CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES CHICAGO PRESS RELEASE 04-2020 TWELVE FIL-AM MILLENNIALS FROM THE MIDWEST IN ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME IMMERSION EXPERIENCE IN THE PHILIPPINES Twelve (12) millennials aged 18-25 years old of Filipino-American heritage from the US Midwest had a once-in-a-lifetime 7-day immersion experience in Manila, Bulacan and Nueva Ecija from January 3 to 9, 2020. The program, 2nd US Midwest Youth Leaders in Diaspora Immersion Program (Midwest You-Lead II) is a joint project of the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago and the Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO), now on its 2nd edition, aims at providing better understanding of the country and helping rediscover their Filipino roots. The twelve youth leaders were Angelica Alday (Illinois), Madeline Azcueta (Illinois), Ralph Balita (Illinois), Celia Benito (Illinois), Mary Nicole Cabaluna (Indiana), Christopher Garrick (Illinois), Makayla Leiting (Nebraska), Nicholle Nacionales (Minnesota), Jasmine Natividad (Illinois), Isabelle Rivera (Ohio), Christiana Santiago (Illinois) and Marcus Villareal (Ohio). Day 1 consisted of welcome ceremonies and luncheon at the CFO headquarters in Manila led by CFO Secretary Francisco Acosta, Undersecretary Astravel Pimentel-Naik and the You-Lead Secretariat Staff, Filipino language class by senior language researcher Ms. Einzoely Agcaoili of the Commission on Filipino language and a lecture on Filipino roots by National Artist and novelist Francisco Sionil Jose. Day 2 brought the young participants to the Gawad Kalinga (GK) Enchanted Farm and Community in Angat, Bulacan where they viewed locally-made products of social entrepreneur projects developed by the students from the School of Entrepreneurial and Experiential Development (SEED) inside the GK community. The participants spent the afternoon with “farmazing race” which gave them appreciation for farm life. Dinner was provided by host families inside the community, many of whom are GK homes beneficiaries, where participants listened to their stories. Day 3 was spent travelling to Nueva Ecjia to try their hand at rice-planting which was a first time experience for all of them. The farm experience gave them greater appreciation for agriculture and rice farming in particular. Day 4 was a visit to Mt. Minalugao National Park in Gen. Tinio, Nueva Ecija with activities consisting of hiking, crossing a hanging bridge, cave exploration, zipline adventure and lunch aboard floating bamboo rafts. On Day 5, the young participants interacted with the young mayor of Cabanatuan City, Myca Elizabeth Vergara who provided important insights on her experience in politics. The young guests also visited a “Sangguniang Panglungsod” session and posing for a group photo with presiding officer and Vice-Mayor Julius Cesar “Jay” Vergara. Mayor Vergara hosted a sumptuous Filipino lunch at “Hapag Vicenticos”, an old Spanish-type Filipino house converted into a restaurant in Cabanatuan City. 122 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 1600, Chicago, Illinois 60603, USA Tel. No. 1(312) 583-0621; Fax No. 1(312) 583-0647 www.chicagopcg.dfa.gov.ph, [email protected] Day 6 consisted of courtesy visits at the Department of Foreign Affairs and the United States Embassy in Manila and free time spent browsing for local souvenirs at the Balikbayan Handicraft Center located in Pasay City. Closing ceremonies were held on Day 7 of the program at the National Youth Commission (NYC) headquarters in Quezon City attended by CFO Executive Director and Undersecretary Astravel Pimentel-Naik and NYC commissioners led by Chairperson and CEO Ryan R. Enriquez, and Commissioners James Ceasar A. Ventura, Victor del Rosario and Paul Anthony M. Pangilinan. Consul General Gina Jamoralin was joined by Commissioner Enriquez in distributing certificates of appreciation signed by CFO and the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago to all the participants. During the closing ceremonies, the participants spoke of their impressions and the impact of the trip. They were unanimous in saying that the immersion program was a game-changer and transformational. These experiences made them feel special and help them reconnect with the country. They promised to help promote the Midwest You-Lead immersion program to their peers back in the US which they say is a unique program for the Filipino-American millennials in the Midwest. Accompanying the 2nd Midwest YouLead participants were CFO YouLead Secretariat staff, Ms. Mayumi Peralta and Jovian Bulawan and Consul General Jamoralin (observer). Mr. Rafael Dionisio, MAD Travel co-founder, coordinated the Nueva Ecija leg of the trip. Other supporting organizations were the International Society of Filipinos in Finance & Accounting (ISFFA) and the BPI-Ayala Group. Participants of the 2nd Midwest Youth Leaders (YOULEAD) Immersion Program during a rice-planting activity in Nueva Ecija. 2nd Midwest Youth Leaders Immersion Program participants on Day 1 of the program. Midwest YouLead participants with presiding officer and Vice-Mayor Julius Cesar “Jay” Vergara (6th from left ) an Mayor Myca Elizabeth Vergara during the visit to “Sangguniang Panlungsod” of Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija Mayor Myca Elizabeth Vergara receiving a token gift from Consul General Jamoralin at her office. Mayor Myca Elizabeth Vergara receiving questions from the young guests at the Mayor’s Office Midwest YouLead participants during a visit to Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan Visiting one small business production facility producing stuffed toys inside the GK Enchanted Farm, Angat, Bulacan Ralph Balita, a Midwest YouLead participant, listening intently to a briefing by a young entrepreneur and SEED scholar of a business enterprise called “Ambensyon” using local woven fabrics developed inside the GK Farm. “Ambensyon” is supported by a Chicago-based FYLPRO alumnus, Mr. Jan Paul Ferrer. Participants enjoying “boodle” lunch at the GK Enchanted Farm, Angat, Bulacan Enjoying shopping for Philippine souvenirs by the young participants. Midwest YouLead participants interacting with BPI-Ayala Vice-President Noel Tagasa, during a visit to BPI office in Makati. BPI-Ayala is a supporting partner of the 2nd Midwest YouLead Immersion Program. National Artist, F. Sionil Jose who lectured on the issue of “Filipino roots” posed for a group photo with the young participants. Photo taken at the National Youth Commission (NYC) during the closing ceremonies for the 2nd Midwest YouLead Immersion Program. Shown in the photo with the Midwest YouLead graduates were , (seated from left): Paul Anthony Pangilinan, NYC Commissioner- at-large; Usec. Astravel Pimentel-Naik, CFO Executive Director; Ryan R. Enriquez, NYC Chairperson and CEO; Consul General Gina Jamoralin of Chicago PCG ; and Victor del Rosario, NYC Commissioner Representing Visayas. .