His Excellency Rodrigo Duterte, President of the Republic of the Philippines, has appointed James Ceasar Ventura as Commissioner at Large of the National Youth Commission (NYC).

He took hos oath of office before NYC Chairperson Aiza Seguerra on Jan. 13 at the NYC Head Office in Quezon City.

"Magiging madali ang mga bagay-bagay dahil madaling umibig sa kabataan, " Ventura remarked in his message after the oath.

Responding to Chairperson Seguerra's question on “What is his why in becoming a part of the NYC family,” the new commissioner said,"I want to rewrite the story of the youth that we are apathetic, walang pong pakialam,"

Ventura, a B. Secondary Education (major in physical sciences) Magna Cum Laude graduate, was valedictorian of MMSU Class 2014. He is currently working on his master's thesis for the degree MA Education (major in Physics) and is taking up Bachelor of Laws, both at MMSU.

The proactive young leader was president of two prestigious organizations: the CTE Student Council and MMSU Enactus. He led the team that represented the Philippines in the 2013 Enactus World Cup in Mexico.

Prior to his appointment to the NYC, he was Executive Director of the Ilocos Norte Youth Office and President of the Sirib Ilokano Kabataan Association, which won for the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte the prestigious Galing Pook Award in 2015.

James is a native of Brgy. Manalpac, Solsona. His father Santiago is a farmer while his mother Nida is an elementary teacher. Jessie, his older brother and lone sibling, is also with the PGIN.