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Hirayang Kabataan believes in a better Philippines, led by the youth, for all Filipinos. The programs of Hirayang Kabataan aim to mold the Filipino youth into the heroes of today and to enable them to create positive change in their communities.
Hirayang Kabataan believes in a better Philippines, led by the youth, for all Filipinos. The programs of Hirayang Kabataan aim to mold the Filipino youth into the heroes of today and to enable them to create positive change in their communities.
Hiraya is composed of young people with diverse skills and competencies.
Hiraya is composed of young people with diverse skills and competencies.
- education,
- psychology,
- monitoring and evaluation,
- design thinking,
- law,
- local government,
- human rights,
- elections,
- national and local initiative,
- national and local policy development,
- lobbying,
- religious leadership,
- communications, and
- movement building.
President
President
Ron Reyes, an advocate for youth leadership development, is a co-founder and the President of the Board of Trustees of Hirayang Kabataan. He worked as a communications officer in the Philippine Senate for 5 years and in the House of Representatives for 3 years. In 2019, he joined PHINMA Corporation as a Senior Project Specialist. He graduated from the University of the Philippines with a degree in Political Science.
Executive Director
Executive Director
Carlo Africa believes in changing the world and creating a better Philippines for all Filipinos through the development of young Filipino leaders through Hirayang Kabataan which he co-founded and now serves as its Executive Director. He understands the value of inclusive elections through his experiences with the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) where he is a policy consultant. He was also the National Election Expert of the Election Advisory Mission to the Philippines for the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and the British Embassy. He received his juris doctor and undergraduate degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and was admitted in the Philippine Bar in 2018.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Director
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Director
Mikee Sevilla is a co-founder and the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at Hiraya. Currently, he is working with GCash as a data scientist for behavioral insighting and strategy formation. He was previously the Officer-in-Charge of the Statistics Unit of the Commission on Higher Education. He oversaw data collection and analysis of the implementation of flexible learning in the COVID-19 pandemic Previously, he managed a faculty grant portfolio for the Commission's K to 12 Transition Program. His area of interests includes statistics for education, youth well-being, and survey operations. He has completed the coursework for his Master of Statistics degree at the University of the Philippines-Diliman and also holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from the same university.
Education and Positive Psychology Expert Consultant
Education and Positive Psychology Expert Consultant
Liang Borlagdan is an educator, learning experience designer, and youth development advocate. She is a co-founder and the Program Director of Hiraya. She teaches at the Ingenium School, wherein she advocates for school-wide initiatives building student autonomy and self-confidence. Prior to this, she previously worked with the Philippine Commission on Higher Education where she organized a Teacher Training Program for Senior High School teachers nationwide. Liang was also a a Teacher Fellow for Teach For the Philippines from 2015-2017. She holds a Masters in Reading Education, and degrees in Psychology and Interdisciplinary Studies (Design and Education tracks), all from the Ateneo de Manila University. She is has completed her Masters in Positive Psychology in the University of Melbourne and is now starting her doctorate in Education in the same University.
SKAI Program Director
SKAI Program Director
Julienne Joven is a designer and co-founder of Hirayang Kabataan, where she spearheads the Sangguniang Kabataan Academy Initiative. She has worked in the government, the private sector, civil society, the academe, and media — bringing her advocacy of using creativity for social development. She co-founded Fennel, a design agency for social causes, and then worked as a Project Officer at the Design Center of the Philippines under the Department of Trade and Industry. Prior to this, she used to work as a Senior High School teacher of Design Thinking at Assumption Antipolo; and as an Executive Assistant for Communications at the Department of Social Welfare and Development. She is also a contributor to CNN Philippines Life. She graduated from Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in Communication, and studied Civic Engagement at the University of Nebraska Omaha as an Academic Fellow of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative.
Project SuLo Program Director
Project SuLo Program Director
Crystal Eunice Dela Cruz is one of the program developers for Hirayang Kabataan’s Sangguinang Kabataan Academy Initiative program. She was the former OIC-Executive Director of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines. She is currently the Secretariat Coordinator of Civil Society Coalition on the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Program Manager of the Philippines YSEALI Civic Engagement Professional Fellowship. She was also the former YGOAL Project Director of Voice Philippines. She completed her academic requirements for Master of Public Administration with specialization in Regional Administration and Local Governance in UP NCPAG.
Director for Org Development
Director for Org Development
Tanya Anastacio is a co-founder and program developer for Hirayang Kabataan. She worked in Jollibee Foods Corporation under their Management Trainee program, specializing in Leadership & Organization Development. She is also involved in Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon as one of the chairpersons. Tanya is also a Certified Associate in Project Management by the Project Management Institute. She graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University with degree in Management Engineering and a minor in Project Management.
Director for Networking
Director for Networking
Peter Olivar is a community organizer, building a vast professional network in the development sector as a political and advocacy officer at the Senate of the Philippines. He incorporated his passion for empowering communities and advocacy building as project officer to Apl.de.Ap Foundation’s Campaign for Filipino Children (ADAFI-CFC) and Liberal Party of the Philippines’ Project Makinig, a nationwide, data-driven, grassroots listening campaign. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of the Philippines- Diliman and Project Management certificate from Asian Institute of Management.
Director for Communications
Director for Communications
Hillary Joven is a marketing professional who is involved with the media and marketing arm of Hirayang Kabataan. She is currently an MBA candidate at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Prior to business school, she worked as a channel management head for Mynt, driving increased engagement with GCash customers through direct communications. She received her Bachelor's in Business Administration from UP Diliman.
Director for Volunteers
Director for Volunteers
Patrick Arcellana is a co-founder of Hirayang Kabataan and was one of the Project Leads in the Sangguniang Kabataan Academy Initiative. Patrick took part in electoral work under for the Legal Network for Truthful Elections in 2016. Patrick is also a member of the Philippine Institute of Arbitrators. He is currently employed as an associate of Puyat, Jacinto & Santos Law Firm. He received his juris doctor and undergraduate degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2018.
Director for Finance and Administration
Director for Finance and Administration
Elreen Joy de Guzman is a CPA-Lawyer who is a co-founder and Treasurer of Hirayang Kabataan. She used to be a Sangguinang Kabataan Councilor in Poblacion, San Pascual. She interned at the Ateneo Human Rights Center and the Humanitarian Legal Assistance Foundation. She was also part of the Legal Network for Truthful Elections and was Bertha Justice Fellow at Centerlaw, Philippines where she worked on cases concerning effective remedies for human rights victims. She received her undergraduate degree from University of Santo Tomas and her juris doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and was admitted in the Philippine Bar in 2018.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Officer
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Officer
Iya Gamboa is a co-founder of Hirayang Kabataan and is a member of its Board of Trustees. She is currently also leading the design of the organization's impact assessment and program design as the the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Officer. Her previous work included legal content specialist for Thomson Reuters Philippines. She graduated from the University of the Philippines with a degree in Community Development.
Director for Special Projects
Director for Special Projects
Stefano Lim is a co-founder and the Director for Special Projects of Hirayang Kabataan. He received his juris doctor and undergraduate degree from Ateneo de Manila University and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2019. He is also seated as a trustee of the Xavier School Alumni Association and was the media relations head of the Legal Network for Truthful Elections. He has been in public service for more than 13 years as a barangay official focused on environmental efforts, through which he was able to put in place policies on wildlife and animal management, community sustainability, and waste management strategies, among others. He has successfully led several relief operations for typhoon victims in Manila, Cebu, and Surigao Del Norte by running donation drives and partnering and coordinating with different government agencies and private sector donors to facilitate proper collection and distribution of supplies and aid. He has always had the best intention of serving the public and wishes to continue to make impact.
Program Designer
Program Designer
Karlo Abadines is currently the Executive Director of Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan. He was an Advocacy Officer in the Catholic Association of the Philippines (CEAP) and has been involved with Hiraya in the development of modules, and implementation of the SKAI Program. He is also an alumni of the Academy of Political Management of FES, a convener & secretariat of the The Prophet Project PH and the Disgruntled Young People, and a member of AltMobility PH. He holds a double degree in AB Development Studies and BS Psychology, Cum Laude in Ateneo de Manila University and was awarded the Loyola Schools Leadership Awards - Most Outstanding Individual Award, Special Citation.
Program Designer
Program Designer
Myra Beatriz de Leon is a lawyer and teacher by profession who has been an active volunteer of Hirayang Kabataan. She received her juris doctor and Legal Management degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and was admitted in the Philippine Bar in 2018. she worked as a Program Officer of the Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship unit of the Ateneo School of Government, together with Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership and the Jesse Robredo Foundation
Program Designer
Program Designer
Michael D. Guevarra is one of the volunteer facilitators for Hirayang Kabataan. He participated as a facilitator in Hirayang Kabataan’s Sangguniang Kabataan Academy Initiative (SKAI) and the Bukas Bayani program in partnership with Mary the Queen School of Malolos. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Legal Management from Ateneo de Manila University and a Juris Doctor degree from University of the Philippines. He was admitted to bar in 2022 after passing the 2020/2021 Bar Examination. Aside from Hirayang Kabataan, he also acted as facilitator in activities organized by Usapang Lalaki a group which organizes face-to-face discussion that are geared towards creating safe spaces not only for women and member of the LGBT+ to be heard, but also for men to learn without judgement.
Program Manager
Program Manager
Manuel Angulo is a development worker and activist who helped develop the initial program for SKAI and the facilitator training of Hirayang Kabataan. He is currently based in Costa Rica pursuing a Masters degree in Gender and Peacebuilding from the UN-mandated University for Peace and will be completing a second Masters degree in Transdisciplinary Social Development from the Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines by the end of 2022.
Program Manager
Program Manager
Mary Ruzzel Morales is a social and climate justice youth leader who is a Program Manager of Tara, Takbo! Kabataan ang Mukha ng Bagong Politika. Ruzzel is also involved in the 12th National Youth Parliament and Climate Reality Project PH. Ruzzel holds a degree in BA Political Science-Community Development from University of the Philippines Visayas and an academic fellow at the University of Montana as part of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Fall 2019 Cohort for Global Environmental Issues and Natural Resources Management.
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