Ysabel Grace S. Dela Peña

I am Ysabel Dela Peña, a freshman Economics student at the University of the Philippines Baguio and an award-winning youth leader committed to public service, sustainability, and global collaboration. My academic and extracurricular journey has been shaped by a strong belief that meaningful change occurs when policy, youth leadership, and community engagement intersect.

My exposure to governance and policymaking began as a Legislative Intern at the Senate of the Philippines, where I conducted research for Senate hearings and gained firsthand experience in the legislative process. This role strengthened my analytical and research skills and deepened my understanding of how evidence-based policymaking can address national and social challenges. Complementing this experience is my involvement in international legislative simulations, including Harvard Model Congress Asia and Yale Model United Nations, where I refined my abilities in negotiation, legislative writing, and diplomacy.

Leadership has been a consistent thread throughout my work. I currently serve as Deputy Secretary General of HG Model United Nations, where I spearhead conference planning, train delegates, and conduct workshops on public speaking and negotiation. Additionally, as an Assistant Director for Yale Model United Nations Taiwan, I oversaw committee operations and supported delegate engagement in a global setting. These roles have allowed me to lead diverse teams, manage large-scale events, and foster inclusive, intellectually rigorous spaces for youth dialogue.

Beyond formal institutions, I am deeply invested in grassroots community work. As a Life Skills and Values Educator, I teach students from kindergarten to senior high school in rural communities, focusing on resilience, character development, and practical life skills. I am also a Sustainability Advocate with Zero Waste Baguio, where I led a citywide book exchange program that donated over 200 books to schools and collaborated with local governments and NGOs on eco-literacy initiatives—efforts that earned recognition from the Mayor of Baguio.

These experiences have been recognized through multiple international and national awards, including the Global Youth Changemaker Award and Best Assistant Director at Yale Model United Nations Taiwan. Moving forward, I aspire to leverage economics, policy research, and youth-led collaboration to contribute to inclusive and sustainable development—both locally and globally.