TEDx@Katipunan Avenue: a parade of game-changers

Thanks to that remarkable lady Harvey Chua for inviting me to watch her husband John Chua's talk at the Ateneo de Manila University at Loyola Heights, Saturday 16 June.

It was an amazing afternoon as a succession of young people took to the stage and simply spoke about simple acts that change lives.

Speakers include Gawad Kalinga British import Dylan Wilk espousing social enterprise.  And also present was the country's youngest mayor, the lady from San Vicente, Palawan Mayor Pie Alvarez, who came to office at the age of 22.   Alvarez encourages young people to enter politics to start a revolution of youth in public service.

'Wear Local' advocate of Postura Project Arriane Serafico, aka the Jumping Model was a delight in her standard colorful clothes and high heels.  Chief Mermaid of Save Philippine Seas, and globally acknowledged/awarded environmentalist Anna Oposa was feisty, funny, and totally female.

Then there was 25-year media veteran Maria Ressa whose slight frame stood tall in rallying journalists to have integrity: 'No to Envelopmental Journalism!' the CNN/ABS-CBN, now Rappler head, says.

John Chua, advertising photographer, citizen activist, was a standout.  He's the quintessential Achiever.  Aside from his 'pet elephant' Maali of the Manila Zoo, Chua has other advocacies that are jaw-dropping.

Totally oblivious to barriers, Chua has changed the lives of PWDs (people with disabilities) and their families, and the people who sign up to help.  John's aptly co-acronymed Photography With a Difference wows and moves people to action, and big name brands are in on it, too!

Forming a coalition group of PWDs: children with cancer, the hearing-impaired, blind, autistic, and the like, lives have been given gifts of memorable experience.  In this case, Chua's drive has enabled these children to 'take to the skies', literally the gift of flight.

Chua also introduced the Batad Weekend Warriors, a movement where volunteers travel to Batad, one of the regions of the Banaue Rice Terraces.  For a long time now, huge portions of the rice terraces have been falling apart due primarily to lack of government rehabilitation funds.

"Our forefathers built the rice terraces without government funding!  Why are we waiting for that?!," the photographer asked incredulously.