CALASIAO, Pangasinan – A 17-year-old student here is set to represent the Philippines in an international convention for youth leaders to be hosted by the United Nations early next year.
Zayra Grace Llobrera will be representing the country in the Asia World Model United Nations II (AWMUN) on Jan. 30 to Feb. 2, 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Llobrera, a Grade 12 student at the Calasiao Comprehensive National High School, is one of Pangasinan’s blooming youth leaders as she is also president of her school’s student council, one of the Top 10 Outstanding Student Leaders of Pangasinan, and a freelance writer.
“Zayra is an achiever, and she never ceases to amaze me”, said Danilo Soriano, one of her advisers. “Anything she does she tends to excel at.”
Since childhood, Llobrera has been a high-flier and has been joining competitions.
“As a youth and president of our school, I believe it is our responsibility to broaden our knowledge, especially with issues concerning our country’s current stand and be a catalyst towards nation building. That principle of mine is the reason why I want to join the international convention,” she said in an interview.
According to Soriano, she aimed higher after attending a UNESCO event last September.
“I got interested in the event that they have been promoting, I filed an application, which eventually led to this”, she added.
Llobrera aims to bring home the bacon for the “best position paper”, which she is currently working on, to bring more glory to the country and her hometown.
“I am currently writing a position paper about issues concerning our society, and I hope we win this one,” she said.
The AWMUN targets 1,000 delegates from all parts of the world so youth leaders could create networks and communities that would enable them to know other leaders, who share similar interests and eventually help their respective countries.
“The AWMUN is important to develop the youth’s skills, especially when it comes to diplomacy and leadership. I think it’s important to be part of the change, to help provide that youth view, and it’s important that decisions being made are what the youth want, too, and I believe that she can help on that,” Soriano said. ( Ahikam Pasion/PNA)
