Page 28 - 2017 KA'AKBAY January-June

28 January to June
2017

New York FYLPRO Youth Relates Plans for Community Involvement

Vice Consul Khrystina Corpuz presented some
flagship projects that the Consulate has in the pipeline for
the second-gen sector. Diskubre Tour, an educational
heritage tour for young Filipino-Americans, is slated to be
launched in the first half of 2018. A Mentoring Program for
young professionals is being created with tech and other
partners to provide a means to connect mentors and
industry experts with young aspiring leaders and maintain a
venue for learning and collaboration.

Consul General Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega (4th from right) reunites with the A networking mixer followed the program, where
FYLPRO alumni during a Town Hall at the Philippine Center last 25 April. From left: former FYLPRO delegates Michael Vea, Steven Raga,
Vice Consul Khrys Corpuz, Michael Vea, Jhett Tolentino, Noel Aglubat, Consul Gen- Rachelle Ocampo, and Ryan Letada connected with
eral Dizon-De Vega, Steven Raga, Rachelle Ocampo, Ryan Letada. attendees for possible partnerships.

Recent Filipino-American Young Leaders Program
(FYLPRO) delegates from New York Noel Aglubat and Jhett
Tolentino related their immersion experience in the Philippines
and shared their key takeaways to their fellow young Filipino-
Americans during a Town Hall meeting at the Philippine Center
New York Gallery Lobby last 25 April.

Noel and Jhett were the official representatives of the (R-L) Jhett Tolentino, ConGen Dizon-De Vega, and Noel Aglubat share their
US Northeast to the FYLPRO last 23 November – 2 December insights on their FYLPRO experiences.
2016. During the 10-day trip, they were briefed on the present
socio-political and economic conditions in the country, met Diverse Group of Graduates Honored in
senior government officials and policy makers, discussed their 5th PGRAD in New York
advocacies with lawmakers, and networked with business and
social enterprises. Filipino and Filipino-American graduates of
bachelor, master, and doctorate degrees marched
The whole program aims to equip the delegates with together as one community last 20 June during the 5th
resources to create initiatives to give back to their motherland Philippine Graduation (PGRAD) ceremony held at the
and enrich the lives of their kababayans in the Philippines. Philippine Center New York’s Kalayaan Hall.

Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega welcomed The PGRAD Class of 2017 is comprised of 27
the attendees, and gave a brief background of FYLPRO, newly-minted degree-holders from diverse fields such as
started by former Ambassador Jose Cuisia in 2012, and the Law and Social Sciences, Business Management,
concept paper for which was initially prepared by Consul Medical Sciences, Engineering, and Education. The
General Dizon-De Vega herself. event was hosted by the Philippine Consulate General
New York in cooperation with second-generation Filipino-
Noel Aglubat, a Civil Engineer working for the Federal American organization UniPro.
Energy Regulatory Board, focused his presentation on the
infrastructure, income equality and employment opportunities (Continue to page 29)
he observed during his stay. Noel plans to create a platform for
Philippine engineers to converge with US-based Filipino
counterparts to share expertise, techniques, and collaborate on
projects together.

Multi-awarded Broadway producer Jhett Consul General Tess Dizon-De Vega shares her aspirations for the Filipino-
Tolentino related the developments he wants to see in American youth in her welcome remarks.
education, the performing arts, and entertainment industries in
the Philippines. He narrated his story as a young boy in the
slums of Iloilo who persevered and finished college through
educational grants from Sofia University in Japan. For his
legacy project he is raising funds to sustain scholars from the
most remote and underserved communities in the Philippines
through his projects – Life is What You Make It, a documentary
film about his life story, and staging of Here Lies Love the
Musical.