Ferth Vandensteen L. Manaysa - ASEAN Peace Project - Philippines
What three things do you do differently after your program at the East-West Center (SUSI/YSEALI)?
1. I think the one of the most important lessons I got from the East-West Center’s environmental leadership program was the importance of stepping back to see the bigger picture. I can still recall that the most exciting parts of the program for me were the times when all of us would regularly gather in a circle to reflect on our key takeaways from whatever activities we did during the day. Sometimes, when things get a little bit overwhelming I tend to be caught up and break things down into smaller steps or more doable goals, and just focus on reaching each one on the way to accomplish the larger tasks at hand. Although it is necessary to think about the little steps and turns you need to take while working on your goals and projects, it actually helps to have that ability to backtrack before doing anything and dig deeper into the direction you really want to go. To borrow the words of our East-West Center mentors, there are many possible “futures” and devoting even just a few minutes to mentally step back and reflect will definitely help in keeping you in track towards whatever destination you’re aiming to reach.
2. Beyond the inspiration that the East-West Center’s leadership program gave us to take on bigger issues and roles for our respective communities, I think what really kept us motivated to keep doing what we do was the exhilaration of connecting with like-minded people who share the same goal of resolving the environmental challenges confronting our region. For the most part, the program enabled me to establish life-long friendships with young people of diverse cultural, political, and socio-economic backgrounds. We shared anecdotes over meals in the dormitory’s kitchen about life back home and engaged in conversations on the issues confronting our countries. Not considering where our passports came from, we became like a family while knowing more about each other’s cultures and common goal of becoming full-fledged environmental advocates. These bonds among us propelled my desire to make a difference back home as I came to know how camaraderie and understanding drive social progress.
3. Our mentors at the East-West Center had a very unique way of instilling a sense of responsibility towards community development and realizing that the process of creating impactful change should always be based on the specific features and contexts of the places and community stakeholders we will be working with. For example, my key takeaway from America’s environmental history focused on what the native peoples’ environmental stewardship is all about: all things are related. It’s also something we’ve ignored for so long. Our environment is composed of complex living systems of animals, plants and other organisms that take part in natural cycles with feedback mechanisms that help them adjust to their surroundings. In the rule of ecology, we’ve known that even a single alteration in these systems can lead to a disruption in the chain model. The system’s stability is dependent on the manner the links in the chain are able to cooperate in achieving the balance. Similarly, the challenges confronting our communities are so complex that they require our collective action in devising strategies to confront them.
What impact did the program have on your career?
It might sound a little cheesy but I have to say that my experience as an academic fellow at the East-West has truly been a gift that keeps on giving. I’m most thankful that I got to meet our East-West Center mentors who have been constantly guiding us even after the program. You see, two years ago before I got involved with this leadership program, I would have never imagined myself co-founding a regional youth initiative called ASEAN Peace Project, winning international grants, raising funds to implement projects and partnering with different young people and institutions to advocate for more peaceful and sustainable communities. Right after the academic fellowship I also had a chance to work in a U.S.-government funded maritime security initiative under the Office of the President of the Philippines, and I can confidently say that being an alumnus of the program has surely paved the way in securing these kinds of opportunities. The invaluable lessons I learned from the program also encouraged me to apply for a scholarship, enroll in graduate school and study abroad. Soon, I’ll be pursuing further studies in Tokyo, and I’ll always feel grateful for and look back at the experiences and connections I gained from this leadership program, which gave me more confidence to keep on improving myself for my community.
What issues are you most passionate about in your daily life?
I’m most passionate about peace-building and environmental protection issues, and I’ve been very lucky be able to work on these twin issues at the ASEAN Peace Project. I’m most proud that ASEAN Peace Project has served as an enabling environment towards the empowerment of young people over the past two years. When I see the alumni of our initiatives that we’ve worked with gain more interest and passion for our advocacy, and lead projects of their own, I almost feel like a stage dad! Hahaha! For this year, we’re quite thrilled to spearhead a new accelerator program to capacitate young people from fragile environments in promoting sustainable development in peace-building processes and developing the potentials of peace-builders as future leaders in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
How have you come to see leadership?
From my experience, I find that leadership works well and matters only if the people you’re working with are responsive, and that’s because they know they share similar goals, their contributions will be appreciated, they are not afraid to experience failures and change the way things work, and they can trust in the veracity of the person accountable for the accomplishment of their pursuits. I believe leadership is directed by what is achievable, not by what is preventing success. When leaders see past the hurdles or difficulties, they inspire hope and commitment, which is vital for any initiative. Thus, an essential condition for successful leadership is not characterized by rushing to the forefront and being a directing charge, but rather acting as a rudder in the rear to maintain a course with a clear view of what is ahead.
1. I think the one of the most important lessons I got from the East-West Center’s environmental leadership program was the importance of stepping back to see the bigger picture. I can still recall that the most exciting parts of the program for me were the times when all of us would regularly gather in a circle to reflect on our key takeaways from whatever activities we did during the day. Sometimes, when things get a little bit overwhelming I tend to be caught up and break things down into smaller steps or more doable goals, and just focus on reaching each one on the way to accomplish the larger tasks at hand. Although it is necessary to think about the little steps and turns you need to take while working on your goals and projects, it actually helps to have that ability to backtrack before doing anything and dig deeper into the direction you really want to go. To borrow the words of our East-West Center mentors, there are many possible “futures” and devoting even just a few minutes to mentally step back and reflect will definitely help in keeping you in track towards whatever destination you’re aiming to reach.
2. Beyond the inspiration that the East-West Center’s leadership program gave us to take on bigger issues and roles for our respective communities, I think what really kept us motivated to keep doing what we do was the exhilaration of connecting with like-minded people who share the same goal of resolving the environmental challenges confronting our region. For the most part, the program enabled me to establish life-long friendships with young people of diverse cultural, political, and socio-economic backgrounds. We shared anecdotes over meals in the dormitory’s kitchen about life back home and engaged in conversations on the issues confronting our countries. Not considering where our passports came from, we became like a family while knowing more about each other’s cultures and common goal of becoming full-fledged environmental advocates. These bonds among us propelled my desire to make a difference back home as I came to know how camaraderie and understanding drive social progress.
3. Our mentors at the East-West Center had a very unique way of instilling a sense of responsibility towards community development and realizing that the process of creating impactful change should always be based on the specific features and contexts of the places and community stakeholders we will be working with. For example, my key takeaway from America’s environmental history focused on what the native peoples’ environmental stewardship is all about: all things are related. It’s also something we’ve ignored for so long. Our environment is composed of complex living systems of animals, plants and other organisms that take part in natural cycles with feedback mechanisms that help them adjust to their surroundings. In the rule of ecology, we’ve known that even a single alteration in these systems can lead to a disruption in the chain model. The system’s stability is dependent on the manner the links in the chain are able to cooperate in achieving the balance. Similarly, the challenges confronting our communities are so complex that they require our collective action in devising strategies to confront them.
What impact did the program have on your career?
It might sound a little cheesy but I have to say that my experience as an academic fellow at the East-West has truly been a gift that keeps on giving. I’m most thankful that I got to meet our East-West Center mentors who have been constantly guiding us even after the program. You see, two years ago before I got involved with this leadership program, I would have never imagined myself co-founding a regional youth initiative called ASEAN Peace Project, winning international grants, raising funds to implement projects and partnering with different young people and institutions to advocate for more peaceful and sustainable communities. Right after the academic fellowship I also had a chance to work in a U.S.-government funded maritime security initiative under the Office of the President of the Philippines, and I can confidently say that being an alumnus of the program has surely paved the way in securing these kinds of opportunities. The invaluable lessons I learned from the program also encouraged me to apply for a scholarship, enroll in graduate school and study abroad. Soon, I’ll be pursuing further studies in Tokyo, and I’ll always feel grateful for and look back at the experiences and connections I gained from this leadership program, which gave me more confidence to keep on improving myself for my community.
What issues are you most passionate about in your daily life?
I’m most passionate about peace-building and environmental protection issues, and I’ve been very lucky be able to work on these twin issues at the ASEAN Peace Project. I’m most proud that ASEAN Peace Project has served as an enabling environment towards the empowerment of young people over the past two years. When I see the alumni of our initiatives that we’ve worked with gain more interest and passion for our advocacy, and lead projects of their own, I almost feel like a stage dad! Hahaha! For this year, we’re quite thrilled to spearhead a new accelerator program to capacitate young people from fragile environments in promoting sustainable development in peace-building processes and developing the potentials of peace-builders as future leaders in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
How have you come to see leadership?
From my experience, I find that leadership works well and matters only if the people you’re working with are responsive, and that’s because they know they share similar goals, their contributions will be appreciated, they are not afraid to experience failures and change the way things work, and they can trust in the veracity of the person accountable for the accomplishment of their pursuits. I believe leadership is directed by what is achievable, not by what is preventing success. When leaders see past the hurdles or difficulties, they inspire hope and commitment, which is vital for any initiative. Thus, an essential condition for successful leadership is not characterized by rushing to the forefront and being a directing charge, but rather acting as a rudder in the rear to maintain a course with a clear view of what is ahead.