Alyssa Trinidad and Myla Ramirez | Photo via FYLPRO
NEW YORK – Twelve delegates from across the U.S. have been selected for the 2024 Filipino Youth Leadership Program (FYLPRO) Immersion program have been selected, FYLPRO has announced.
This year marks the eleventh cohort of delegates, bringing together a diverse group of leaders, each excelling in various fields and industries. After a highly competitive application process, the delegates were chosen based on their leadership potential, achievements, and commitment to the Filipino community.
Two selected represent New York and New Jersey — Alyssa Trinidad and Myra Ramirez.
Alyssa Trinidad
Trinidad is a community builder, civic engagement builder, and diversity, equity, and inclusive (DE&I) advocate. A first-generation Filipino American based in New York City, she is a Senior Bank Examiner in the Supervision Group at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, specializing in capital markets risk. A Certified Public Accountant, she also worked at Deloitte in Boston as an auditor, serving clients in financial services.
Alyssa graduated with a Bachelor’s in Business Management from UMass Boston and a Master’s in Accounting from Boston College. She also holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government. As a Fullbright scholar, she completed independent research on economic development at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business in Manila.
At Harvard, Alyssa served as the President of the Asian American Caucus and the Treasurer of the Filipino Caucus, student-run clubs. She advocates advancing professional development for Filipinos in underrepresented industries and is the Executive Vice President of the International Society of Filipinos in Finance and Accounting (ISFFA) New York Chapter. She is also the Treasurer of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) New York Chapter.
Myla Ramirez
The other delegate from this area is Myla Ramirez of Haledon, New Jersey. She is an Environmental Health Scientist who bridges the gap between science and policy. She is a Manager in the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP) Office of Environmental Justice, where she integrates environmental justice into the government operations and policies within the NJDEP and the State of New Jersey.
Before joining NJDEP, Ramirez worked on international public health program evaluation and environmental remediation projects through non-governmental organizations.
Myla received her Master of Public Health in Environmental Health Sciences from Columbia University and her Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology from Montclair State University. She is a Senior Environmental Leadership Program Network Fellow and an alumnus of the Bonner and AmeriCorps programs.
Trinidad and Ramirez enjoy traveling. While Alyssa volunteers, goes to yoga and cook spicy food, Myla enjoys cycling and delving into spirituality books.
The other emerging leaders include newly represented states like Colorado, Ohio, and Oregon, reflecting the breadth and diversity of the Filipino diaspora. They have an impressive record of leadership, achievements, and commitment to the Fil-Am community causes. These include:
Christian Aniciete — Beaverton, OR
Michael Baliton — Denver, CO
Angela Rose David — Winnetka, CA
Jessica de Leon — Burlingame, CA
Gabriel Kramer — Cleveland, OH
Michael Paranal — Oceanside, CA
Paulo Romeo Geronga Pontemayor — Washington, D.C.
Myla Ramirez — Haledon, NJ
Alyssa Trinidad — Brooklyn, NY
Dyanna Volek — San Francisco, CA
Sheila Larang Whittle — Houston, TX
Nanor Wong — Honolulu, HI
FYLPRO president J.P. Ferrer thanked the selection committee chair, Chris Lapinig, and vice chair, Agnes Lopez, for their tremendous dedication to the selection process. “We are thrilled to see such a strong interest in this year’s immersion program,” he said.
Lapinig extended his thoughts about this year’s cohort, saying, “(t)he growing enthusiasm from the community reflects a deep desire to engage with and contribute to our shared heritage.”
Meanwhile, the vice chair was excited to witness so “many talented individuals eager to take part in this transformative experience.”
The 2024 cohort will embark on a week-long immersion trip this November, with an itinerary split between Iloilo and Manila beginning in Iloilo on November 9. This year’s program aims to provide a fresh perspective on the Philippines, immersing delegates in both the rich history of the capital and the vibrant culture of the Visayas.
FYLPRO is a network of high-performing, next-generation leaders dedicated to advancing the Philippines and the Filipino community through advocacy, innovation, and expertise across various industries. By connecting young leaders to their heritage, FYLPRO fosters multinational collaboration, driving socio-economic progress for Filipinos worldwide.
FYLPRO partners with the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC, the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, and the Ayala
Foundation in furtherance of its mission.
