NDMU’s Franchesca Yllaine B. Guanga, RPM, Honored by UNESCO Philippines as one of the Outstanding Youth Leader for 2025 at the International Assembly of Youth for UNESCO

Notre Dame of Marbel University (NDMU) — Franchesca Yllaine B. Guanga, RPM, CHRA, CTSP, BA Psychology graduate of Batch May 2025, has been named one of the Outstanding Youth Leaders of 2025 by UNESCO Philippines, recognizing her exceptional leadership, service, and advocacy in peacebuilding, education, and sustainable community development. Her selection reflects her growing influence in Mindanao, across the Philippines, and within the global Marist network.

A defining highlight of Guanga’s leadership journey is her service as Mindanao Student Leader President of the Philippine Association of Campus Student Advisers (PACSA)—one of the most respected student leadership bodies in the country, where she has represented Mindanao in national conventions, coordinated leadership programs, and strengthened youth engagement across institutions. Internationally, she serves as the Youth Representative of the Marist East Asia Province, co-authoring the global “Appeal of the Youth” article and representing the Philippines in the Marist East Asia 6th Provincial Chapter in Rome, Italy (2022), amplifying Filipino youth voices on intercultural dialogue, peace education, and spirituality.

Within NDMU, as Supreme Student Government (SSG) President (2023–2024), she institutionalized wide-reaching programs in peacebuilding, environmental stewardship, mental health, and civic engagement. As President of the UNESCO-accredited Peace Builders Organization (PBO, 2024–2025), she led an impressive roster of initiatives—interfaith forums, Project P.I.N.K., the Campus Canopy Project, Peace Tales, community outreach, and mental health seminars—and championed the Coastal Stewardship Project, a landmark five-year mangrove adaptation and ecological preservation program. Her service extends further through roles as JPAP Assistant Secretary (2024–2025), SMC Club officer, and former NSTP Council President (2021–2022), where she enhanced environmental campaigns, digital visibility, and community extension programs.

Her volunteer commitments remain consistent across multiple sectors, including the NDMU Center for Peace and Environment, Guidance and Testing Center, Quality Assurance Office, the Catholic Youth Ministry of Sagrada Familia Parish, and the PNP–LGU Lutayan Pulis Serbisyo Caravan, contributing to youth formation, psychosocial support, environmental action, campus promotion, and multi-sector peace initiatives.

Achievements and Awards

Franchesca’s work has earned an extensive list of recognitions, including:

• Marist Leadership Awardee (Batch 2025)

• Most Outstanding Student Leader – 2025, Gawad Parangal: Institutionalize

• Most Outstanding Student Volunteer – 2025, Gawad Parangal: Institutionalize

• Most Outstanding Student Organization Member – 2025, Gawad Parangal: Institutionalize

• Most Outstanding Student Volunteer – 2024, Gawad Parangal: Institutionalize

• Most Outstanding Student Leader – 2024, Gawad Parangal: Institutionalize

• Outstanding Organization of the Year for Culture (as PBO President) – UNESCO Philippines, 2024

• Gawad Publication Award (Two-Time Recipient)

  • Families’ Response and Coping Experiences on Suicide Loss in the Family: A Phenomenographic Study

  • Student Development Programs and Activities in Higher Education Institutions: Awareness, Involvement, and Satisfaction of Learners

• Champion, Best Paper & Best Presentation – Cavite Research Forum 2024

• 2nd Runner-Up, Tagum Research Forum 2025

• 2nd Runner-Up, NDMU Behavioral Sciences Research Forum 2025

• Youth Representative of the Philippines, Marist East Asia 6th Provincial Chapter – Rome, Italy (2022)

  
  

A Registered Psychometrician, Civil Service Professional Passer, Certified Human Resource Associate, and Certified Trauma Response Practitioner, her recognition as one of UNESCO Philippines’ Outstanding Youth Leaders for 2025 underscores her unwavering dedication, highlighting her as a standout figure in student leadership, peace advocacy, and sustainable development, anchored by her major leadership roles in PACSA, the Marist East Asia Province, the SSG, and the Peace Builders Organization.