From 24 to 29 May 2026, Xavier University student Jysel Ashley Ayop (BSIS-4) attended the 18th Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative (HYLI) at Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan, Cebu City. Ayop joined a cohort of 32 young leaders from across Southeast Asia and Japan in a five-day immersive program centered on sustainable development and youth-driven advocacy.
The annual initiative, organized by Hitachi, Ltd in partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), gathers university students from member countries to deliberate on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and present concrete proposals to a panel of mentors, educators, and industry professionals. This year’s program focused on SDGs 6, 8, 9, and 14, which covered Clean Water and Sanitation, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and Life Below Water.
Arrival and First Impressions
Jysel Ashley Ayop, along with the rest of the Philippine Team delegation (Kristoff Padilla from UP Diliman, Rasheed Albel from Ateneo de Manila University, and Tricia Cabais from De La Salle University), arrived on the afternoon of Sunday, 24 May 2026. The team joined fellow delegates, country representatives (CRs), and mentors for a welcome reception at the hotel’s Coral Ballroom. The evening began with a security briefing and soft welcome program, giving participants their first opportunity to interact with peers from different countries before heading to dinner.
The experience of being in the same room with young leaders from across the region set the tone for what would be an intensive but rewarding week.
Opening Day: Keynotes, Panels, and Community Immersion
The 18th HYLI formally commenced on 25 May 2026, at the Coral Ballroom with opening remarks, keynote sessions, and a panel discussion. Delegates participated in the morning-to-afternoon program, which concluded with a group photo session.
The afternoon brought the program’s first off-site activity. Delegates traveled to Marigondon for a donation ceremony, followed by a child safeguarding orientation and a school kit packing activity serving as an exercise in hands-on community engagement. Volunteers packed and distributed school kits to children in the area, with photos taken to document the occasion.
After the community activity, the group transferred to Cabana for dinner before returning to the hotel for the evening, a fitting close to what had already been a full and memorable first day.
Day Two: Olango Island and the Science Beneath the Surface
On Tuesday, 26 May 2026, delegates ventured beyond the mainland to Olango Island for a two-hour educational immersion. The experience brought the program’s sustainability themes to life, offering participants a firsthand look at ecological conservation efforts in a unique natural setting.
Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary, known as one of the most important wetland ecosystems in the Philippines, served as a fitting backdrop for discussions on marine biodiversity and conservation. The visit underscored SDG 14’s call to protect life below water, a goal with particular resonance for a nation as archipelagic as the Philippines.
“Visiting Olango island reinvigorated my passion to nurture nature and bring awareness to regular citizens about the importance of conserving our biodiversity,” shares Ayop.
After lunch at Sagarstand, the group returned to the hotel for an afternoon session featuring a talk by a marine biologist. The presentation provided scientific grounding for the conservation concepts observed in the field. The remainder of the afternoon was allocated to delegate filming sessions focused on SDGs 6 and 8, giving teams dedicated time to develop and document their proposals.
Day Three: Water Technology, Mentorship, and Finalized Proposals
Wednesday, 27 May, stood out as one of the program’s most structured and instructive days. The morning was devoted to mentor sessions at the Coral Ballroom, where delegates collaborated closely with their assigned mentors to refine and finalize their SDG proposals ahead of the next day’s presentations.
After lunch, delegates attended a technology talk by Hitachi, offering insight into the company’s approach to innovation and infrastructure. The afternoon continued with site visits to a desalination plant and a Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) plant, rotating by SDG group. Ayop’s group SDG 14 Life Brlow Water visited the facilities and observed water purification technologies firsthand.
The day concluded with a daily debrief, proposal submission, and dinner at Enye.
Day Four: Presentations, Certificates, and Cultural Night
Thursday, 28 May, marked the culmination of the delegates’ academic work. Following a morning of rehearsals with their mentors, the four SDG groups took the stage at the Coral Ballroom to deliver their final presentations and participate in open Q&A sessions before a panel of evaluators.
Each group had thirty minutes to present their proposals covering SDG 6, SDG 8, SDG 9, and SDG 14 in sequence. The presentations drew on days of research, field visits, and collaborative drafting.
“It was a fulfilling experience to debunk the false assumptions of how we as consumers are helpless in solving the plastic problem,” Ayop begins. “Lifestyle change and pushing for advocacy and platforms to shift to a healthier, more ecofriendly environment is key.”
The formal program closed with a certificate ceremony before the evening gave way to something lighter: Cultural Night. Delegates from eight countries and the HYLI committee prepared ten-minute cultural performances, with the order determined by lucky draw. The night became a showcase of music, dance, and heritage a reminder that the program’s purpose extended beyond policy proposals to the cultivation of cross-cultural friendship.
The Philippine Team delegation performed a karaoke rendition of Lani Misalucha’s Bukas na Lang Kita Mamahalin and Aegis’ Halik, followed by a unity dance performance of the classic street dance Budots.
Closing Day and Departure
The final day, Friday, 29 May, was brief. Delegates gathered for a final breakfast at Saffron before departing from the lobby, with some heading to the airport and others joining brief sightseeing excursions around Cebu, depending on their flight schedules.
About HYLI
The Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative is an annual program established in 1996 by Hitachi, Ltd in cooperation with ASEAN. Now in its 18th edition, the program brings together university students from ASEAN member states and Japan to engage with global challenges through leadership training, community immersion, and SDG-aligned project development. Out of 194 Philippine applicants, only 4 were selected to participate.