Kung Gusto Mo Ng Pagbabago...
The Chito Gascon Leadership Series

As 2022 marked a critical year for the Philippines with the National Presidential elections, Asia Society Philippines with PumaPodcast, BUKAS: Conversations for Actions, and YouthLed PH, co-produced the Kung Gusto Mo Ng Pagbabago (If You Want Change) series. This series was named after the former Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights, the late Jose Luis Martin “Chito” Gascon.
"Pound the rock," the late human rights champion Chito Gascon used to say to changemakers. It was this belief in reform, and in the power of the youth to drive it, that carried him through frustration to victory. His commitment to serving our country and his example of leadership continues to inspire the next generation of advocates and activists.
Kung Gusto Mo ng Pagbabago (If You Want Change) series highlighted the crossroads Filipinos were in in deciding the future of the nation. Gathering insights from the intergenerational panel, the series asked, what can each generation learn from each other to tackle the challenges of nation-building and ultimately, "If you want change, then what or how [do we achieve this]?"
The series spanned 5 major issues that the nation has been facing. These issues are not new, rather issues that Filipinos have wrestled with across the decades. Each episode covered a single topic from good governance, mis- and dis- information, gender equality, climate crisis, to education reform. The episodes brought together veteran changemakers and young leaders to learn from each other and discuss how we can build the future we want for our country.
Kung Gusto Mo ng Pagbabago also features Asia 21 Young Leaders from different cohorts in the Philippines with moderator and Asia 21 Young Leader, Roby Alampay; and speakers Xyza Bacani (Speaking Truth to Power), Amina Evangelista Swanepoel (Women of Progress), Greg Gregorie and Atty. Lesley Cordero (The Long Fight for Our Planet), and Natalie Jorge (Changing Education, Educating for Change).
Kung Gusto Mo ng Pagbabago is available in both video and podcast format