By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. 

A senior secondary education student of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) is joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India Youth Summit to be held in Visakhapatnam, Andhara Pradesh, India on February 12-16. 

Michael Christophe Agustin of the MMSU College of Teacher Education (CTE) is one of the five Filipino youth representatives who qualified in the international summit organized by the India Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and ASEAN Foundation. 

Agustin, who currently serves as Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson at Brgy. 14 Sto. Tomas in Laoag City and governor of CTE’s Senior Class Organization, applied for the summit with the support of the Ilocos Norte Youth Development Office. 

As a college student and youth leader, he has already participated in four international student exchange programs and has bagged six awards. In addition, he served as college councilor and deputy executive secretary of the MMSU University Student Council. He was also crowned as Mr. PASUC 1 during the regional Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges Culture and Arts Festival 2022.

Agustin believes the international summit “will expand my leadership horizon through engaging in discussions with fellow young leaders around the world, to bring fresh outlook in facing global challenges.” 

“I am also excited to share our culture and our brand of youth leadership which can build a positive perspective toward the Filipinos,” he added. 

The CTE student plans to cascade his learning to his fellow youth leaders in the province. 

Joining the Ilokano delegate in the summit are Jhansien Malapit from Cebu City, Mart Greggy Jones Aying from Zamboanga Sibugay, Eufelu Anino from Davao De Oro, and Trizia Ann Magalino from Laguna. The participation of Filipino youth leaders in the event is facilitated by the National Youth Commission. As delegates, they are expected to become NYC volunteers and to comply with post-program activities. 

With the theme “Strengthening ASEAN-India Partnership in the Indo-Pacific,” this year’s summit will engage youth leaders in dialogues and enable them to explore new initiatives to enhance physical, economic, digital, and socio-cultural connectivity between ASEAN member-countries and India. (JVBT/StratCom)