Thought leaders, business professionals, and social entrepreneurs gathered together in a two-hour virtual conference last July 31 to share their valuable insights on nation-building to the country’s next generation of change-makers.

Dubbed as “Keeping the Spark Alive: Youth Nation Builders Conference,” the webinar was organized in honor of the late Ramon V. del Rosario, Sr. as part of a series of events to commemorate his birth anniversary.

For its first session, the conference featured two Ramon V. del Rosario Nation Building Awardees—Ambassador Jesus P. Tambunting, OBE, and former Agriculture secretary Senen C. Bacani, who shared to the audience their stories of hope and determination in pursuing their aspirations. Ramon V. del Rosario Siklab Awardee Clarissa Delgado facilitated the discussion, and she also shared how the nation builders have inspired her to continue the work of building the nation.

“Justice, equity, prosperity for our country is not going to happen in one generation. We need to look at this like a baton passing of a track and field event – with each generation as a runner and each of them carrying their responsibility. They are passing it forward. These are small steps taken over the course of many years,” Delgado shares during the session.

The second session, meanwhile, featured the rest of the Siklab Awardees—Melissa Yap, Gary Ayuste, Edgar Elago, and JB Tan, who facilitated the discussion. There, they were able to talk about how their journey in social entrepreneurship started and how it became important for them to step up and take action to make a difference.

“Focus on the small things you can do. For us to effect change, all of us have to contribute and take action. It can be as simple as volunteering for a task within your barangay or church, being conscious in reducing plastic consumption, planting in your backyard to become more sustainable, or using your talent for the goodness of others. Focus on the positive, focus on the things that you can control and continue to hope,” Tan explains.

The webinar, which was jointly organized by PHINMA, De La Salle University, JCI Manila, and Asian Institute of Management Ramon V. del Rosario, Sr. Center for Corporate Responsibility, was well attended by students, teachers, and professionals from various fields.

Also during the conference, JCI Manila officially launched the interview series, featuring the different winners of both the Nation Building Awards and the Siklab Awards, which will be released in the coming months.

Other events in commemoration of the late Ramon V. del Rosario, Sr. include a Eucharistic celebration last July 24 followed by a short program, as well as the 10th anniversary activities of DLSU’s RVR College of Business.

Follow the Ramon V. del Rosario Siklab Awards on Facebook and the Ramon V. del Rosario Award for Nation Building Facebook Page here.