AIMED at establishing the significant role of the youth in forming a globally competitive economy for the country, AIESEC Philippines held its second Philippines Youth to Business (Y2B) Forum last October 23 at the Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU).

     Hosted by Daniela Louisa Tan, Conference Committee President of the Asia Pacific Congress, Y2B included talks and workshops that promoted interaction between young leaders and business industry giants.

     “Skills are most valued in today’s competitive world,” said Member Committee President Audrey Elumba of AIESEC Philippines in her keynote address.

     Speakers Miriam Quevenco, International Student Identification Card Project director, Eugene Teves, Hewlett Packard APJ Service Management manager, and Mark Bantigue, marketing manager of Groupon Philippines stressed out during the opening forum the competitive advantages of the Philippines, the youth’s responsibility in shaping a globally competitive country, and the image of the nation in the forthcoming years.

     Topic Spaces, as dubbed on the event, included series of talks emphasizing education, technology, and global experience that may prepare the delegates for the future.

     “To be globally competitive, we must be globally competent.” said Quevenco in her speech on education, adding to the discussion the purpose of learning, the duty of global citizens, and accountability as the role of the youth.

     Association of Southeast Asian Nation countries’ resiliency to global economic slowdown, attraction of investors through good economy and governance, and the growth of information technology by transforming it to utility were few of Teves’ core agenda in his speech on technology.

     Meanwhile, Pakistani Project of PH Realty Syed Raza discussed the perks of travelling abroad, self-realization on learning, and his belief on failure as a kind of success.

     For the holistic personal development of the delegates, workshops on personal branding, online marketing, social business, and value-based leadership were conducted.

     “The greatest ability in this world is availability,” said Pocholo de Leon Gonzales about personal branding. De Leon is the voice master who established Creativoices Production, and founder and main anchor of Radio Inquirer’s show “Voice of the Youth Radio.”

     According to Bantigue, speaker on the subject of marketing, there is better business through online platforms. He then added that the sources of innovation today are porn industry, gaming industry, hackers, and the street.

     Associate Editor of Yourstory Media Alessio Pieroni shared his beliefs and tips regarding social business. Leadership styles and needs of leaders were conferred by international economist Rahul Maira, AIESEC Asia Pacific Coordinator, in his talk on value-based leadership.

     “Open Spaces,” where the youth delegates were given time to answer 12 questions noted to test their absorbed knowledge on being sustainable in the economy, was carried out after the workshops. The delegates wrapped up the event with thoughts on promotion of technical literacy, advanced learning environment, proposed partnerships and investments, and upholding local product industry.

     The host concluded the event with a closing forum, giving the delegates ideas to ponder on with regards to the vision of other countries towards the Philippines, and the targeted future of the country which is parallel to the duty of the youth today.

     The forum was attended by 415 delegates from different universities, including University of Santo Tomas (UST), ADMU, De La Salle University, University of the Philippines-Diliman, University of the Philippines-Los Baños, University of Asia and the Pacific, Miriam College, and Assumption College, who were screened through online registration.

     The Philippines Youth to Business Forum was in partnership with Hewlett Packard, in cooperation with Manila Bulletin, Nuffnang Philippines, WhenInManila.com, BusinessWorld, Chalk Magazine, 99.5 Play FM, Monster Radio RX 93.1, and Radio Inquirer’s Voice of the Youth Radio. The event was covered by local campus media including UST’s TomasinoWeb and Thomasian Cable Television.

By Joanne Marie A. Camello
Photo taken by Joshua P. Lugti