International Leadership Award Body Honors CASS Student as Top Global Youth Leader

by John Vincent Balustre


Resonating change from humble spaces and to the global community, Jayson Abad, a senior Bachelor of Arts in Sociology student at the College of Arts and Social Sciences of Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), earned prestigious international recognition as one of the top young global leaders in 2024 by 25under25 Global Legacy Awards.


The distinction was presented by Common Purpose, an international non-profit organization geared towards leadership development based in London, United Kingdom. His first international stint in the ASEAN Young Leaders Programme (AYLP), co-organized by the National Youth Council of Singapore and the Singapore Institute of Technology, landed him an entry to an alumni network of Common Purpose.


Eventually, qualifying him to its Legacy Programme and the 25under25 Global Legacy Awards, which gauges the impact of its alumni through post-event engagements — zeroed in on tangible actions produced by their training and workshops.


“I see this award as a reminder that our actions, whether observed or not, truly matter, and that simple steps are crucial on the wider path ahead,” he wrote.


Hailing from the province of Maguindanao, often labelled as an election hotspot, and marred with alarming poverty rates and age-old political dynasties, he realized that “empowering voters leads to the election of empowering leaders.”


Since 2021, he has been taking the cudgels for voters' rights and empowerment. The series of initiatives spanned from the 2022 National Elections until recently, the 2023 Barangay and SK Elections. Also, he disclosed that preparations for another voter empowerment initiative are currently in place for the upcoming BARMM Parliamentary Elections.


“I strongly believe that while policies and programs are undoubtedly crucial for effecting change, the individuals who lead also play a significant role,” he stated.


Jayson Abad is currently the President of the MSU-IIT Bantogen Honor's Society and the Mayor of the MSU-IIT Sociology Society. Along with the multitude of organizations and affiliations he had inside and outside the campus, he declared that the award speaks of the quality of education he has received in CASS as on par with that of the institutions across the globe.


“As a Sociology major and a scholar of the Filipino people, it is our responsibility—mine and that of all of us—to make our humble contributions to the wider community,” he aptly expressed.


Meanwhile, Abad urged his fellow IITians to make it a habit to try and engage. While acknowledging the prevalence of leadership crises among universities in the Philippines, he remained optimistic about a supportive system and an enabling environment that would inspire the youth to step up.


Similarly, he encouraged students to explore opportunities such as applying for programs on self-development with the hopes of extending the privilege to other people.


“We must also remember that we lead to serve, not to be popular. While popularity may come as an outcome of leadership, the main intention must always be to serve,” he noted, underscoring service as the cornerstone of taking the lead.


Recollecting how he was once a passive student, he hinted at leadership as the flashpoint of his life’s holistic twist.


“Join organizations and participate actively; one day, you will realize that they not only give you experiences and memories but also skills and competencies crucial for your future career and role in wider society,” he concluded.