The Asian Federation of Student Leaders held a conference entitled Inspire, Empower, Engage: “Equipping the Filipino Youth Leaders Towards a Competitive ASEAN Integration” last February 29, 2016 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm at Southville International School and Colleges.

Ms. Aika Robredo, eldest daughter of the late Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary, Jesse Robredo and Vice Presidential candidate Leni Robredo, graced the event with an insightful and eye-opening keynote address. A notable point in Aika’s speech was the importance of having a clear vision of one’s self. She said, “Having a clear vision of who you are also gives you full confidence in your potential. You know that you may not be the greatest version of yourself yet, but with hard work and patience, you know you will get there. And that means if you do make mistakes, you know that it’s alright, and you can try harder the next time around.”

The speaker’s message to the young people who attended the conference was very empowering. She stated, “To the youth in this conference, let me say that it is not just knowing who we are, personally, that is important. It is also having a clear vision of who we are as a nation. We have the gift of youth and energy, but not the gift of memory. So we need to make an effort to read of our past and learn from our elders about the history of our nation so that we can forge a strong bridge to our future.”

To conclude her speech, Ms. Robredo encouraged the students to know their potential and fly high. “There are so many things that we can be proud of in our country. No matter the difficulty of our journey, no matter the challenges that we face, our path is meant for greatness.”