By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Variety News Staff

THERE were two governors and two lieutenant governors running the territorial government yesterday. Attorney General Alicia Limtiaco had her own “mini-me.” Each of the village mayors and senators had their own clones, too, who not simply watched but actually had a one-day hands-on experience in policy-making.
Student leaders from different schools shared the elective posts with incumbent leaders as part of the Department of Youth Affairs’ Island Leadership Day, an annual project aimed at exposing potential future leaders to the “real world.”
Youth Gov. Jesse Quenga and Youth Lt. Gov. Olivia Flores sat in the same table with Gov. Felix P. Camacho and Lt. Gov. Mike Cruz during a meeting with Japanese Consul General Tamio Tomino at the Governor’s Chambers in Adelup.
The meeting gave the two youth leaders “the opportunity to experience the relationships the governor builds when receiving foreign dignitaries and other guests,” read a press release from the governor’s office.
Quenga and Flores were chosen to be the youth governor and lieutenant governor after winning the oratorical contests hosted by DYA at Saint Anthony’s School last February. The youth senators and youth mayors were selected by their respective student councils based on their academic performances and achievements.
At the Legislature, youth senators held a mock session, some of them speaking like full-fledged politicians. Coached by their senior counterparts, the youth senators debated mock bills, introduced amendments and voted on motions.
Sen. James Espladon’s youth counterpart, Brianna Calvo-Benito of Bishop Baumgartner Memorial School, even had a press release to boot.
“The Island Leadership Day is the culmination of many youth-related events that DYA held throughout the year,” DYA director Chris Duenas said.
“This program has two objectives: to reward students for their hard work and to expose them to real-life happenings in our island community and allow them to experience the duties and responsibilities of our leaders,” Duenas said. “We expect that this experience will inspire these kids to continue their good work and consider pursuing public service careers in the future.”