iamninoy Congress Breeds a New Generation of Leaders

To make Ninoy Aquino's martyrdom relevant to the youth today, the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Center for Leadership (NCACL) and the Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Foundation (BSAF) organized the iamninoy Youth Leadership Congress last August 22 - 24, 2008 at the Aquino Center in Luisita, Tarlac.

Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of Ninoy's assassination, 95 outstanding young leaders were chosen to join a weekend of commemoration, learning and inspiration. The program of the congress focused on the five areas of nation-building that are deemed vital in healing and transforming Philippine society. These areas are government, media, arts and creatives, business and entrepreneurship, education, and spirituality and formation. The congress aimed to nurture the ideas of the participants serving as the "seeds" of development.

Included in the agenda was a tour of the Aquino Museum where they learned about the life of the late Senator and the events that shaped Philippine history. They also got to view firsthand a graphic representation of Ninoy's death through the bloodied shirt that Ninoy was wearing when he was assassinated.

The delegates benefitted from the various informative and inspirational speeches and couch discussions delivered by professionals and public figures like Solita Monsod, Harvey Keh, Jeffrey Tarayao, Erika Sales. Team initiatives and workshop sessions were graced by experts from five areas of nation building enhancing the congress experience by highlighting the values of teamwork, cooperation and collaboration in various endeavors.

Before the end of the event, the delegates pledged their commitment to service as the workgroups identified the five seeds of nation building as models and best practices that they can replicate in their own locality, organization and community. The Youth Congress was successful in uniting young leaders from different institutions to create a network and establish a support system among their peers to help them achieve their goals. In time, they hope to establish a movement by youth leaders representing various chapters that are attuned to the ideals that Ninoy lived by and died for.

The organizers of the Youth Congress will put up an online forum to maintain the connections that were established during the event and to facilitate better coordination among the participants involved.

"Truly, I am a Ninoy of this generation. In my case, not as a martyr who will die from a bullet, but (as) a young citizen who is committed to nationalistic love and patriotism. Mabuhay ka Pilipinas!" declared a delegate at the conclusion of the event.

This event was made possible through the assistance of the Ayala Young Leaders Alliance who provided secretariat support and sponsors such as Splash Corporation, Splash Foundation, Pioneer Life and Globe Telecom Inc. The Philippine Daily Inquirer and Business Mirror were the media partners of the congress.