Of Borderless Barkadas and Aspirations

CEBU, Philippines - ASEAN. Association of Southeast Asian Nations. I've known that acronym and what it stands for since I was a high school sophomore. I've known and memorized all the ten member countries, their respective capitals, and their landmarks such as Malaysia's Petronas Towers and Singapore's Merlion statue. All this, thanks to our Araling Panlipunan teacher's method of giving frequent blank map tests. And of course, being the good student that I was, I remember spending my vacant periods chanting like a parrot, "Myanmar - Nay Pyi Daw, Cambodia - Phnom Penh, Thailand - Bangkok…"

But the thing was, I only knew Southeast Asia that way. I only learned about Southeast Asia through textbooks, blank map exams, and long boring lectures about each country's statistics. I knew there was more to ASEAN than just capitals and currencies.

Fast forward six years later, now as a Mass Communication senior, I was chosen to become one of the Philippine delegates to the LEAD (Link, Engage, Activate, Develop) ASEAN Youth Summit, held last December 2-6 in Makati City. Organized by the Ayala Foundation in partnership with the United States Embassy in Manila, the summit gathered around 150 young leaders from all over Southeast Asia, all of whom are either alumni of US-government-sponsored international exchange programs or the Ayala Young Leaders Congress (AYLC). Two years ago, I went to the States through the Southeast Asia Youth Leadership Program (SEAYLP), which allowed me to qualify for the summit.

On Day 0 alone, I could feel Southeast Asia coming to life from the dead textbooks that I used to stare at back in high school. The smiles, "how-do-you-do's" from other young leaders, and the hugs of old friends reunited gave off the feeling about how warm our closest neighbors are. However, these sincere smiles and tight hugs were only the foundations of a much dearer and stronger bond and friendship that we were to build in the next few days of summit.

We woke up on Day 1 to be greeted by the rhythmic and super danceable beat from a group of drummers donned in their festive clothes, while smiling masks of different shapes, designs, and sizes bedecked the stage. And as if to add life to the already lively music and venue decorations, Bacolod's MassKara Festival was demonstrated to the awe of the spectators from all over ASEAN. The reception dinner later that evening also had the same festive vibe, showcasing how much we Filipinos love being happy and lively. Significant people in not only in the country but also in the region graced the event, as US Ambassador to ASEAN David Carden and Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez spoke inspirational messages of how much potential the youth from this particular region in Asia has in influencing the flow of things worldwide in the years to come. US President Barack Obama himself assured his support to us young leaders in a video message that day, as well as the country's pouring assistance towards those who survived typhoon Yolanda. Talks that moved us young leaders into shaping a better Southeast Asia were also given by organizations who facilitated the so-called "Think Labs" during the summit, such as Gawad Kalinga, Teach Peace Build Peace, and Rappler.

Day 2 was the day for exposure trips. We got to choose the sites where we wanted to spend the whole day in, but I decided to go with the one focused on arts and culture. While the other delegates learned about the importance of water in Tagaytay and sustainable livelihoods in the Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm, we were taught in our trip about unleashing the creative artists in us as leaders through a showcase of ancient art in the Ayala Museum and contemporary art at the De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde.

And who says youth leaders are all about work and nothing else? To my surprise and awe, I witnessed these new friends from all over ASEAN turn from great thinkers and innovators to super cool party people, perhaps better than the fiercest party animals I've met in Dumaguete. The dance parties right after the cultural night and the culminating Black and White Party unleashed the fun lovers in all of us, dancing and singing like nobody's watching or listening. The second and final party, however, was somehow mixed with tears as we exchanged hugs that came along with the goodbyes and it's-been-funs that we told each other.

It's been about two weeks after the summit, but until now I still feel like I'm in Cloud Nine. The smiles, the warm embraces, and the jokes and laughter we shared together keep me up at night as they flashed vividly in my memory. I just hope to see these friends soon, and perhaps we might spend another night or two talking and laughing about good times and our lives as leaders back home. I'm thankful that the LEAD ASEAN Youth Summit gave us the chance to have the time of our lives and form a "borderless barkada" that shares borderless dreams and aspirations in life.

Perhaps the next time I meet my former high school teacher who taught me about ASEAN, I'd show her a picture of me along with my fellow young leaders and say, "Hey ma'am, thanks for all the blank map tests and the textbooks way back. They're all coming to life to me now."