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| PHCM Youth Forum photos |
The Philippine Heritage Council of Manitoba (PHCM) Inc. hosted its 2017 Youth Forum on Building Success on April 6, 2017 in Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute’s (DMCI) multipurpose room, 720 Alverstone Street.
The event, held annually and now in its third year, aims to instil the importance of education and hard work, promote involvement in the Filipino and wider community, and inspire high school and post-secondary students to pursue engaging and fulfilling careers. Approximately 60 students, parents, teachers and community members were in attendance to listen to six guest speakers share their stories of how they discovered their passions and career path, the experiences they had, and the choices they made along the way.
The evening began with a panel session where the speakers, who are identified leaders in their industries and fields, were each given five minutes to introduce themselves. This was followed by two sets of speed mentoring: participants were divided into small groups with the speakers rotating among them, in order to facilitate more intimate discussions in which everyone had the opportunity to ask questions and share their thoughts. Mimi Aiello, a Grade 10 student from Sisler High School, said that the panel helped her determine what she wants to be in the future.
“The group of panellists provided me with valuable advice in the career paths I’m interested in,” she says. “They answered any questions that I had for them about their jobs.”
Hipolito “J.R.” Alibin, a Chartered Professional Accountant, shared his experience with business and the steps he had to take to get into accounting. Another panellist, Ethel Fernandez, talked about her transition from the Philippines to Winnipeg, how she had her engineering degree accredited, and finally her working in that capacity in Canada. Jay Jimenez of the Seven Oaks School Division described what being a teacher is like and the importance of literacy and education.
Catheryn Morton, a Civil Engineering Technologist and project manager also joined participants. She reminded participants about the value of communication and explored the topic of getting out of one’s comfort zone. Janelle Salinas, a Registered Nurse, emphasized the importance of doing well in school while still balancing your social life. Finally, Roddy Seradilla of Bisita Restaurant talked about how he came to appreciate Filipino culture and how he decided to make a living out of it.
The Youth Forum on Building Success was organized in collaboration with DMCI, the University of Manitoba Filipino Students Group (UMPinoy), Aksyon Ng Ating Kabataan (ANAK) Inc., Magdaragat Philippines, Inc., and the Manitoba Filipino Business Council. It was made possible by sponsors, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Manitoba Pork, True North Sports and Entertainment, and Scotiabank.