ASOG’s Tobacco Control and Governance team joins Ascend Leadership Program by the Institute for Global Tobacco Control

Alen Josef A. Santiago, Program Manager, and Samantha Joan Ackary, Research and Project Assistant, from the Tobacco Control and Governance team at Ateneo School of Government's Ateneo Policy Center, recently participated in the in-person event of Ascend: Leadership Development for the Future of Tobacco Control last July 29 to August 2, 2024. Ascend is a leadership program designed to support emerging tobacco control leaders from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to combat the significant burden of tobacco-related death and disease in their regions. The program is offered by the Institute for Global Tobacco Control at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. 

The in-person event was held in Makati City, Metro Manila and manifested as a five-day series composed of lectures, workshop activities, and field immersion activities. The in-person event included over 60 participants from LMICs most affected by tobacco use burden including Bangladesh, Indonesia, China, Argentina, Pakistan, Jordan, Vietnam, Brazil, Nigeria, Mexico, and India. The Philippines was represented by five delegates: two delegates from the Ateneo School of Government, one delegate from Vital Strategies, one delegate from the Philippine Smoke-Free Movement, and one delegate from the Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development.

Day One: Leadership and tobacco control

Day one centered on developing a strategic leadership mindset by recognizing key leadership principles that can bring about individual and organizational change. This included a panel discussion by Ms. Bianne Rose Espolong of Balanga City, Mr. Judy Delos Reyes of Parents Against Vape, and Mr. Iñigo Garingalao of Iloilo City, who all shared best practices in leading local interventions and initiatives for tobacco control. The participants were asked to create a bold vision for tobacco control in their respective groups, facilitated by Sisi Wen of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Jared Earley and Azadi Mathew-Lewis of the Institute for Global Tobacco Control, and Dr. Annette M. David of Health Partners LLC.

Day Two: Leadership and a vision for tobacco control

Day two focused on identifying and prioritizing key constraints in achieving a shared vision for tobacco control. This was complemented by guest speakers including OIC Assistant Secretary of Health Albert Domingo of the Department of Health, Ms. Tanya Hamada of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Mr. Reiner Tamayo of Vital Strategies, and more. The team also had a chance to visit the World Health Organization–Western Pacific Region Office (WHO–WPRO) in Manila City to learn more about regional action plans for tobacco and e-cigarette control. 

Day Three: From data to policy

Day three offers more context into how evidence and research can translate into effective policy and decision making. Participants were asked to identify the root causes of the key constraints in tobacco control that they identified from day two. The day proceeded with a series of talks and panel discussions with key tobacco control stakeholders. Alen Santiago, Program Manager of the Tobacco Control and Governance team, provided a talk and panel discussion with Dr. Susan Mercado of the WHO-WPRO on translating research and evidence into policy making. Participants conducted a Photovoice assessment around Manila to capture key tobacco control scenes in the area.

Day Four: Communication and tobacco control

Day four challenged participants to create an effective communication strategy using the Photovoice assignment from day three. Jared Earley of the Institute for Global Tobacco Control offered a talk on the power of storytelling and owning your message, which entails understanding what makes a communication strategy effective for your identified audience. Dr. Annette M. David of Health Partners LLC provided an overview of how to delineate strategic messages and how to develop a strategic approach that links the intended vision, goals, objectives, and outcomes.

Day Five: Communicating your vision and marketing complex public policy

Day five served as the culmination and closing event of the in-person program. Each group was asked to present their work from the past four days. Dr. Annette M. David of Health Partners LLC closed the program by challenging participants to recognize the importance of leadership, taking advantage of possibilities, and distinguishing the difference between “being your best for the world” and “being the best in the world.”