5 Bohol studes off to US for leadership program 

Cong. Edgar Chatto (center) receives young Boholanos and the Philippine Delegation to the Southeast Asia Youth Leadership Program (SEAYLP) of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs with Menedio Thadeus Bernido Jr. (extreme, left) from Tagbilaran City (Bohol Wisdom School); Kaela Aidelynne Orcullo (2^nd from left) from Tagbilaran City (Holy Name University); Carmel Faith Lariosa (3^rd from left) from Bien Unido (President Carlos P. Garcia Technical Vocational School of Fisheries and Arts); Jane Paulene Juanich (3^rd from right) from Calape (Tubigon West National High School); Claire Marie Hernando (2^nd from right) from Tagbilaran City (Tagbilaran City Science High School); and adult mentor Hannah Adellit Rodriguez (extreme, right) from Tagbilaran City (University of Bohol) in Balilihan last April 4, 2023. Contributed photo

Five high school students from Bohol will be participating in the Southeast Asia Youth Leadership Program (SEAYLP) of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs which will take place at Northern Illinois University from April 7-28, 2023. 

The program brings together 50 high school students and 10 adult leaders from Southeast Asia for a 3-week leadership program. 

The Philippine delegation to the 2023 SEAYLP includes Menedio Thadeus Bernido Jr. from Tagbilaran City (Bohol Wisdom School); Claire Marie Hernando from Tagbilaran City (Tagbilaran City Science High School); Jane Paulene Juanich from Calape (Tubigon West National High School); Carmel Faith Lariosa from Bien Unido (President Carlos P. Garcia Technical Vocational School of Fisheries and Arts) and Kaela Aidelynne Orcullo from Tagbilaran City (Holy Name University), with adult mentor Hannah Adellit Rodriguez from Tagbilaran City (University of Bohol). They paid a courtesy visit to Cong. Edgar Chatto on Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

Rodriguez said the program picked Bohol after the assessment of eligibility and considering the significance of Bohol partnership programs.

Chatto, who in his youth participated in a similar exchange program, congratulated the Grade 10 and 11 students and wished them a productive learning experience in the US.

He expressed pride and excitement at Bohol representation in the SEAYLP youth exchange program, recalling varied ties with the US Government in governance programs that left a mark in the province’s growth and development, beginning with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Governance for Local Development (GOLD) Project in the 1990s.

He also hoped that the young students can inspire fellow young Boholano students to engage in community building, which will help foster empowerment for the sector towards contributing to the province’s progress.

Launched in 2009, SEAYLP empowers youth and strengthens people-to-people ties, cultivating a more cohesive community identity in both the US and Southeast Asia.

Designed to provide high-quality leadership and citizenship development, this year’s program will explore shared challenges faced by the United States and ASEAN member countries on three major themes: Access and Equity, Green Technology for Growth, and Securing ASEAN’s Future.

The Bohol delegation will engage in learning activities such as short lectures from experts; service opportunities and field trips that allow interaction with other youth leaders on all types of civic engagement, like leadership, communication, conflict resolution, and creating Civic Action Plans; as well as fun camp activities such as hiking, a challenge course, sports, and a campfire.

Every year, SEAYLP students are recruited from different areas of the Philippines. In past years, SEAYLP participants have come from Bacolod (2010), Dumaguete (2011), Ilocos Norte (2012), Cebu (2013), Tarlac (2014), Tacloban (2015), Access Schools (2016), Maguindanao (2017), Lanao del Norte (2018), Metro Manila (2019), Palawan (2020), and Ilocos Sur (2022).

The SEAYLP program is funded by the US Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It is operated out of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies in collaboration with Northern Illinois University.