AUTHENTICATION
20 September 2013 – The Centre for Social Innovation in Manhattan, New York was teeming with youthful energy and the desire for common good as the Philippine Department of Tourism-New York partnered with NextDayBetter to present “Destroying Unsolved Problems,” a forum on innovation, social entrepreneurship and striving for positive change.
The event was held last September 14 and was attended by about 175 professionals and thought leaders, from across industries. Philippine Consul General in New York Mario L. De Leon, Jr. graced the event to connect with the Filipino-American youth, who were the majority of the attendees.
Fashioned after TED talks but with a Filipino twist, the event started with a food -tasting and Q&A session curated by Nicole Ponseca, Founder of Maharlika and Jeepney NYC. Ponseca introduced entrepreneurs and chefs from Boulton Watt and Bibingkaesk and facilitated a discussion on the future of the Filipino Food movement globally. This was followed by a series of talks given by Tara Abrahams, Deputy Director of Girl Rising; Ray Sison, Art Director of Nike FuelBand; Jayson Atienza, Creative Director and Award Winning Artist; Faith McCollister, Former Philippines Country Director of Innovation for Poverty Action; Jose Llana, Broadway Artist and Performer at Here Lies Love; and Jose Antonio Vargas, Pulitzer Winning Journalist and Founder of Define American. Each of the speakers gave an impassioned presentation about their careers, advocacies, unique personal backgrounds and visions of the future.
In addition to the talks, the NextDayBetter team also presented an Education challenge in partnership with Teach for the Philippines (TFP), a non-profit that identifies, develops, and supports a community of leaders working toward educational equity in the country. Michael Vea, US Director of Business Development for TFP, cofounder of KIPP Infinity Charter School, and a 2012 FYLPro delegate from New York, presented the challenge to the crowd to rally their design thinking skills, talents, and passions to push forward education in the Philippines from the United States and Canada.
The event culminated with Ryan Letada, Chief Builder and CoFounder of NextDayBetter, sharing his vision for the organization. Operating on the belief that talent and motivation abounds among the Filipino-American community, NextDayBetter seeks to highlight those who destroy unsolved problems and make their imagined future a reality. Letada officially ended with an invitation to a NextDayBetter event in Los Angeles on 28 September 2013. END
OFFICE OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS 
