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Asia's young leaders "Flow as One" in Cebu for the Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative 2026
The Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative (HYLI) 2026 brought together 32 student delegates from across Asia in Cebu for a week of dialogue, sustainability learning, community engagement, and cross-cultural exchange under the theme "Flow as One."
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Young changemakers gather in Cebu to spark shared solutions CEBU, Philippines, June 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hitachi Young Leaders Initiative (HYLI) 2026 brought together 32 student delegates from across Asia in Cebu for a week of dialogue, sustainability learning, community engagement, and cross-cultural exchange under the theme "Flow as One." Now in its 18th run, HYLI continues to serve as Hitachi's flagship youth leadership platform, connecting promising university students with leaders from business, government, academia, civil society, and development sectors. This year's theme reflected a timely call for collective action: the region's most urgent challenges, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), can only be addressed when countries, communities, sectors, and generations move together with shared purpose. HYLI 2026 Opens in Cebu HYLI 2026 formally opened at Crimson Mactan with ceremonies attended by delegates, mentors, senior Hitachi leaders, diplomatic and government representatives, private-sector leaders, sustainability advocates, partners, and guests from the University of San Carlos. The opening ceremonies featured messages from Hitachi leaders and distinguished guests of honor, including Mr. Toshiaki Higashihara, Executive Chairman of Hitachi, Ltd.; Mr. Yudai Ueno, Consul-General of Japan in Cebu; Ms. Josephine Gotianun-Yap, Vice Chairperson of Filinvest Development Corporation; Ms. Lorena Dellagiovanna, Group Chief Sustainability Officer of Hitachi, Ltd.; and Honorable Nestor Archival, Mayor of Cebu City. Their remarks framed HYLI 2026 around sustainability, shared responsibility, and the leadership values of ownership, engagement, and empathy. These values were echoed by Mr. Philip Dy, President of the Metrobank Foundation and a HYLI alumnus from the 7th batch in 2005. In his keynote speech, Mr. Dy reflected on his experience at HYLI and how it shaped the leader he is today. He urged delegates to connect meaningfully with their peers and explore what truly drives them. Since its inception in 1996, HYLI has inspired over 400 talented university students, including Mr. Dy, to broaden their perspectives and discuss key global issues. "Guided by our mission of contributing back to the society, I'm heartened to see HYLI delegates from diverse cultures gathered to solve societal challenges. ...