Sayre (Misamis Oriental)
Councilor, Municipality of Libertad
Government (LGU)

Prior to assuming his post as municipal councilor of Libertad, 22-year old Jed served as president of the Association of Locally Empowered Youth-Northern Mindanao, which counts among its projects the development of two “living museums” and the promotion of ecological sanitation, home gardening and local livelhoods. He also served as executive director of Tuburan Para Libertad Foundation, Inc., a micro-financing outfit for local ventures. His projects have received grants from Idea Wild, USA and the Japan Fund for Water. He was recognized as a 2009 Paragon 100 Fellow by the Foundation for Youth Social Entrepreneurship.

Jason Roy Sibug (NCR)
National President, Tuklas Katutubo
Non-Profit/Civil Society, Human Rights-Indigenous Peoples (IP)

A member of the Manobo tribe, Jason heads the first ever national organization of young tribal leaders in the Philippines. He has organized various IP Youth Summits and facilitated the Balik Tribo program, which provides skills training and capacity building for IP Youth. He also trains IP teachers in indigenizing the curriculum of day care centers and elementary schools. During his presidency, Tuklas Katutubo was named one of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO Awards). Jason was featured in the ASEAN publication, Young Southeast Asia.

Cecilia Claire Reyes (Isabela)
Mayor, Municipality of Alicia
Government (LGU)

Jeng is the youngest person and first woman to be elected mayor of Alicia, Isabela. She previously served one term as Board Member of the 3^rd District of Isabela, and 2 terms as municipal councilor of Alicia (garnering the highest number of votes for both elections). Her legislative agenda focuses on women and children.  Since 2008, Jeng has served as national president of the National Movement of Young Legislators. She has also represented the country in the Ship for Southeast Asia Youth Program and Pan-Pacific Youth Exchange Program.

Erika Tatad (NCR)
Director of Operations, Microventures, Inc.
Business, Social Enterprise

As Director of Operations for Microventures, Erika oversees operations of the Hapinoy Sari-Sari Store Program, comprised of 152 stores in Southern Luzon. She was previously founding Director of Asia Pacific of the World Youth Alliance, a global youth organization accredited by the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Other civic activities include serving as partnership coordinator of Gawad Kalinga and founding director of Saranggola Foundation, an NGO that supports literacy programs and scholarships in selected public schools.

Mark Anthony Yu (NCR)
Chief Financial Officer, Seaoil Philippines, Inc.
Business, Energy/Finance

As CFO of Seaoil Philippines, Mark has spearheaded the company’s cumulative annual growth rate of 63% He is currently president-elect of the Entrepreneurs Organization and serves on the advisory board of the Ateneo and La Salle business and management schools. He also recently chaired the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines’ Voter Education and Transformation Committee, and launched the Empower 8,000,000 voter education program. Mark is founder and chair of Enspire Foundation, a Canadian non-profit organization whose main project is the relocation of squatter communities from Navotas to Bulacan; for this, he was recognized by the Canadian Embassy with the inaugural Spirit of Canada Award.