(7 November, 2024 – In this photo, Team LC 28 and select members of Team 2 from Mapúa MCM pose with Kannavee Suebsang, a distinguished judge at the 2024 Leaders Conference)
The 2024 Leaders’ Conference, organized by the International Youth Fellowship (IYF) and Tomorrow International Institute (TII), was held at Indoor Stadium Huamark, Bangkok, Thailand, from November 5-8. With the theme “Social Development,” the event aimed to inspire youth to tackle social challenges and practice community resilience through cultural exchange, leadership development, and community engagement.
The International Youth Fellowship (IYF), founded in 2003, is a non-profit organization focused on cultivating youth leadership grounded in Christian principles. In line with this mission, Tomorrow International Institute (TII) focuses on advanced training, research, and development, emphasizing sustainable development, future technologies, and international collaboration. Together, IYF and TII inspire young leaders globally through impactful conferences that foster discussions on leadership, cultural exchange, and societal challenges.
This year, the conference brought together 300 student delegates across 30 competing teams from various nations, including the Philippines, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Vietnam, India, and Thailand. Among the institutions representing the Philippines, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao (Mapúa MCM) proudly stood out with two exceptional teams from the College of Computer and Information Science, guided by Prof. Martzel Baste. Team 1 focused on Cyber Threats, while Team 2 addressed Drug Addiction. The Mapúa MCM delegation included outstanding students: A.L. Schatz A. Besana, Amiel Ed Angelo A. Faller, Favio Maximo G. Alfonso, John Lawrence S. Alovera, Justinne Anthea Mavvis B. Suyo, Shanica B. Diaz, Gabriel Angelo Suico, Josef Neil S. Lechoncito, Hanna Keziah T. Sato, Denise M. Lobaton, Joshua D. Famor, Tracy Angelo T. Posadas, Ryz Clyd R. Sabucido, Karsten Gabriel L. Cabico, Kyle Ashley O. Divinagracia, Alfred Dads D. Nodado, Keian Renheart A. Mar, Angela Nareen F. Bernales, Anikka Francine G. Cabania, and Mardelito T. Go.
LC 28’ (Team 1) from Mapúa MCM emerged as one of the top 8 finalists with their groundbreaking product idea, SecuriSense, proudly representing the Philippines as the only team to advance to the finals. Their innovative approach to addressing cyber threats secured them a spot in the top 4, showcasing their excellence and creativity in tackling global challenges, their achievement highlights the resilience and ingenuity of Filipino youth on the world stage.
The Mapúa MCM representatives did not just gain knowledge during the Leaders’ Conference—they also created memories that will last a lifetime. Joshua D. Famor, a 2nd year BS Computer Science student, from Team 2, stated that: “One of the highlights of the trip was one of the Mapua teams got in the top 8 for the competition. It was also the only Philippine team to get in the top 8 so we were really proud. Aside from that we really enjoyed the sightseeing there and the locals were nice people.”
Coach Prof. Baste of the Mapúa MCM teams also shared that: “Representing our school as a delegate was both exciting and fulfilling. I connected with professionals, including military officials, ministry of defense representatives, and professors from various universities. My first experience with a personal interpreter was especially memorable, allowing non-English speakers to engage more fully with my insights. These new connections and cultural exchanges left a lasting impact, broadening my perspective on youth leadership.”
Above all, for Mapúa MCM students’ representatives, the conference fostered valuable exposure to global issues affecting communities worldwide. By collaborating with youth from diverse backgrounds, these students gained insight into different cultural perspectives and approaches to these challenges—skills that can be leveraged to drive positive change in their communities.
For inquiries about international engagement, please contact the Center for International Programs at iprogram@mcm.edu.ph. To learn more about upcoming international activities, sign up on Engage through this link https://engage.mcm.edu.ph/ and join the Center for International Programs (CIP) Engage page, where you can access the full list of activities.