11 Filipino young leaders to participate in ASEAN-Japan exchange program

Eleven young Filipino leaders were chosen to participate in a 10-day international cultural exchange program in Tokyo, Japan.

The selected Filipinos are set to join the 47th Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program, which will be held from 29 November to 8 December 2023. The participants of the exchange program were selected by the Japanese government and are sponsored by the 10 ASEAN countries.

National leader Jogepons Ruloma, a licensed professional teacher from Bohol, a registered environmental planner, and a public servant, will lead the batch composed of several young leaders, like Verna Abby Catusalem from Aurora, Aldrine Anzures from Manila, Brian Delos Santos from Masbate, Justine Angelica Orbe from Bataan, Leyden Sta. Isabel from Bacolod, Kingsley De Los Santos from Iloilo, Wilfred Paller from Aklan, Raymark Estael from Agusan del Sur, Abdulfarid Guinomla from Cotabato, and Hilton Soberano from Davao.

The team will be heading to Japan as part of the National Youth Commission of the Philippines to participate in immersion programs, cultural presentations, field studies, collaborative discussions with international counterparts, courtesy visits, and an anniversary reception honoring the 50th year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.

Major UN Sustainable Development Goals including quality education, gender equality and women's empowerment, energy, climate change, economic growth and sustainable communities, and good health and well-being will be discussed at the event.