FYLPRO’s Tayo Announces 2026 Youth Advisory Council Cohort

The Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) is proud to announce the selection of 8 councilors to serve on the 2026 inaugural cohort of the Tayo Youth Advisory Council (YAC). Applications for the council officially opened on November 26, 2025 and closed on January 23, 2026.

“I am incredibly excited for what lies ahead for our first cohort. Since immigrating to the United States, Tayo has provided me with a sustainable platform where I could transform my passion for serving the Filipino people into tangible action,” said Serena Mackay, who proposed the project in February 2025 and now serves as its External Chair. “I am confident that this group of civic-minded leaders will uplift the Filipino diaspora from the group up. This launch of this council represents the urgency of acknowledging youth voices and representation in rooms where policies and projects directly affecting our lives are being made.”

In its inaugural year, the YAC aims to build a national high school volunteer network, with an overarching goal of empowering young Filipino leaders committed to uplifting Filipino/a/x and AAPI communities nationwide. The council will also plan Tayo’s annual youth summit and strengthen youth participation in organizational strategy and programming.

As a representative body of youth leaders, they will co-create initiatives in the following areas: Public Health, Policy and Advocacy, and Volunteer and Outreach.

“I never expected for my advocacy work to grow beyond the confines of my high school’s Filipino Student Association. After my fellowship with Tayo, I feel more empowered to lead the next generation of youth to solve the world’s biggest challenges. As the Internal Co-Chair, I am excited to oversee leadership and public health matters! I believe that this Youth Advisory Council is the step further towards achieving Tayo’s goals of inclusion and equity for Filipinx communities.” said Michael Orilla, co-founder and Internal Chair of YAC.

Read the profiles of FYLPRO’s 2026 Tayo Youth Advisory Councilors below:

Michael Orilla (he/him), Fairfax, VA
Co-Founder, Internal Chair

Michael Orilla is a high school senior in Fairfax, Virginia. He is a son of two Filipino immigrants and a younger brother. In school, he is the Co-President for his school’s Filipino Student Association, uniting others in the effort to raise awareness for Filipino culture. Michael previously served as a Summer Fellow for the FIlipino nonprofit Tayo, helping to improve youth involvement in discussions surrounding historical misinformation. Currently, he is serving as the Co-Chair for Tayo’s inaugural Youth Advisory Council, overseeing a body of high-school students' passion about empowering Filipinx/o/a communities.

Michael is passionate about improving health disparities of everyone, especially Filipinos. In the future, Michael plans to pursue a four-year institution to study Biology, and later on attend medical school.

Serena Mackay (she/they), Manchester, NH
Project Proponent, Co-Founder, External Chair

Serena Mackay is a high school junior in Manchester, New Hampshire, and a proud first-generation immigrant raised in the Philippines by an Ilocano family. Named a 2026 Emerging Global Filipino Icon, they are passionate about creating accessible spaces where youth can transform civic and sociopolitical awareness into action.

Serena is the Founder and Executive Director of LUHOG, a nonprofit empowering over 200 young Filipinos across the homeland and diaspora to confront global issues impacting Filipino welfare. Her grassroots work in national organizations such as the Filipino Young Leaders Program aims to secure equitable resources and defend historical truth in public education. On campus, Serena serves as Student Body Vice President.

Interested in majoring in Political Science and International Relations, Serena one day hopes that her passion for politics contributes to a world where equity, justice, and opportunity are realities for all.

Amara Villareal (she/her), Clifton, NJ
Policy & Advocacy

Amara Villareal is a Filipino-Chinese high school sophomore from New Jersey with a passion for helping others and community service. In her free time, she likes to listen to music, run, read, ski, cook, and play with her dog, Mango. In her school, she is a member of DECA, the Chick-Fil-A Leader Academy, Filipino Club, and Asian Culture Club along with many others. She loves science and animals and one day hopes to pursue a career in that field in the future. She is excited for this opportunity to uplift AAPI and Filipino/a/x communities while gaining meaningful leadership skills.

Althea Villareal (she/her), Clifton, NJ
Outreach

Althea Villareal, also known as Allie, is a sophomore from Immaculate Heart Academy. She is Filipino-Chinese, and was born and raised in New Jersey. She loves her friends and family and spending time with them. She also has an interest in learning new things and overall improving herself in many different ways. Another way she spends her time is by engaging in hobbies such as journaling, knitting and crocheting, video games, art, watching shows, and listening to music. She runs track and plays volleyball and skis for fun. Her dream is to travel the world with the people she loves and be happy with them in the future.

Anshita Bhunia (she/her), Mooresville, NC
Public Health

Hi! My name is Anshita, and I am thrilled to be a member of the TAYO Youth Advisory Council in the Public Health area. I’m deeply passionate about health equity, community engagement, and making sure young people’s voices are included in conversations that directly affect their well-being. My previous work has focused on expanding access to telehealth resources in my community, especially for individuals facing language, technology, or access barriers.

Through this experience, I learned that improving public health isn’t just about creating services; it’s about helping people understand, trust, and feel empowered to use them. I love working directly with community members and seeing how small, thoughtful interventions can make a real difference. As part of the Youth Advisory Council, I’m excited to learn from other passionate students, contribute creative ideas, and help turn youth perspectives into meaningful action. I can’t wait to continue supporting others and working toward a more inclusive, community-driven approach to public health!

Kelani Ramos (she/her), Bethesda, MD
Public Health

Kelani Ramos is a Junior at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland. She is active in raising awareness on both her Asian and Pacific Islander sides by serving as secretary of the Asian Student Union, president/founder of the Pacific Islander Club, and volunteering at Asian events/festivals. She is also the captain of her wrestling team and an international competitor in judo. Being a Filipino and Hawaiian descendant, she is interested in cross-cultural community advocacy and looks forward to further studying public health and/or international relations in college in DC. In her free time, she enjoys playing sports, making playlists, and traveling.

Ronnie Alava (he/him), Newton, MA
Policy & Advocacy

Ronnie Alava is a junior at Newton North High School in Massachusetts who has reframed his relationship with his Filipino heritage into a mission of empowerment and advocacy. As a result of growing up in a predominantly white community, Ronnie experienced a disconnect from his Filipino identity similar to other youth in the diaspora. This gap drove him to explore his roots while helping others do the same.

As Co-Founder of Youth 4 A Better Future PH, Ronnie heads a student-led nonprofit promoting financial literacy in the Philippines through school partnerships and social media outreach. In addition, he serves as a Board Member of PAMANA Inc., advocating for Filipinos at the state level and planning large-scale cultural events that celebrate and preserve Filipino heritage in Massachusetts.

Moreover, being selected as one of 24 delegates worldwide for the Filipino Young Global Leadership Program, Ronnie participated in workshops on domestic issues, civic engagements, and sustainable development alongside fellow youth leaders. This experience deepened his commitment to address the numerous challenges facing Filipino-American youth.

Through his work, Ronnie strives to ensure that the next generation of Filipino youth grows up with a strong connection to their culture and community—something he had to dig deep for.

Sofia Javier Joo (she/her), Los Angeles, CA
Outreach

Sofia Leilani Javier Joo is a Filipino-Korean American student creator and emerging multimedia artist from SoCal. Whether she’s dancing under stage lights, strumming her ukulele, or working behind a camera, Sofia brings a bright, energetic spirit to every project she touches. She has contributed to production work with PADNET Long Beach, gaining hands‑on experience PA‑ing on a professional film project and learning the fast‑paced rhythm of life in the studio. Sofia is active in the local arts community, volunteering at film festivals in Burbank and helping run the camera crew for weekly livestreams at her Church, where she supports broadcasts reaching thousands of viewers. At her high school, she balances creativity with leadership as Sophomore President of the Filipino Club, an officer for the CVHS Tassel Chapter, and a committed member of the competitive dance team. Blending culture, creativity, and community, Sofia continues to explore new ways to tell stories and uplift Filipino American voices. She hopes to grow as a young creative leader and inspire others to embrace their heritage, their imagination, and the joy of making something uniquely their own.

About Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO)

FILIPINO YOUNG LEADERS PROGRAM (FYLPRO) is a network of high performing, next-generation leaders who advance the Philippines and the Filipino people through their advocacy and expertise in various industries.

We continually expand the pipeline of Filipino young leaders in the diaspora. By connecting them to the motherland, we foster collaborative multinational relationships that create innovations and support the socio-economic progress of the global Filipino community.

For more information: http://www.fylpro.org

About Tayo

Tayo, a project of the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO), is an innovative data hub that empowers Filipinx/a/o communities by collecting data, fostering partnerships, publishing culturally relevant insights, and developing leaders to create an equitable and sustainable future.

For more information: www.tayohelp.com.