March 3, 2026
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: communications@fylpro.org
Filipino Young Leaders Program Announces Expansion of Immersion Program to Canadian Applicants
OTTAWA, Canada – The Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) and the Philippine Embassy in Canada are pleased to announce that FYLPRO’s signature immersion program will be open to Canadian applicants.
On February 20, 2026, FYLPRO President Genevieve Jopanda and Philippine Ambassador Jose Victor V. Chan-Gonzaga signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) affirming the Embassy’s support in helping to promote awareness of the immersion within the Filipino Canadian community as FYLPRO works to now recruit from an even larger pool of eligible participants for what has been called a life-changing experience by so many alumni of the weeklong program.
In his remarks, Ambassador Chan-Gonzaga described the signing as both a professional milestone and a personal affirmation of a program he has seen grow over the years. During a previous posting in Washington, D.C., he witnessed how the Immersion Program brought together accomplished young Filipino Americans seeking to reconnect with their roots and contribute meaningfully to the Philippines and their communities abroad. “The Immersion Program is more than a study visit,” the Ambassador said. “It is an awakening of identity, purpose, and responsibility.”
He spoke of a “missing generation” that may feel increasingly disconnected from their heritage, underscoring the importance of strengthening people-to-people ties alongside political and economic relations.
FYLPRO’s immersion program was initiated in 2012 under the auspices of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., which provides 10 to 15 high-performing, next-generation Filipino Americans the opportunity to travel to the Philippines and interact with influential personalities in the fields of business, government, arts and culture, civic action, science and technology, and social advocacy.
In 2022, the immersion program committee raised the upper end of the eligible age range for delegates to 45 to account for those who might have aged out during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, the eligible age range was 25 to 40.
“This MOU signing feels especially meaningful because it represents both the strength of FYLPRO’s relationship with the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and its embassies, and the organization’s growth over time,” said FYLPRO President Genevieve Jopanda. “The immersion program started as a way to help young leaders reconnect with the Philippines, but it has grown into something much bigger, a platform that helps incubate alumni legacy projects into global social impact across the diaspora. I am proud that this partnership with the Philippine Embassy in Canada opens the door for Filipino Canadians to be part of that journey.”
The life changing one week trip to the Philippines, which in recent years included an itinerary split between Manila and another location such as Cebu and Iliolo, has served as a catalyst for life long friendships and collaborations among delegates from across the diaspora and industries.
Since 2012, more than 100 FYLPRO alumni have launched diverse legacy projects following their immersion program. In addition, FYLPRO has served as an incubator for related initiatives led by alumni such as Kawayan Collective (elevating bamboo as a modern building material), Tayo (innovative data hub), Project Ligtas Bata (combatting the commercial and online sexual exploitation of children in the Philippines) and the Council of Filipino Americans in Medicine (CYFAM).
The signing of the MOU took place just before the opening of Pinoys on Parliament, an annual leadership conference organized by Kabangka and which convened around 250 Filipino Canadian students and young professionals from across the country this year.
Those interested in future application, immersion opportunities, and events are encouraged to follow FYLPRO’s social media for updates and announcements.
About Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO)
FYLPRO is a network of high performing, next-generation leaders who advance the Philippines and the Filipino people through their advocacy and expertise in various industries.
We continually expand the pipeline of Filipino young leaders in the diaspora. By connecting them to the motherland, we foster collaborative multinational relationships that create innovations and support the socio-economic progress of the global Filipino community.
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