SPEECHES & EXPERIENCE

2011

FDU Global Affairs Guest Speaker Series, Keynote Speaker (Fairleigh Dickinson University, New Jersey)
Annual Environmental Law and Justice Symposium, Closing Keynote Speaker (Florida A&M University, Orlando, Florida)
UNIPRO "Top 30 Filipinos under 30" p. 16 link (New York, New York)
Yale Summer "Green Engineering," Guest Speaker (Yale University)
UN High-Level Meeting on Youth (Workshop), Speaker (UN Headquaters, New York)

Pre-World Leadership Online Conference,  Keynote Speaker  (Singapore)

Unipro Summit , Speaker (New York, New York)

Ateneo University National Environmental Forum, Keynote Speaker (Manila, Philippines)

Annual Youth Assembly at the UN, Speaker, (UN Headquarters, New York)
Clinton Global Initiative, Journalist (New York, USA 2009 – 2011)

2009 - 2010

"Heroes of Today" Featured (Sweden 2010)

Climate Hero Forum, Speaker, Facilitator, Moderator (Philippines Apr - May '10)

United Nations Framework on Climate Change Convention COP15 & COP16, 
Official delegate of the Philippines (Copenhagen, Denmark ’09 & Cancun, Mexico ‘10) 

Conference of Youth 5 & 6 , Speaker & Moderator (Copenhagen, Denmark ’09 & Cancun, Mexico '10)

RAFI Climate Change Forum, Keynote Speaker (Cebu, Philippines)
Earth Day Jam, Speaker (Manila, Philippines)

Annual Youth Assembly at the UN, FAF Youth Leadership Award, Moderator, Organizer

( 2008 - 2010 UN Headquarters, New York)

UNICEF/Oxfam, Youth Journalist & Blogger (New York, New York) 

The Global Summit, Scholar & Youth Chair (San Francisco, CA)

FAF Youth Leadership Award, Awardee (New York, New York)

FOR SPEAKING REQUESTS EMAIL: 
ecg5121@columbia.edu / esperanza@internationalyouthcouncil.com

Ban Ki Moon (left) and his wife (right) at the World Leaders Forum in Columbia University April 2012

Interview with Dr. Pachauri for the UN General Assembly at Yale University Aug '09.

Interview with Heather Graham at the Premiere of Age of Stupid
New York, New York. September '09.

UN Climate Change Conference, COP15. Copenhagen, Denmark.
Dec '09

Climate Hero Forum
Jan - May '10

Earth Day Jam Concert, Manila, Philippines. April '10 

Moderating a panel with UN South African Ambassador Sangqu

UN Headquarters, August 2011

Receiving a recognition plaque from the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.
Cebu, Philippines '10

Moderating a panel on Climate Change for the 7th Annual Youth Assembly
UN Headquarters, NYC. Aug '10.

RAFI Forum on Global Climate Politics. Cebu City, Philippines.
November '10

With Mary Robinson, the first woman President of Ireland, and my inspiration and dear friend, Constance Okollet, a farmer from the Tororo district in eastern Uganda - the real face of Climate Change at the Green Belt Movement and the Nobel Women's Initiative "Women's Leadership on Climate Justice and the Grassroots Perspective" (UN Climate Change Conference COP16 side event in Cancun, Mexico).

Interview with Ben Stiller, Clinton Global Initiative
Sept '10

World Climate Summit with President Calderon of Mexico. Cancun, Mexico.
Dec '10

Conference of Youth 6, Cancun, Mexico
Dec '10

8th Annual Youth Assembly at the UN, UN Headquarter, NY
Jan '11

Ateneo National Environmental Conference, 
Manila Philippines Jan '11

COP15 UN Climate Change Conference

Cancun, Mexico Dec '10 

Unipro Speech

Jun '11

My first intervention in international climate negotiations

COP15 UN Climate Change Conference

Cancun, Mexico Dec '10 

Interview with Thom Yorke of Radiohead at COP16 Copenhagen, Denmark Dec '09

PRESS

GMA News TOFA-NY honors 'brightest, most committed' Fil-Ams

October 2013

Financial Times, "Young Innovators Promote Charity and Creativity"

Jan 2014

My first Huffington Post article, "The World Cries with the Philippines"

November 2013

MSNBC interview, All in with Chris Hayes: The Broader Outlook for peril from storms

November 2013

Elle Magazine, Young Women Activists Band Together to Fight Typhoon Haiyan With 'Bundles of Joy', November 2013

Humaneity, a quarterly publication published in over 100 countries.
Interview begins in page 48 and can be found on this link. 

Världshorisont, a UN Swedish Magazine. On page 9  here. Download magazine here. May 2012

International Institute for Sustainable Development Coverage on NY+20 side-event at UN moderated by Esperanza Garcia. Read here. 
UN Headquarters, New York, April 2012

 Interview by South South News with Ambassador Jean-Francis R. Zinsou of Benin & youth leaders. To watch interview go on this link
New York, Aug 2011

Pilipino American Unity for Progress (UniPro) "Top 30 Filipinos Under 30." p. 16 on this link
New York, May 2011

Publication in my first magazine column in Bagong Bayani. p. 32 on this link
Singapore, June 2011

 "Heroes of Today"(Available in PDF)
Sweden 2010

Copenhagen Newspaper
Copenhagen, Denmark, Dec '09

Featured as "Global Changemaker" at Bakitwhy.com. Article on this link.
July 2011

Sunstar
Cebu City, Philippines 2010

Zee Lifestyle Magazine
Cebu City, Philippines May '11

Friendship Ambassadors Foundation "Youth Leadership Success Stories." More on this link. 
New York, New York '10

Inspiration of the day: Choi Sung Bong

Almost everyday, I am inspired by someone or some thing, and I am reminded how life has so much to give, and live for. Today, I am privileged to share with you the story of Choi Sung Bong, a Korean who once was an orphan, who has inspired the world with his voice. His story brought tears to my eyes, and made me much more grateful for the life that we're living. Good things come to those who wait, you have waited long enough Choi, and the waiting is over now.

My blog's page view by countries

My blog's page view top #5 countries are: US, Mexico, Germany, Canada, and the UK! (Other than my home country, ofcourse). Where is the love Africa and Asia???

Official Youth Delegate Declaration

Official Youth Delegates Declaration

No decisions about us, without us

NEGOTIATING OUR SURVIVAL:

A picture of representatives from countries vulnerable to sea level rise sit at a negotiating table submerged in the waves. (from 350.org)

As official youth delegates of our country delegation at the UN Climate Change Conference COP16 in Cancun, Mexico, we have been given the opportunity to represent our country and the voice of youth. We came together and drafted and signed the Official Youth Delegate Declaration, to support other young people to become representatives of their country and encourage their governments to support them. As stakeholders, it is important for governments to fully consider the concerns of youth in negotiations that concerns our future.

OYD Declaration Final

Sena Alouka from Togo signing the Official Youth Delegate Declaration

I’m Breaking Boundaries, apparently

This article was written by a friend of mine, Melanie Ediza, whom I had an opportunity to work with during the Philippine elections in 2010. We both worked for Sen. Loren Legarda who was running for Vice President of the Philippines at that time. It came out last month in a local magazine in my hometown called Zee Lifestyle. Though I have yet to read the article (I find it awkward to read about myself in papers), I was extremely touched to have been recognized by a fellow colleague.

Pre-World Leadership Conference Webinar Session

Just finished the webinar session for the Pre-World Leadership on

"Youth Mobilization & Global Climate Politics." It's always inspiring to speak with young leaders who desire to be involved in projects that want to help humanity. For those of you who wanted to copy of the presentation, I have uploaded it for you on slideshare. Thanks so much for all your feedback, it means so much to me.

for more info: http://worldleadershipconference.org

Youth Mobilization & Global Climate Politics

View more presentations from Esperanza Garcia

Unipro Speech on Filipino Youth Leaders

In my young life, having been engaged in international affairs, it is always the things that I have done for my country, that I am proud of the most. The UniPro Summit, held in St. John's University in New York from June 2 - 5 , brings young Filipino leaders together to promote unity in our community, and educating young Filipinos on who we are, and where we come from. I have had the honor of being asked to speak at the Summit on how young filipinos are engaging in international climate negotiations. Unfortunately, I am in the Philippines at the moment and unable to attend the summit, I have however made this short video to show at the summit to talk about "Youth Mobilization & Global Climate Politics."

For more on the Unipro Summit, click this link.

June Speaking Engagements

In the first week of June, I will be speaking about "Youth Mobilization & Global Climate Politics" at the Pre-World Leadership Conference and the UniPro Summit in NYC. As I am currently based in the Philippines, both of the talks will be administered via web. I love that technology gives me the opportunity to connect to people around the world regardless of my physical absence.

On June 2, 2011 I will be speaking to Filipino youth leaders at the UniPro Summit. Pilipino American Unity for Progress (“UniPro”), is a not-for-profit organization comprised of young professionals, students and youth to provide a safe space for honest dialogue for Pilipino identified communities to identify local, regional, and global issues of Pilipino interest. Steven Raga, an impressive young man currently pursuing law at Harvard, invited me to do a short spiel on how young Filipinos are engaging in climate change affairs in our country. He also nominated my work as part of the "Top 30 under 30" Filipinos for their upcoming magazine. I am excited to be speaking about Philippine youth leaders and Climate Change to Young Filipino Leaders at the The UniPro Summit in NYC. It is always an honor to be recognized by my fellow “kababayan.”

UNIPRO Facebook

UNIPRO Website

On June 5, World Environment Day, I will be doing a webinar session on “Youth Mobilization & Global Climate Politics” for the Pre-World Leadership Conference online. The World Leadership Conference 2011 is dedicated to pave the way towards the Rio + 20 as a consultation for the Asia and Pacific region. However, it is also important for all of us to learn more about the Rio Summit and how the world stands 20 years later, hence the Rio + 20 in 2012. The project is run by Environmental Challenge Organisation - Singapore, and it is supported by UNEP, the government of Singapore, National University of Singapore, and various youth organizations globally. Wilson Ang, founder and President of ECO-Singapore, is also a good friend and one of the hardest working people I know. Since I had met Wilson in 2009 in preparations of COP15, he has been an inspiration to myself, as he is with many other young people globally. I take pride in seeing my friends grow and excel into the leaders that they deserve to become.

DETAILS OF WEBINAR:

Celebrate World Environment Day this Sunday with Ms Esperanza Garcia. The topic is an apt representation of the principle of WLC:

Topic: Youth Mobilization & Global Climate Politics


Time: 8am GMT


Date: 5 June, Sunday

If you are interested in joining the webinar, follow this link: http://worldleadershipconference.org

Calling all passionate young Filipinos (and Filipinos at heart!)

Calling all passionate young Filipinos!

The Philippine Youth Delegation is now on its 3rd year in facilitating Filipino Delegates to the Climate Change Negotiations. As we are now preparing for the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference COP17/CMP7 or the (17th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention/ 7th meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol), the Philippine Youth Delegation is in need of passionate young individuals who will take part in this event. This will be from November 28‐ December 9, 2011 in Durban, South Africa.

I am proud of my colleagues who are continuing on with the legacy of giving other Philippine youth the opportunity to represent our country and our generation in international climate negotiations.

Philippine Youth Delegates to Durban

For More Info CLICK HERE

To download form to apply CLICK HERE

PHILYCM website

The MDG Awards Experience

The MDG Awards Experience

Held at the Waldorf Astoria in New York last September, the annual MDG Awards support and raise awareness of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The New York-based ceremony provides a high profile platform to honour and celebrate exemplary efforts by select national governments and civil society stakeholders in contributing toward the achievement of the MDG goals. 2010 MDG Awards gave awards in the following categories: Government, Lifetime Achievement, Recognition for Outstanding Youth Leadership, Stand Up Mobilization. Six countries, three from Africa and three from Asia received the UN Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Awards for their significant achievements towards attaining the goal.

As a consultant for the MDG Awards Committee, my task included delivering invitations to Under Secretary Generals, Ass. Secretary Generals & Directors of UN Agencies and recruiting, trained and supervised over 80 volunteers in an event that honored and included in attendance heads of states, directors of UN agencies, and top global diplomats.

Working for the MDG Awards Committee was an unforgettable experience. I am thankful for all the amazing people I had met due to this experience, especially those in the MDG Awards Committee, namely Heidi Walters and Micheal Jacobson, the South-South News staff, to name a few, Ambassador Lorenzo, Mildred Espinoza, Fabio Dillman, Emily Castro, Johanna Sanchez, Miles Ravitz, Afaf Konja, Raymond Bishir, Dilshad Deyani, Eric Dales and the amazing volunteers (you know who you are). The collaborative team effort was a result of many sleepless nights and endless weeks of hard work. It was an honor to have had the opportunity to work for an event of this magnitude.

MDG Awards Website
Invitation
Press Release