House Speaker Martin Romualdez has urged the world's future leaders not to sit idly and wait for others to address global challenges, saying now is the right time to solve various issues such as conflict, challenges to democracies, economic instability, and climate change.

At the annual international Model United Nations conference organized by Harvard University students and held in Manila on Sunday, March 16, Romualdez reckoned that today's generation was now "inheriting a world that is complex, and in some ways, more fragile than ever".

He said "conflicts rage, democracies are tested, economies are shaken by forces beyond borders, [and] climate change is no longer a distant threat".

"It is here, demanding answers we can no longer afford to delay. These challenges will not wait for the next generation of leaders. You are that generation. Do not wait for permission to make an impact. Do not wait for the 'right time.' The right time is now," he added.

He said the ideas that will be formed by the delegates during their debates as well as the convictions and the friendship that will be strengthene will be real. "They will shape the way you see the world when you step beyond these walls."

Romualdez also talked about President Marcos' policy as a leader, particularly on foreign affairs.

He said the Marcos administration maintained a policy of peace, pragmatism and partnership through building stronger alliances while standing firm in defending the country's sovereignty.

"We have strengthened economic ties with partners across Asia, the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, securing investments and trade agreements that will uplift millions of Filipinos," Romualdez said.

That's the essence of diplomacy, he stressed. "Standing firm in principle while seeking common ground," he added.

He then spoke of the challenges of leadership. According to him, true leadership is not about standing at the front; rather it's about knowing when to listen, when to compromise, and when to take a stand that history will judge you by.

"It is about recognizing that power is never truly yours - it is always held in trust for those you serve," he said.

“Leadership is not a birthright. It is not bestowed by title, nor guaranteed by intelligence alone. Leadership is earned. It is forged in the fire of responsibility," he also said.

Romualdez then expressed hopes that the event's participants--poised to become world leaders on their own--will carry that lesson with them.

"Some of you in this room will lead governments. Some will lead corporations, movements, revolutions of thought. The question is, how will you lead?" he asked.

"The idea that no matter how deep the differences, no matter how great the challenges, there is always a way forward - so long as there is a willingness to build, not just to destroy; to listen, not just to speak; to find common ground, not just to defend positions," he said.