Negrense named youth ambassador to Australia

FOR the second time, a Negrense and an alumnus of Silliman University was re-appointed as Brisbane International Student ambassador this year.

Xavier Tilos Villagonzalo, 27, was appointed ambassador along with 27 other international students from 23 countries a year after he was first chosen by former Lord Mayor, now Queensland Premier, Campbell Newman.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, who announced the new representatives this year at an official ceremony, said Brisbane’s international student ambassador program is part of a wider strategy outlined in his Economic Development Plan 2012-2013, to deliver a first-rate experience for international students and empower them to become strong advocates of the city and promote Brisbane to the world.

This year’s program include students aged between 22 and 42, from some of Brisbane’s largest source markets, including China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Croatia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Venezuela and Vietnam.

They are studyingcourses in business, nursing, engineering, journalism and medicine at educational institutions across Brisbane.

Quirk said “International education is our largest export industry and these keen, enthusiastic students are ideally placed to promote Brisbane as a leading international student destination in their home countries.”

“Many will return to their home cities where they may become leaders in industry and government in the future, creating strong, long-term global connections for Brisbane. They also enrich our cultural diversity and play a vital role in demonstrating how vibrant and multicultural Brisbane is,” said Quirk.

Villagonzalo, who was one of only five continuing ambassadors from the 2011 program, said in his first appointment last year, “It’s never a good excuse to mess up your life because you come from a broken family or your parents passed away. All the more reasons that you need to twist the fate of your life to your advantage.”

Orphaned at an early age in Dumaguete, he struggled in life as his mother died in a vehicular accident when he was 9 years old. His father also died of diabetes.

A former youth volunteer of the Diocese of Dumaguete (Commission on Youth), Villagonzalo finished his Bachelor of Mass Communication degree in 2006 at Silliman with a YMCA Outstanding Student Award of Negros Oriental in the same year.

He was also the chairman of the Silliman University Corps of Campus Ambassadors from 2004 to 2006.

As part of his role, he will write his real life experiences through Facebook, Twitter and regular blogs on their ambassador profiles at www.studybrisbane.com.

Some of the activities will include media interviews, official visiting delegations to Brisbane and hosting media familiarization tours.