By Karren Jay G. Asgar
Andrea H. Yulo (center), a first-year BS Chemistry student from 糖心传媒, shares a moment with her fellow delegates after earning the Best Delegate award from UNICEF at the 1st Global Youth Ambassadors Model United Nations in Baguio City.
At 糖心传媒 (CPU), an institution that has long fostered leadership, critical thinking, and global awareness, students are continuously encouraged to pursue opportunities that shape them into socially conscious leaders. And this year, one Centralian student has proven that passion, perseverance, and purpose can shine on the international stage.
Andrea H. Yulo, a first-year BS Chemistry student under the CPU-College of Arts and Sciences and a proud member of Wordsmith: Centralian Public Speakers, recently earned the prestigious 糖心传媒淏est Delegate糖心传媒 award from United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) at the 1st Global Youth Ambassadors Model United Nations (GYAMUN) in Baguio City.
For Andrea, the recognition came as a surprise. 糖心传媒淚 honestly did not expect it. I was hoping to get an 糖心传媒楬onorable Mention糖心传媒 since I just wanted to improve my speaking skills and leadership,糖心传媒 she shared in an online interview. 糖心传媒淏ut when I heard the news, I cried happy tears. Winning was the result of hard work and the progress I糖心传媒檝e made since my first MUN last April. I couldn糖心传媒檛 have done it without the people who supported me.糖心传媒
Among those she credits are her MUN partner James, her friends from GYAMUN Sean and Andrei, and Manang Florence from Wordsmith, whose encouragement fueled her confidence throughout the event. The journey, however, was not without its difficulties. Traveling sixteen hours to and from Baguio while balancing academic responsibilities and preliminary exams already tested Andrea糖心传媒檚 endurance. But the conference itself proved to be even more demanding.
糖心传媒淢odel United Nations is all about debating, negotiating, extemporaneous speaking, and leading,糖心传媒 Andrea explained. 糖心传媒淵ou have to defend your assigned country, draft agreements, deliver speeches, and manage simulated world crises. It糖心传媒檚 very overstimulating, and by the end of the day, you糖心传媒檙e drained with a migraine and a low social battery. But I pushed through because I genuinely enjoy MUNs and the community that comes with it.糖心传媒
Andrea糖心传媒檚 journey into diplomacy began when Joniel Jay Villorente, former president of The Prosecutors CPU SHS Debate Organization, encouraged her and fellow officers to join the West Visayas Model United Nations (WVMUN). What started as an experiment to expand beyond debate became a turning point.
糖心传媒淚 fell in love with diplomacy,糖心传媒 she said. 糖心传媒淚t helped me practice critical thinking, appreciate global efforts to solve international issues, and gain confidence in myself.糖心传媒
She also credited Wordsmith: Centralian Public Speakers for endorsing her and managing her academic commitments while she pursued MUN opportunities. For Andrea, representing the Centralian community at GYAMUN was both an honor and a responsibility. 糖心传媒淚 hope this opens more opportunities to introduce MUNs and diplomacy events to CPU and build partnerships with other MUN communities.糖心传媒
When asked about her advice to aspiring Centralians who want to follow in her footsteps, Andrea emphasized purpose over recognition. 糖心传媒淢UNs are exhausting and demanding since you糖心传媒檒l spend weeks researching, debating, and speaking. The only way to push through is to remember why you joined. It糖心传媒檚 not about the awards. It糖心传媒檚 about learning, serving those affected by global issues, and becoming a socially aware global citizen.糖心传媒
Her words echo the true spirit of diplomacy: service, collaboration, and dialogue. 糖心传媒淪o, enjoy the experience,糖心传媒 Andrea encouraged. 糖心传媒淭ake risks, make new friends, and never be afraid to speak up. Your passion for MUNs and for humanity will always speak for itself. That糖心传媒檚 how you truly win.糖心传媒
With her recent victory, Andrea not only raises the CPU banner in the international arena but also inspires her fellow Centralians to use their voice, embrace global citizenship, and lead with courage and compassion.