Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English student, Luis D. Magdamit, demonstrated John F. Kennedy’s indispensable characteristics: leadership and learning, when he received Most Inspiring Young Leader and Advocate for Youth Development of the Year Award of Asia Pacific Luminare Awards (APLA) at Okada Manila, Parañaque City, Philippines on 26 June 2021 .
The APLA is an organization that seeks the best individuals and enterprises from all around Asia, including industry titans, entertainment and cultural artists, corporate heroes, and environmental and human rights advocates. Mr. Jao Mapa (actor, renowned painter, and philanthropist) and Mr. Perry Escao (filmmaker and event organizer) are the chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, of the award-giving board.
Luis D. Magdamit, 20, is a proud second-year student at the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture – Pasacao Campus. He has been a consistent honor student since elementary school and has a high level of academic achievement. Aside from having outstanding academic records, he is also passionate about leadership and has an excellent capacity to lead and influence his fellow youth. Luis is currently affiliated with YouLEAD Initiative Inc. as the Provincial Director for Camarines Sur. Municipal Ambassador for Pasacao of Global Institute for Youth Development, Member Advocate of Every Boto Counts, Youth Advocates for the Philippines- a youth-led, non-profit organization that paves the way for the Youth to experience socio-civic involvement through a series of advocacy-based Project and Initiative. Additionally, he is the current Vice President of the CBSUA-Pasacao Campus Supreme Student Council.
Magdamit had the opportunity to represent CBSUA in two international programs of North Carolina State University in Raleigh, USA, last year. The Global Leadership Program and Cultural Competence Program, both of which were attended by excellent students from various universities throughout the world. He also attended other international conferences such as the Global Leadership Conference, the Global Goals Model United Nations, the Asia Pacific Youth Forum, the International Youth Summit, and many more.
TINDOG DALUPAON: A Donation Drive Project for Super Typhoon Rolly and Typhoon Ulysses Victims in Pasacao, which Magdamit started in November 2020, is part of his Project Initiatives. He was featured in the North Carolina State University Office of Global Engagement Newsletter on 3 December 2020. Last January, he began Project LIBRO, with the goal of collecting books for underprivileged children in his town and establishing a community library that is open to anyone. Lastly, Project SAGIP DAGAT, a Coastal Clean-up Drive Project that aids in the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14. There were over 100 Youth Volunteers in the Project. As the Project Director of SAGIP DAGAT, Luis aims to inspire people who live near the sea to preserve the seawater from plastic waste pollution.
Luis Magdamit believes that there is still hope for the people and that they should be the ones to start it. Today, he is collaborating with Youth Leaders from Denmark, Nigeria, Spain, India, Liberia, and Pakistan to develop the SDG Youth Movement, which will be comprised of diverse SDG Heroes from various International Organizations. As a youth, Luis will continue to educate, empower, and lead in the realization and localization of the Sustainable Development Goals. He commits that he will continue to be an SDG Champion.