“Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan (The youth is the hope of our motherland).”
José Rizal’s famous words have taken on renewed relevance at a time of public exasperation with corruption associated with older generations, whether in government, cultural norms, or the suppression of freedom of expression.
The Filipino youth are making their voices heard not just through words, but through concrete action. They are demanding the quality of life all Filipinos deserve.
For Shawntel Nicole M. Nieto, grand prize winner of the 2025 Paing Hechanova Youth Leadership Awards (PHYLA), the time for incremental change has long passed.
“Regardless of the headlines, I still believe we can change things,” Nieto said during her acceptance speech.
“Tapos na yung panahon na sasabihin natin (We are past the point of saying), ‘I’ll do things in my own little way, then I’ll give back and pay it forward,’ I think we can all see and attest to the fact that that is not enough,” she added.
Launched in 2024, PHYLA recognizes outstanding young leaders across the Philippines who demonstrate innovation, integrity and a deep commitment to community service. The awards aim to uplift changemakers whose work is already making a meaningful impact in education, health, the environment, sports, food security and social development.
Nieto, co-founder of Sustainability PH, took home the top prize, edging out nine other finalists for the coveted P500,000 grant. Her win capped a night that also honored Filipina SEA Games gold medalists Alex Eala and Kayla Sanchez for their contributions to Philippine sports.
“Sustainability PH is a non-profit focused on advancing sustainability and sustainable development in the Philippines, and we do that by transforming each Filipino into a sustainability leader,” Nieto told DAILY TRIBUNE in an exclusive interview after her win.
Founded in 2020, Sustainability PH develops Filipino sustainability leaders through structured programs such as the Learn2Lead training series, the #SustainPinas Fellowship, and the Sustainability PH Awards, and hosts dialogues on plastic waste, climate action, and inclusive growth.
Its work centers on leadership development, professional networking, and practical capacity-building to help advocates create measurable environmental, social, and economic impact nationwide.
“We believe that no one person can really change the country for the better, like no one can do it [alone]. No matter how good the person is. But if we all act where we are, then you put that all together, we work together, we stand a chance,” Nieto said.
She shared that Sustainability PH has grown to about 600 members, supported by a broader network of sustainability practitioners. The organization has collaborated with companies such as Eurotex, Pascualab and Sterling Bank, guiding corporate sustainability practices.
“So with this 600-member base, when companies or organizations or people come to us with a sustainability issue, what we do is, we don’t pretend to know things we don’t. But we have members who do. So we bring them,” she said.
“We source them. We work with them. We co-create with them. And then that’s what we use to train, to advise, to create projects with other entities.”
Nieto highlighted Sustainability PH’s flagship Learn2Lead Sustainability program, a practical 10-week hybrid course combining workshops, live sessions, field trips, and capstone projects. She said a significant portion of her PHYLA prize will be reinvested into the program.
“We have a flagship program called Learn2Lead Sustainability. It’s a 10-week program on sustainability management where professionals across the private and public sectors can enroll, learn about sustainability, and implement their own capstone project in the end,” she said.
The program has helped spark initiatives such as Ajinomoto’s capstone plastic recovery system and First Philippine Holdings’ watershed management policy.
“We’ve had new social enterprises come about because of it. So definitely a good portion of the prize will go to Learn2Lead Sustainability.”
The non-profit also runs the Sustainability PH Awards, recognizing Filipino sustainability leaders across academia, corporate practice, and social entrepreneurship. Nieto said the organization aims to expand its reach in the Visayas and Mindanao, extending its message of inclusive growth.
“We really want to go around. So that’s going to be part of the 500k as well,” she added.
Nieto’s recognition underscores the growing role of youth leadership in a political landscape clouded by corruption allegations. As calls for change grow louder, leaders like Nieto demonstrate that the country’s future rests in capable hands.
Her closing words during the awards ceremony captured the path forward — bold, collective action.
“What we need to do right now is to go beyond ourselves, live and act and work always in the service of others and in the pursuit of a better, more just, equitable, and sustainable country. Because if we do anything less, anything short of that, well, we see what happens now. But it’s possible, it’s better, and we can do it right now.”