THE Australian Filipino delegates to the 2026 Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO) Youth Leaders in the Diaspora (YouLeaD) immersed themselves in Aeta communities in Zambales. The CFO said the immersion program was aimed at familiarizing the Filipino diaspora youth with the Philippines’ different Indigenous communities. The delegates from the Australian Filipino Community Services (AFCS) last week joined a forest immersion and cultural exchange with the Tingtingin Aeta community in Subic, led by its chieftain, Nanay Erlinda. The second leg of their immersion activity took place in the Aeta community of Yangil, nestled in the slopes of Mt. Pimmayong, in San Felipe, Zambales. Led by Jess Infante of Make A Difference (MAD) Travel, the delegation trekked to Mt. Pimmayong, learned about its environmental challenges and MAD’s biocharcoal initiative using cogon grass. With the help of community guides and carabaos, they crossed four rivers to reach the Yangil Aeta community, stewards of a 4,000-hectare ancestral domain. They were welcomed by its chieftain, Erece Dela Cruz, and were offered with camote delicacies and tanglad tea. The visit featured local produce and crafts, an archery lesson, a seed-potting activity for reforestation, and a farm-to-table lunch, followed by cultural exchanges through games and Talipi dances. The day ended with the delegation receiving handcrafted souvenirs and sharing a carinderia-style dinner in Lubao, Pampanga, before returning to Manila. The CFO recently launched the 2026 YouLeaD program, with four Filipino Australians taking part in the 11-day activity. The CFO said the YouLead is a “high-impact immersion designed to transform their relationship with their heritage.” The program, running from Jan. 3-13, aims to link the Filipino diaspora with the Philippines across political, economic and cultural dimensions, the CFO said on Monday. By engaging second-generation Filipinos born or raised abroad, the CFO seeks to ensure that the global Filipino community remains an active partner in the country’s progress. “The YouLeaD program is not merely a tour; it is a strategic effort to build a bridge between the Motherland and its children overseas,” the CFO said in a statement. “Our vision is to empower these youth to represent the Philippines politically as ambassadors of goodwill, to contribute economically by supporting local industries and to remain rooted culturally through a deep understanding of our history and values,” it added.