Manila, December 15, 2021—On December 8 and 10, Filipino youth leaders joined Summit for Democracy events hosted by high-level U.S. officials that focused on the role of youth in strengthening democracy worldwide.

Lynrose Jane Genon, a Philippine Youth Leadership Program alumna and Young Women Leaders for Peace-Philippines Executive Committee Member, joined a panel with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and young leaders from Ukraine, Zambia, and Chile, for a virtual Young Democratic Leaders Discussion on December 8.

Meanwhile, YSEALI Academic Fellow and National Society of Parliamentarians Chief Operating Officer Bryan Ezra Gonzales joined a select group of 70 youth leaders at the Youth Town Hall with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield on December 10 to discuss challenges to democratic norms and potential solutions.

During the Young Democratic Leaders Discussion with Secretary Blinken, Genon shared her insights about Filipino youth’s views on challenges to youth engagement in democracy, opportunities for civic participation, and ways to support Filipino youth’s political and civic involvement.

Genon said the “discussion is timely and relevant, and it is a vital platform for [youth] to voice [their] truths to those in positions of power, in the hopes of influencing legislation and bringing genuine and practical change to young people’s lives.”

On the Youth Town Hall with Ambassador Greenfield, Gonzales said, “young people today face the immense challenge of facilitating a better normal, not only in the post-pandemic sense, but in building a more optimistic future for democracy everywhere.”

“The Youth Town Hall was a timely opportunity for young people to reflect on our role in redefining liberty and what it should mean in a world that continues to be threatened by tyranny,” he added.

U.S. President Joe Biden hosted the Summit for Democracy on December 9-10, bringing together leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector to set an agenda for democratic renewal and tackle the most significant challenges faced by democracies today through collective action.  Recorded sessions of the summit can be found at https://www.state.gov/summit-for-democracy/.

The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines oversees more than 30 U.S. Government-sponsored exchange programs, which are participated by an average of 300 Filipinos and 50 Americans annually.  

There are over 9,000 U.S.-PH Exchange Alumni in the Philippines, represented by 17 program Alumni Associations and 17 YSEALI hubs across the country.

---

Exchange Alumni Portal  

Past participants in U.S. government exchange programs can join the ExchangeAlumni community and open the door to a world of support, resources, and funding opportunities to help you build on the skills you gained during your exchange program: 

• Gain access to various grant opportunities.  

• Read journals, academic journals, and articles through Gale and EBSCO’s first academic database. 

• Find and connect with fellow ExchangeAlumni locally and globally. 

• Get up-to-date information on live events, such as #MentorTalks, and ExchangeAlumni news. 

There are also resources you can access without logging in, such as the Resources for Entrepreneurs page, where you can find information and programs to help you build your business. 

Follow U.S. International Exchange Alumni – Philippines on Facebook 

Do you have alumni-related questions? Send us an email at alumniphilippines@state.gov 

---

United States Government Alumni Association (USGAA) 

• Metro Manila 

• Ilocos 

• Bicol 

• Cebu 

• Eastern Visayas 

• Negros Occidental 

• Negros Oriental 

• Marawi (Ranaw) 

• Maguindanao/Cotabato (Magcot) 

• Cagayan de Oro (Bugkos) 

• Bukidnon (Hunglos) 

• Davao 

• Iligan City 

• Zamboanga del Sur 

• Zamboanga City 

• Basilan 

• Soccsksargen (SOX) 

---

YSEALI Hubs 

• North Luzon 

• Central Luzon 

• South Luzon 

• Metro Manila  

• Central Visayas 

• Eastern Visayas 

• Panay/Guimaras 

• Bicol 

• Bohol 

• Negros Occidental 

• North Mindanao 

• Davao 

• Zamboanga 

• Basilan 

• Eastern Mindanao 

• Sulu 

• Maguindanao-Cotabato 

To view the full list of of U.S. International exchange alumni associations across the Philippines, scan the above QR code or click here.  (Last updated January 31, 2025)