By Randy Espares Jr.

After winning the National Unilever Future Leaders’ League (UFLL) Case Competition, Far Eastern University (FEU) fourth-year International Studies (IS) student Johanan Isaac Bagalawis is set to compete for the country at the UFLL Global Finals together with other local delegates in London this July 9 and 10. 

Bagalawis is joined by Philip Adviento from Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan and Ethan Dee from De La Salle University. 

Despite hesitation to join the league due to their previous loss at a case competition, and Bagalawis’ nearing graduation, he and his teammates believed that this was their chance to try again. 

“I was initially hesitant when they asked me to join since I was juggling my internship at TikTok, the last leg of my fourth year, and graduation. But deep down we all knew then that UFLL was our shot to try again, this time with more experience and synergy,” the IS student shared with FEU Advocate. 

The contestants met through the MarkProf bootcamp, an extensive training program with lectures and mentoring from leading marketing and sales practitioners, where they became alumni volunteers. 

Winning the nationals

Before arriving at the streets of London, the team had to succeed first at the national level held at Unilever Philippines in Bonifacio Global City last May 26 to 28. 

In preparation for the local stint, they utilized their bond and the mindset of not settling for less as keys to winning.

“We leaned into our chemistry and shared hunger. We all came in with different strengths—Philip with his pragmatic romanticism and perfect balance, Ethan with data insights and consulting background, while I was doing consumer insights and left-brain thinking for our cases,” Bagalawis described. 

Each with a designated role, they managed to bag the champion title despite the IS student feeling pressured from the simultaneous events happening in his life. 

“I was happy enough to have even made it to the National finals. When we won I was, well overwhelmed—having to then think of how to take yet another leave from my internship, and then altogether extra overwhelmed by the daunting task of representing team Philippines,” he explained. 

Representing Tamaraws on the international stage 

Being a Tamaraw also had an impact on his success. Bagalawis attributed the University’s curriculum that balances strong academic foundation with practical implementation for his grit and grounded leadership.

Meanwhile, opportunities at FEU such as internships, case competitions, and debates gave him chances beyond his international studies degree program.

“As someone from International Studies suddenly shifting from IS to business, showed me that your background doesn’t limit your ambition—only your mindset does,” the global finalist added. 

Furthermore, the graduating student believes that his feat is a testament to Tamaraws' readiness to compete in global-scale events. 

“Personally, I hope it affirms that FEU talent belongs on these stages—and that we’re not just participants, but contenders,” Bagalawis declared. 

With the two-day global competition set in motion, the team visited stores to see actual Unilever products on the shelf to familiarize themselves with its brand fundamentals and simulate pressure scenarios. 

They also received consultations from their mentors at MarkProf and Unilever to aid in their goal to win another championship title. 

UFLL is a global business case‑competition run by Unilever for university students and recent graduates, held annually with one team hailed as champion from a 50,000-applicant pool.

(Photo Courtesy of Johanan Isaac Bagalawis and Ethan Dee)