US Embassy officials in Silliman for youth delegates

CEBU, Philippines - Officials of the United States Embassy in Manila are set to visit Silliman University from February 3 to 4 for the selection phase of delegates for the Southeast Asia Youth Leadership Program (SEAYLP). 

The US Embassy has identified Dumaguete as the recipient of the program. A total of five college students and one teacher or community leader will be selected to undergo a month-long training and exposure in the US starting in April this year.

Assistant Cultural Affairs officer Joe Tordella and Thomas Jefferson Information Center deputy director Pong Aureus will select the participants.

In a letter to Silliman University president Dr. Ben S. Malayang III, Aureus described the program as one "designed to promote high-quality leadership, civic responsibility, and civil activism among [the Philippines'] future leaders."

Under the program, participants will engage in various creative and practical ways of better understanding the principles of democracy and civil society.

Dumaguete has been chosen as this year's recipient largely because of the presence of the American Studies Resource Center (ASRC) at the Robert B. and Metta J. Silliman Library of Silliman University.

The ASRC is a rich source of knowledge materials about American culture, politics, and way of life, and is open to the public for free.