LEADING THE MISSION OF TRANSFORMATION
Youth Leadership Excellence for Active Development Philippines (YLP) Inc. is a non-stock, non-profit, non-political, and youth-focused development organization. Founded in 15 January 2011, our mission is to engage young leaders, enable their capacities to become Transformational Leaders, and empower them and their partners to impact communities. The vision of the organization is twofold. Our vision for one another is to become Transformational Leaders sharing the same purpose and values for the social transformation of our communities. Our vision for YLP is to become the country’s premier youth development organization on Transformational Leadership transforming one youth, one partner, and one community at a time.
Our objectives are to develop in every individual good moral values, social conscience, dedicated leadership, honor, excellence, and enlightened nationalism; establish harmonious relationship, unity and cooperation among members in pursuit of a common goal; and prepare our members to assume their role as active and dynamic stakeholders in the pursuit of national progress through the mission of transformation. Our work is governed by YLP’s Youth Transformation Quadrant (YTQ) that focuses on five thematic pillars, namely; inclusive education, good governance, environmental sustainability and climate action, peace, and gender and development.
Today, we have grown to become the leading youth organization on Transformational Leadership. Through our programs, we have engaged more than 300 organizations across the country ranging from higher educational institutions, local government units, private companies, community-based organizations, and Sangguniang Kabataan. We have funded and supported 41 youth catalyst projects in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao that are making impacts to youth and their communities. Our national events continue to receive positive feedback and have maintained an annual average evaluation rating of 84 percent A (excellent) from 2013 to 2016, 91 percent A in 2017, 93 percent A in 2018, and 95 percent A in 2019.
We have also formed healthy partnerships with international organizations such as the Habitat for Humanity, World Youth Alliance Asia-Pacific, United States Peace Corps, British Council, United States Agency for International Development, Rotary, and United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network Philippines (UN-SDSN Philippines). YLP received its registration from the Securities and Exchange Commission, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and National Youth Commission in 2014. It is an accredited national youth organization of the National Anti-Poverty Commission Youth and Students Sectoral Council and is one of the founding organizations of the UN-SDSN Youth Philippines.
We are a self-supporting and self-financing organization and draw revenues from the registration proceeds of our national events and other income-generating activities, which in turn are used to finance our operation, programs, and engagements. Our operation is being carried out by the National Central Hub that’s based in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. The organization maintains a roster of active volunteers who are mostly alumni of our programs. YLP was awarded in 2014 by the Provincial Government of Bohol for its contribution during the aftermath of the Great Bohol Earthquake and Haiyan. In July 2018, we were awarded as one of the Ten Most Outstanding Youth Organizations by the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (Villar SIPAG) under its National Poverty Reduction Challenge.
Our Founder’s Creed
The victims. The afflicted and deprived, those who hunger for acceptance and recognition, the passive and the resentful, those consumed by greed and power.
The seekers. The lost. The restless spirits whose quests are blurred by winding illusions, that light may steer them to the right path, the path to transformation.
The workers. The untiring souls who strive to make their communities a better place, those who nurture greatness and cultivate transformation, those whose sacrifices are profound so that others may have renewal and connectedness.
The visionaries. The believers, those who seize every opportunity to radiate hope, those who inspire and breathe purpose, giving life a new meaning.
We, therefore, take the call: to inspire and be inspired by the selfless ministry of God and His creation. This commitment of honor, excellence, leadership, and patriotism to serve, lead, and transform is forever heartily dedicated.
Ambulate in Lumine Fidei, walk in the light of faith.
Our Pledge
Servanthood. We are servants as leaders. We serve to share, engage, and empower transformation. We treat ourselves as vessels, our colleagues as brothers and sisters, and our clients as partners.
Simplicity. We are pure in heart and mind. We abhor any form of pride and oppose materialism. We believe in sacrifice as a way to attain enlightenment and holiness.
Solidarity. We are united by the vision of social transformation. We are bound by our values. We triumph and rise together. We impart a part of us so together we become whole.
Selflessness. We discover ourselves by losing ourselves in the service of others. We kindle the power of transformation through love and service to the nation, our communities, and fellowmen.
OUR FOUNDER
Our Founder is Metodio “Kuya John” Maraguinot Jr. His work with many communities, international government and non-government organizations, as well as his vision for our nation and the planet, has been our constant inspiration in the Mission of Transformation. Kuya John is a development professional with more than a decade of experience managing projects locally and abroad. He is a Master Project Manager, a Certified International Project Manager, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Project Management.
Kuya John is an alumnus of the 33rd Ship for Southeast Youth Program to Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Japan in 2006, Rotary International Group Study Exchange to Texas, USA in 2013, and Let Girls Learn of Former United States (US) First Lady Michelle Obama in Washington DC, USA in 2017. His stint in the European Union DReAMS Project as Consortium Deputy Project Manager provided him the horizon to accumulate best development practices in the following countries: Bhutan, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, India, Bangladesh, and Thailand.
Kuya John represented the Philippines to the Economic Cooperation and Financing of Development Projects Summit in Beijing, Kunming, and Shanghai, China in 2008.
He is a Fellow of the Kementerian Luar Negeri Visitors Program on Good Governance and ASEAN Multilateralism of the Malaysian Government that was organized in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya in 2019. He is likewise an Alumnus of the International Visitor Leadership Program of the US Government with focus on Zero Waste and Reducing Plastics.
Kuya John was a facilitator and one of the final challenge child speakers of the Second World Congress Against the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in Yokohama, Japan in 2001. He is a proud product of Holy Name University in Tagbilaran City and is one of its distinguished alumni. He was conferred numerous awards by the university, including the prestigious Fr. Alphonse Lesage, SVD Award for the Most Outstanding Graduate.
Kuya John is a recipient of the Ten Outstanding Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Ten Jose Rizal Model Students of the Philippines, Ayala Young Leaders, Congressional Citation for Youth Leadership Excellence, National Youth Commission Award for Youth Leadership Excellence, and many others. His other professional backgrounds include with DRCI, an Ayala Project Company, as General Manager and COO, and with the US Peace Corps in the Philippines (part of the US Embassy in Manila) as the Project Specialist for Padayon Mindanao and GEF in the Philippines Activity Manager.