Final Day of YouLeaD Implementation with Fil-Aus Youth
For the final full day of the Youth Leaders in the Diaspora (YouLeaD) implementation of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), in partnership with the Australian-Filipino Community Services (AFCS), participants engaged in activities that showcased community connection, everyday Filipino life, and shared celebration. These included a visit with a community partner, navigating public transportation, exploring markets in South Metro Manila, a dialogue with Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II, and a farewell karaoke gathering.
The day began with a visit to the lolas of Golden Gays Manila, where participants were warmly welcomed and engaged in meaningful conversations. Through shared stories, they gained insight into the resilience and chosen-family culture of the community, while also learning about the realities of ageing within the LGBTQIA+ sector in the Philippines, which is reflective of similar developments in Australia. The interaction highlighted the importance of inclusive support systems and collaborative efforts among communities, institutions, and governments to promote dignity in ageing. The visit resonated well with the participants as taking care of the elderly is one of the advocacies of AFCS.
In the afternoon, the group briefly split into separate engagements.AFCS Chief Executive Office, Ms. Corina Dutlow met with CFO Chairperson and Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II, joined by AFCS’ Ms. Norminda Forteza, PMD Chief Ms. Marita Del Rosario-Apattad, and Ms. Mara Santos. Ms. Dutlow shared reflections on her YouLeaD experience, while she and Ms. Forteza discussed potential areas of collaboration between CFO and AFCS, including partnerships with Australian government and educational institutions across different initiatives to strengthen representation and advance the welfare of the Filipino–Australian community. Initial talks were also held for the future implementation of the YouLeaD for different Filipino-Australian age groups.
Meanwhile, Mr. Karl Te and Ms. Arrifa Nasarudin, accompanied by Mr. Jirus Madlangbayan, experienced Manila’s public transportation firsthand. Their visit included Baclaran Church and its surrounding marketplace, where they sampled local street food like kwek-kwek (deep fried quail eggs with orange batter). They also applied basic conversational Filipino skills in purchasing LRT tickets and traveled from Baclaran Station to United Nations, observing daily student life along the way. The group then walked to the National Museum of Fine Arts, where they viewed Spoliarium by National Artist Juan Luna, explored select galleries, and visited the historic Old Senate Hall.
Afterwards, the group reunited, and visited Quinta Market in Quiapo, where they shopped for native products such as capiz and abaca items, sungka boards, and materials for their cultural performances in Australia. The visit also gave participants the opportunity to practice bargaining while selecting pasalubong. They also had a chance to visit the Muslim town nearby where Arrifa was able to go inside the local mosque and interact with fellow Muslims. The day concluded with a farewell dinner, capped off by a karaoke party that brought the group together in celebration.
