Last August 5, Asia Society Philippines joined a warm and vibrant Asia 21 Fellows Night graced with an inspiring keynote by Ambassador Delia Albert. The program is the first in-person and online gathering of Asia 21 Fellows of the Philippines in our new normal. The cohort proudly welcomed new additions to the greater Asia Society community, Erika Fille Legara and Paolo Domondon.

PROFILES

“Leadership is about one’s ability to rally and empower others toward a vision of improving not only each other’s lives and well-being, but also that of whole communities.”

Erika Fille Legara is a scientist, educator, and policy advisor. She has been recognized in the Philippines and abroad for her contributions to education innovation – particularly for “equipping Filipinos for a data-driven future” – since she took leadership in launching and designing the first data science graduate program in the Philippines.

Legara has also been leading the training of over 200 data science leaders with strong Asian anchoring at the Asian Institute of Management. As a scientist, she’s also been helping popularize STEM, inspiring youth to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. She has also been working with the Philippine government in crafting a national artificial intelligence strategy aimed to uplift the Philippine economy and society.

In 2020, Legara received the National Academy of Science & Technology Outstanding Young Scientist award. In addition to her R&D work and consulting initiatives with enterprises, she has also authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications in the fields of complexity and artificial intelligence. Legara is a TOYM honoree – the most prestigious leadership award for Filipinos under 40. And in June 2019, she made it to Asia Tatler’s GenT list – the definitive list of young leaders shaping Asia’s future.

“[Leadership] is about making a decision every day to channel one’s energy and creativity into solving the most pressing social and environmental issues.”

Paolo Domondon is the incoming chief program officer at Global Fishing Watch, an international NGO that advances ocean governance through increased transparency of human activity at sea. He leads the development and implementation of strategies to advance the organization’s transparency vision through global program and policy work.

Previously, Domondon was the senior director of policy and partnerships at Rare, a leading behavior change organization for the environment. He led Rare’s grassroots and global policy around fisheries, oceans, climate, and biodiversity. He also recently initiated and led Coastal 500, the largest global network of mayors committed to revitalizing coastal communities.

Domondon also served as the youngest board member of the Philippines’ largest election citizen group, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, and was the youngest board member and general manager of Gawad Kalinga’s regional office in Singapore.

Domondon has over 15 years of international development work experience in environmental and social sectors across various issues. He received his master’s degree form the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore; and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s of science degree in psychology from De La Salle University in the Philippines.

ABOUT ASIA 21

Asia 21 is the only network of young leaders focused on shaping a brighter future for the Asia-Pacific region. We (Asia Society) are laying the groundwork for a robust Asia-Pacific community capable of tackling the most vexing challenges facing the region – one leader, one connection, one project at a time.