Members of the younger generation had their fill of inspiration and encouragement from young achievers at the Philippines’ first TFCU Talks which was put together by ABS-CBN University and TFC, ABSCBN’s global network.
The Manila leg of the discussion series, themed “Make Your Mark,” is also the first edition of TFCU Talks to be held outside the US. It gathered an estimated 300 participants from various universities in Manila and Cavite.
Also present at “TFCU Talks in Manila: Make Your Mark” were ABS-CBN president Carlo L. Katigbak, ABS-CBN Global chief operating officer Raffy Lopez, ABS-CBN Asia Pacific managing director Ailene Averion and ABS-CBN head of Integrated Marketing Nandy Villar.
ABS-CBN University head Gab Orendain, in his welcome remarks, encouraged the students to continue learning new and better ways of doing things, follow their dreams and hone their craft.
“Dedicate yourself to a mission bigger than yourself,” Orendain added, citing the youth’s potential to make a difference.
Engineer and De La Salle University-Lipa professor Aisa Mijeno, inventor of the SALT (Sustainable Alternative Lighting Technology) lamp, narrated how she resigned from her job, immersed herself in rural communities and eventually found her purpose.
Mijeno assured the students that they don’t have to do “big” things in order to be considered successful, pointing out that success means different things to different people.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Joson, industry manager for performance marketing at Google Philippines, summed up his life lessons in five easy bites: make mistakes, create value, measure everything, take control and, lastly, “go forth and do something epic.”
“…Do something for your country, do something for your world, do something that matches with your talent and passion,” Joson exhorted.
The day’s last speaker was Garrett Gee, the Filipino-American who cocreated an app that was acquired by Snapchat in 2014.
Gee then set aside the money he got from Snapchat and instead sold their belongings and pursued his newfound passion as an adventure journalist. Here he was able to spend more time “exploring the planet” with his wife and two children, while aiming to “live a life of service and compassion.”
“Forget about comfort, take a step into fear,” the head of the “Bucket List Family” advised.
The Filipino Channel
Prayer by Ronnie Gallano of PUP Manila
Ai dela Cruz Gabriel Orendain Ailene Averion Aisa Mijeno Garrett Gee Jonathan Joson Shan Serran and Migs Bustos
The three speakers who helped connect inspire and empower young attendees of the 1st TFCU Talks in Manila Make Your Mark
Host and VJ Ai dela Cruz and fellow ABS-CBN talent Gretchen Ho
Techpreneur and Discovering Routes star Garrett Gee
Google Philippines Industry Manager Jonathan Joson
Engineer Aisa Mijeno demonstrate to CEU Marketing student Aimee Palma how to create a Salt Lamp
ABS-CBN University head Gabriel Orendain
PUP Presidential Awardee Louise Malicdem and Ai dela Cruz
CEUs Harold Singzon throws a question which VJ Ai dela Cruz shares to the hosts
Ai dela Cruz with Garrett Gee and St. Dominique Colege of Asias Alyssa dela Pena
ABS-CBN Global COO Rafael Raffy Lopez ABS-CBN Asia Pacific Managing Director Ailene Averion along with other ABS-CBN executives and guests at TFCU Talks in Manila