Page 86 - APEC 20 Anniversary Book_v12_Neat

2015 Manila, The Philippines

The official opening ceremony of the APEC Voices of
the Future 2015 was held at the ADB Headquarters
in Manila. The Guest-of-Honor for the opening

ceremony was H.E. Cesar Purisima, Secretary of
Finance of the Republic of the Philippines. H.E.
Philip S. Goldberg, United States Ambassador to the
Philippines, shared about the challenges that the
The APEC Voices delegation
Philippines faced in both political and trade issues
APEC Voices delegates presenting their report at the Youth Forum. at the Gawad Kalinga
and how it could possibly overcome them. Enchanted Farm at Bulacan,
the Philippines.
The theme for the APEC Voices Youth Forum was,

“How Youth Can Play a Role in Building Sustainable
and Resilient Communities in the Asia-Pacific Region.”
During the Plenary Session, each economy was
The APEC Voices of the Future delegates also paid a visit to the Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm
represented by a youth representative who spoke
at Bulacan. It was a three-hour coach journey, with heavy police security escorting the youth
based on the theme. The session concluded with an
delegates all the way from Manila to the farm. The delegates attended a briefing by the founder
engaging question-and-answer segment.
and his team of committed volunteers, many of whom came from countries in Europe and across

Three Youth4ASIA winners from ADB were also the Pacific Ocean. The delegates and the host also observed a minute of silence in respect for
invited to share about their winning projects. those who lost their lives in the terrorist attack in Paris on 14 November 2015.

The APEC Voices of the Future delegates were escorted to various parts of the farm to witness
Youth leaders from the Asia-Pacific region engaging in a group demonstrations of social entrepreneurship and the true meaning of uplifting communities and
discussion related to trade issues in the region.
people at its best.

APEC Voices delegates
with H.E. Cesar V.
Purisima, Secretary
of Finance, H.E.
Philip Goldberg, US
Ambassador to the
Philippines, senior
officials of Asian
Development Bank
and the APEC Voices
Leadership Council.
A volunteer briefing the APEC Voices delegates on the APEC Voices delegates learning how to make stuffed toys at
mission of GK Farm. GK Farm.

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