The APY2B Experience (Part 3): Learning from each other

One of the highlights of the APY2B Forum was the group activity. We were divided into groups to discuss the following:

1. Our top 3 values

2. One value we all liked and how we would propose it being integrated in the workplace and instilled in the younger workforce

Mariana, Nina, Jastyn, and I had two other group mates for the activity: Val from UST (too!) and Nicole from UP Los Baños. We shared each of our top three values and pulled out a consensus from there. Commitment, integrity, and leadership won.

You persevere no matter what because you are committed. As we say in Filipino, “kung gusto maraming paraan, kung ayaw maraming dahilan.” You have integrity when you stand up for what you believe in and you do the right thing even when no one is watching. Having a leader gives a team a sense of purpose, serving as the epitome of commitment and integrity.

Meanwhile, here’s our proposal on instilling commitment especially for the youth in the workplace:

#TeamPH: Mariana drew our cartoon versions for this presentation. Look! So cute! 🙂

After the discussions came the sharing. Other groups chose love, creativity, and responsibility, to name a few – and they all had valuable points to support their contentions. So many groups wanted to share their thoughts. Their presentations even had drawings! The spokespersons were animated, too; extremely passionate about what they were talking about. It was such an incredible sight. Teachers would be so touched and excited to experience that in their class. 

Overall, this activity was about delegates coming together wherever we may have come from, sharing our ideals and learning from each other. In the end our presentations were collected, and hopefully AIESEC would come up with a nice general proposal! Would be nice to bring about positive change in our own little way. 🙂

The APY2B Experience (Part 2): Lessons on Leadership

Speakers at the Asia Pacific Youth to Business Forum 2014 have a wealth of experience and expertise in their respective fields that you wouldn’t help but believe their every word. Here are some of them, plus my favorite quotes!

1. PENH HUYNH, chief financial officer of Bacardi Southeast Asia

2. AMOR MACLANG, co-founder of Geiser Maclang, a social marketing communications firm, and a Mindanao advocate. A very empowering woman.

3. JONATHAN YABUT, winner of “The Apprentice Asia” Season 1, now the chief of staff of Air Asia. He’s one of the most compelling speakers I’ve seen.

It’s inspiring to listen to Jonathan, how he turned his insecurities and heartache into strength and motivation that he’s gonna go big. He focused his energies in going for what he wanted – winning “The Apprentice Asia” – and he did it! His was a combination of competence and determination, plus his secret weapon: Extra Joss!

BONUS: Jonathan also said, “Leaders are cheerleaders. They clear the path for you.”

4. ROBY ALAMPAY, editor-in-chief of Interaksyon.com

This statement astounded me because it made me realize that yeah, I’ve not been checking out home pages because I’ve been clicking links I see on Twitter and Facebook instead. This generation can have any information they want/need with every scroll of a page or key word on Google search. Before us is this seemingly limitless universe that is the internet, ready to give us our own space, anytime, anywhere. The challenge now is to not let social media take over our lives and ideals and make it the other way around instead.

*KOL PREAP, executive director of Transparency International Cambodia, also discussed “engaging the private sector in the fight against corruption.” And one of the things he shared was that in order to promote clean business, we must have integrity and accountability. We should also be ethical and adhere to corporate social responsibility.

I must say I went home really “full” that day, figuratively speaking. 😉

Lending their expertise at the APY2B (clockwise from left): Amor Maclang, Jonathan Yabut, Kol Preap, and Roby Alampay (Photos by yours truly)

The APY2B Experience (Part 1)

Are leaders born or made? I remember this question was asked in the application for delegates for the Asia Pacific Youth to Business Forum 2014 (APY2B). I went for the latter because a leader is forged through time, experience, and passion, and vision.

I was in a room full of leaders last Monday at the APY2B as one of the 500 delegates. Probably I was the oldest in the bunch (but not obvious, I hope :p. And besides, you’re never too old to learn!) because majority of the delegates are still in school.

Half of the delegates were of varied nationalities, so it was refreshing to hear their insights. They actually flew in our country as part of a weeklong Asia Pacific Conference 2014, hosted by AIESEC. For a whole day, we listened as accomplished personalities talk about this year’s theme, “values-based leadership.” Interactive activities also allowed us to get to know each other and what we value most.

The post-talk Q&As made me see a generation of younger people concerned about the impact of social media, how leadership can be measured, and how differing values can meet halfway, to name a few. It’s amazing how hungry they were to learn more, bold in asking questions.

We were divided to nearly 40 groups (supposedly a mix of local and international delegates). I was on Group 31 along with Mariana from Ateneo, Nina from UP Diliman, and Jastyn from UST (schoolmate!). We got to meet our international group mates (I love how grand “international” sounds, haha) during lunch but too bad we weren’t able to see them again after that. They probably joined their fellow international delegates.

Two of our group mates were from Japan and India. We were talking about how they found their stay in the Philippines so far when the topic went to traffic. The guy from India said it’s crazier in their country, while the guy from Japan said it’s very convenient to commute there. One day I’ll experience that for myself! \m/ We also had a group mate from Malaysia who’s taking up Chemical Engineering if I’m not mistaken.

One day was not enough to meet and get to know everyone, but I’m glad to have been acquainted with my group mates. Our fruitful conversations gave us glimpses of each other – sharing laughters, thoughts, and stories. This is my best souvenir at the APY2B. 🙂