6th Aboitiz Future Leaders Business Summit 2011

Well, you can say that I've always wanted to join this program of the Aboitiz Group called the Aboitiz Future Leaders Business Summit. I feel so lucky and blessed to have FINALLY the chance to partake in the 6th Aboitiz Future Leaders Business Summit 2011! There's a story to this so listen/read through this below; But 1st let me give a shout out to the Aboitiz Corporate Center (AEV-Summit Organizing Team) for the invite to this prestigious Business Summit.

When I was a student, like long long time ago, a friend (Itago natin sa ngalan na 'PapaMiks') and I decided to finally join some sort of program for leadership and/or business. Our available choices at the time were between Ayala Young Leaders Summit and this one, the Aboitiz Future Leaders Business Summit. For our decision making process, it was quite simple: TIME, LOCATION, How it affect our current undertakings/ventures; Though the Ayala Program was good and still is, being the 1st one out there; well the qualifications and standards are quite high and that, being late bloomers in all these leadership thingy didn't help our chances against other youth leaders applying with their 10-page leadership, & extra-curricular accomplishments.

So we looked to the Aboitiz Program instead, since we knew fellow IEs who were accepted to the prestigious program.We were pretty optimistic about it and applied; later we found out another IE applied ahead (Itago natin sa ngalang 'JAE-DATU'). Well, to make the looong story short, we (with 'PapaMiks') did not get accepted while the other one got in ('JAE-DATU'). EMO Moments arised and we tried to moved on..Later, 'JAE-DATU' was so happy and we were definitely BITTER. But during sem-break 2009 we found another program, through RAFI (Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.) called YMA-Young Minds Academy and we, at the early part of the 2nd sem of 2009 applied for it, and since it was a Team Application, we also solicited the assistance and powers of 'JAE-DATU'. And Fast Forward, we got accepted and finished the YMA Season 3 program after 8 months of intensive social development & advocacy training.

Looking back, I would never had imagined something to this extent would happen; perhaps at the time, I was not ready, as if the heavens deemed it not to be (almost 2 years ago). But what is truly amazing is that, GOD does WORK in MYSTERIOUS WAYS...

“What if some did not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?”(Romans 3:3, KJV)

We have to learn that other people don’t have to believe in you in order for your dreams to become reality. Other people don’t set the limits for your life, we/you do! It all boils down to belief in ourself and of GOD (Practice in patience and FAITH). You only have to follow the voice of God for yourself and allow Him to order your steps. THY WILL BE DONE!

Delegates doing a team activity

The summit aims to prepare each student delegate to enter the corporate world, to help them realize their future role in nation building, and to inspire young Filipinos to develop renewed faith and hope in our country, encouraging them to strive for excellence in all things. It also gives them an opportunity to network and form ties with CEOs, executives, team leaders and team members of the Aboitiz Group of Companies, as well as fellow young leaders. The Summit features plenary discussions, games, and teambuilding exercises, stimulating real work and business situations.

Joiner-Delegate-former delegate/now-employee

With the theme “Inspiring Leaders for a Better Future,” the Summit provides the students with a renewed and refreshed outlook towards the country and poses a challenge to the Filipino youth to step out of their collegiate mindset, look into the future, and aspire to be one of the country’s future leaders in whatever field they plan to pursue, business or otherwise.

Bloggers Moves (Photo-Op) with the Blogger Delegate @ Center

Media Practitioners and bloggers were present during this event and we too exchanged ideas, learned a lot and got inspired/amazed with the chosen speakers from the Aboitiz Executives to the Inspirational Speakers whom I too got the chance to meet and talk to (See separate posts on Bam Aquino & Atty.Antonio Oposa, Jr.)

Some lessons I learned were re-enforcements on certain topics that I was previously and still exposed to like:
Bugsay Principle (By Roberto E. Aboitiz); Product Brand~AboitizLand (By Andoni Aboitiz); Nation Building & Sustainability~Aboitiz Foundation (By Rene Ronquillo); High Tech, High Touch~UnionBank (By Edwin Bautista); People Development (By Txabi Aboitiz); Personal Financial Management (By Steve Paradies); Brand Building (By Sebastian Lacson);

Sad to say that I missed Customer Service (By Jim Aboitiz); World Class Company (By Hendel Cabral); & CSR (By Sonny Carpio); due to pathetic time keeping skills and had to interview the inspirational speakers during the 2nd day, but it was still worth it nonetheless!
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A quick shout out to the ff. people: Rogie, Ate Vianney, Sir Lyndon Jayme, Chloe Ysabelle Lopez , ate Daphne, ate Sol, Sir Totits, Sir Leo, Yhol Colegado, Ms.CarolineB., Ms.Jovy, Alan Flores..THANK YOU for the day well spent during the summit!
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The Lord knows what's best for us!

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come”(2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV)

Reminiscing those times (2days) was kinda-AWESOME; I thought and asked myself "Why NOW?" (looking up to the sky); I thought to myself~Perhaps, I am now ready to participate in this activity, but I was a little wrong on that part; this was in a way, another path of self-improvement/rebirth. A quick thought of "what if.." came as well, thinking that 'What if I was a delegate?', but that quickly disappeared, I was THANKFUL of the opportunity presented and praised the lord!

It just re-enforces my faith, my beliefs, and my own desire to reach for my DREAMs, indeed our GOD is one of ABUNDANCE! Ultimately, the things I learned were not necessarily that of the talk of the executives, but the CULTURE of work the Aboitiz Group had; and now the hard part begins, summits can only do so much for a person, at the end of the day, it depends on the one attending whether or not they apply what they learn (Well that's another blogpost for later :D).

So, DON'T water down your dreams. Have confidence today because the LORD believes in you, and He is making a way for you, in his time! Not everyone can give you things you want, but God can always provide everything for you. Ask God, you'll receive.

(See more photos HERE)