What We Do

The Filipino Young Global Leadership Program

2023 Pioneer Cohort

We provide outstanding students of Filipino descent with the opportunity to deeply explore their Filipino identity and heritage, engage with other young leaders, and participate in an immersive, two-week experience in the Philippines.

What the Program is About

We provide outstanding students of Filipino descent with the opportunity to deeply explore their Filipino identity and heritage, engage with other young leaders, and participate in an immersive, two-week experience in the Philippines.

Transformed Mindset
Gain a deeper understanding and critical consciousness of what it means to be a Filipino in the US today, instigating agency for civic engagement and positive citizenship

Leadership Growth:
Improve key leadership skills as a Filipino in the US to drive change

Strong Cohort Community:
Establish a strong bond of belonging, support and camaraderie among the participants that would transcend the experience

What You Will Gain from the Program

Transformed Mindset
Gain a deeper understanding and critical consciousness of what it means to be a Filipino in the US today, instigating agency for civic engagement and positive citizenship

Leadership Growth:
Improve key leadership skills as a Filipino in the US to drive change

Strong Cohort Community:
Establish a strong bond of belonging, support and camaraderie among the participants that would transcend the experience


Your Program Journey


Sense-Making

Sense-making is the process of finding meaning, taking stock of participants’ experiences as diasporic Filipinos in the U.S., and how connected or disconnected you are from your identity and history.

Critical Consciousness

The process of sense-making leads to a greater critical consciousness, or the ability to question assumptions and preconceived notions, as well as an openness to learning, unlearning, and growth.

Agency, Civic Engagement, and Global Citizenship

Transformation shifts from the internal to the external through the development of agency–the ability to and knowledge of how to use your voice, thought, and action–in the form of civic engagement and global citizenship.

Online Sessions

mid April to mid May on Saturdays

Four weekend online sessions, 90 minutes each, prepare participants for their in-person immersive experience and start building a strong community of support.

Session 1

Introduction

Learn more about the program, your cohort and yourself through an interactive session of self-discovery.

Session 2

Filipino history & Culture

Learn about the evolution of the Philippines from the pre-colonial period to its present as a vibrant democracy, and explore the islands’ geography, languages, culture, food, and diversity.

Session 3

Filipino-American history

Learn how Filipinos have contributed to shaping the U.S. as a nation by exploring key events throughout history, and begin preparing for the immersive experience in the Philippines.

Session 4

Leading with Intercultural Competence

Learn “Filipino culture universals” in dance, song, language, and food, and reflect on the connection between your values, leadership ability and identity.

Frequently Asked Questions

We plan to admit a cohort of between 20-25 high school student leaders from across the United States.

Our financial aid will be entirely need-based. The application form includes questions that request the student to explain the context of their need-based financial aid application and then to upload their parents’ 2021 income tax statement.

For this pioneer cohort only, we can consider seniors who have just graduated by summer 2023.

We take the safety and security of our participants and our team very seriously so we have taken significant steps towards ensuring this. First, we visited all the sites and accommodations the participants and our team will visit and reside in. Second, we will have a local counterpart in all of the islands we will visit: Manila, Dumaguete and Cagayan de Oro. Our staff and these partners together, we will have a ratio of about 3-4 students for each staff member. Finally, we will require parents and students to participate in a mandatory pre-trip orientation to ensure norms, expectations, communications and operational details related to the trip will be discussed and implemented accordingly.

Yes. April 22, April 29, May 5, and May 13. All online sessions will be 60-90 minutes per session. We are currently finalizing a time that would work best for our participants across all US time zones.

The program fee covers (1) four online sessions of 90 minutes each taught by top-notch faculty in identity exploration, Filipino history and culture, FilAm history and leadership, (2) food, accommodations and transportation within the localities visited including airport transfers, i.e. bus or van, throughout the 15 day Philippine immersive experience (3) all costs related to visits to important historical and heritage sites and museums like entrance fees, as well as engagement with young people and significant leaders and organizations and (4) dedicated and competent team who will take good care of the participants.

For more information, email info@philippinelivingheritage.org.

(1) International travel to and from the United States and Manila, (2) domestic airfare from Manila to Dumaguete to Cagayan de Oro and back to Manila, (3) health insurance for the entire 15 days while in the Philippines, (4) incidentals such as vitamins and medicines, (5) immigration related costs as well as (6) any costs outside of the July 1-15 immersive experience are NOT covered by the program fee.

Building community is an integral goal and outcome of our programs. Success in this endeavor will necessitate the joint efforts from our team and our participants. We intend to build an ecosystem that will transcend the program experience and that will build a lifelong bond of support, friendship and mentorship. A few weeks after the trip, we intend to gather all participants together to debrief and discuss next steps. We are also hoping to put together alumni-specific programs and mentorship opportunities for all cohorts. We want our program graduates to remain engaged, supportive and thriving, including for example organizing/co-organizing their own reunions and recurring gatherings post their experience and helping us shape future programs. Long-term, we hope to build a Philippine Living Heritage network with our participants, their families, heritage workers, advocates and supporters globally. After all, our heritage belongs to all of us, and its future is in the hands of our young people.

Philippine Immersive Experience

July 1-15, 2023

Participants will experience a transformative two-week immersive experience that will consist of curated visits, exploratory conversations and personal and group reflections across the 3 main islands of the Philippines – Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao that will:

  • Expose them to important historical sites that have shaped and continue to shape the Philippines’ rich and diverse history, 
  • Engage with fellow young leaders who are serving in the trenches, 
  • Experience its pluralistic culture and traditions.

Apply Next Year

Are you a rising high school Sophomore, Junior, or Senior in the US of Filipino descent? Have you demonstrated leadership potential, and have a desire to actively engage in Filipino communities?

  • Application Timeline: Apply by March 3
  • Admissions decisions will be sent out by early April.
  • The last Zoom Info Session happened late February. If you missed it, see the presentation from the sessions.

Knowledge Hub

We are working on more exciting projects to foster a deeper appreciation for our rich and diverse living heritage including a possible online library of resources related to Filipino global history and information celebrating Filipino excellence across the world.

What is Living Heritage?

Source: Living Heritage and Education, ich.unesco.org

INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE – or ‘living heritage’ – is inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants. It includes oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe, and the knowledge and skills related to craftsmanship. It is continuously recreated as it is transmitted from generation to generation, and evolves in response to our environment.

Living heritage is important because it offers communities and individuals a sense of identity and continuity. It can promote social cohesion, respect for cultural diversity and human creativity, as well as help communities build resilient, peaceful and inclusive societies.

Heritage Network

To do our best work and to achieve greater impact in diasporic global communities, it is imperative for us to collaborate with other organizations that have a related mission to ours, to build a strong heritage network.