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TED, our inspiration behind putting up the WhyNot?Forum, is coming to Manila!

This particular event is called TEDx Manila, and is being organized by Filipino UP Professor and education advocate Rom Feria (himself a TED Fellow).

TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is call TEDx (place), where x=independently organized TED event. At our TEDx (place) event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group.

TEDxManila is going to be held on December 5, 2009, in UP Diliman’s Malcolm Hall (College of Law). For more details, especially on how to apply — check out their official website here.

Shameless plug, I’ve also been invited to speak

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Here are some pictures from the Y4IT event.

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I just had to repost this – Rapa Lopa’s talk from the recent WhyNot?Forum 7.0 – Why Not a ReimagiNATION? It is absolutely moving :

In a heart-wrenching talk, Benigno Aquino S. Foundation Executive Director Rapa Lopa narrates how the love story of his Auntie Cory and Tito Ninoy translated into a love story for the Filipino people. He then talks about how their heroic influence has inspired him in his different advocacies in helping others – whether that be in social business enterprise or philanthropic work. NOT to be missed.

For more videos on Inspiring Filipino Ingenuity, visit the WhyNot?Forum website.

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Coming off the heels of our 6th WhyNot?Forum — Why Not Be True? Tribute to Pinoy Subculture Tribes, the WhyNuts thought through the theme for 7.0. Our minds were swimming around science, futurism, and heroism – until we decided to coincide our schedule with the August 21 death anniversary of national hero Ninoy Aquino. That decision settled it. From a back-to-the-roots journey into geek-dom and subculture, we were ready to unashamedly wear our nationalistic hearts on our sleeves again.

Bam melded our thoughts and proposed to talk about ‘the Filipino for the 21st Century’ – a Reimagined Filipino if you will – and it was a theme that the group gravitated towards immediately. To deepen our thinking, we underwent a process to discuss the theme in length, inviting Rapa Lopa (who would eventually be a speaker), Lino Rivera, and former WhyNot? speaker Floy Quintos to brainstorm. The output of that session eventually gave birth to WhyNot?Forum 7.0 :

—

Fast forward to August 22 : WhyNot?Forum 7.0 becomes another memorable milestone in the history of WhyNot?Forums.

In true WN?F fashion, we looked for a venue that could be a statement on the theme itself. Thus, we looked for a space that was rich in Filipino heritage and culture, and yet at the same time was progressive and forward-looking. For us, the Ayala Museum was the perfect space. And thankfully, with the help of Bill Luz from the Ayala Foundation, we were able to get it.

WhyNot?Forum 7.0 @ the Ayala Museum Lobby

As early as 2:30pm, people promptly started trickling in. By 3pm, the venue had been filled-up and more seats needed to be provided. The crowd would eventually balloon to more than 200 – composed of  young professionals, students, academicians, business leaders, development workers, NGO’s, executives, even children – taking up the entire floor area venue.

Bam Aquino, WhyNut and our in-house host, then introduced WhyNot?Forum 7.0′s theme, explaining how the WhyNuts had decided to coincide this special WN?F with the death anniversary of his uncle, National Hero Ninoy Aquino. He shared that it was our own way to also contribute to the conversation on positive change for the country.

WhyNut Bam Aquino introduces ReimagiNATION to a Jampacked Crowd @ the Ayala Museum

After the snappy introduction, the program immediately dove into action. Paco Sandejas – Stanford PhD holder, Venture Capitalist, and Brain Gain Network founder – took to the stage to give the first talk of the forum. He proceeded to talk about his topic – a question on Why Outbound, Not Homebound; or in his own words, “Should I Stay Or Should I Go?”.

Paco narrated his experiences of taking higher studies in the US, but eventually deciding to make a bid to go back to the Philippines and set-up shop, despite the unideal local situation. He explains possible reasons for returning – whether it be economics, family, even opportunity (Being a Small Fish in a Big Pond vs Being a Big Fish vs a Small Pond).

He also shares his view that we should understand Filipinos who decide to go abroad and try their luck out in the great blue yonder. Aside from the fact that we don’t understand his or her personal circumstances, it’s also good for the country because Filipinos out there are learning and working at a global level. After all, the reality of the world today is that competition for jobs is across geographies and nationalities, and not just with fellow Filipinos.

He then ends by sharing his online platform for collaboration across all Filipinos — whether they be based in the Philippines or abroad. This is the aptly-named Brain Gain Network which can hopefully be an engine to build, in his own words, Philippines 2.0.

Paco Sandejas, PhD of BrainGain Network of NarraVC

Speaker #2 is a first for WhyNot?Forum. A military officer, Major Dennis Eclarin of the Philippine Army captivated the audience by showing up in full uniform. Armed with the topic Renegades, Not Robots – Major Eclarin debunks all stereotypes and biases we  normally have towards military officers. Military should not be a concern at all, he explains; the Philippine Army now simply works behind the scenes – quietly under the radar – in order to serve the general citizenry.

A progressive nationalist, Dennis relayed that his experiences in military service — even in the frontlines of actual battle and conflict — have made him seek  better ways to help move the country forward. This better way, he then posits, can be fueled by a new kind of renegade-ism, which he then redefines by contrasting it against robot-ism (Nation-Building vs Managing Systems; Leaders of Characters vs Soul-less Machines; Free Thinkers vs Mindless Followers). For him, renegade-ism is not rebellion; On the contrary,  it is nation-building by working with stakeholders and negotiating within the system.

He then gives a twist to Why Not by sharing snippets of a new book that he’s currently authoring, entitled “What If?”. Instead of the usual Why Not? Questions, he asks What If”s? These ‘What If”s would be : fighting for a middle force, championing unity of effort, building a strong (democratic) state, crafting a distinctively pro-business vision (yes, a capitalist-friendly soldier!), tapping Filipinos abroad, and forming a corps of dynamic leaders.

Major Dennis Eclarin of the Philippine Army

After the incendiary talk of Major Eclarin, Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel provides a tangential perspective, asking “Why Not A Nation of Activists and an Activist State?”.

In her calm yet firm manner, Risa shares her thoughts on how a new take on activism (not simply the traditional association of take-to-the-streets rallying) can provide hope in effecting true change in the country. In fact, the moment one wonders if things ‘can be better’, that person becomes what Risa calls “a closet advocate”. If this ‘closet advocacy’ is then taken collectively and acted upon – transitioning from advocacy into activism – then perhaps this can result in a true revolution from below. And as this revolution builds, so too does the empowerment of the citizenry.

But this does not only apply to a revolution from below. Being in government, Risa also shares how activism can play a role from that perspective. For her, activists within government working on empowering policies will lead into societal transformation. The change this effects can be both systemic and institutional.

Ultimately, she shares a vision of a nation of activists, building an activist state.

Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel

Rapa Lopa – Executive Director of the Benigno Aquino Foundation, Chairman of MicroVentures, and Executive Assistant to as well as nephew of President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino – became an emotional high-point for the forum.

With his beloved Auntie Cory’s passing just a few weeks earlier – an event that would dramatically envelop the whole Philippines in mourning, respect, and love – Rapa shared his thoughts and reflections on her life. Rapa talks about his belief that the story of Tita Cory is interwoven with the story of his Tito Ninoy; In fact, it’s not just any story, but rather a very powerful and moving love story. The couple became each other’s pillars of strength, allowing them to endure trials such as Tito Ninoy’s unlawful imprisonment, and eventually his ultimate sacrifice of dying for the country.

But Rapa’s insight is this : LOVE was the central theme that fueled his Tito Ninoy and Tita Cory. It was love for each other. It was love for God. And this love became real – as it translated into love for country, for the Philippines, for the Filipino. As Rapa asked early on in his talk : Is the Filipino Worth Living and Dying For? And the lives of his uncle and his aunt were testaments that the answer is a resounding yes.

He then shares how working with his Tita Cory has moved him into working for a better country, and that has shaped the people he has chosen to work with today; MicroVentures, a microfinancing business development services company working with the poorest of the poor; iamninoy runners; Philippine Stagers Association (for Ako Si Ninoy musical); and his efforts on “giving multiplied” – harnessing the power of the internet to find help for those who need it.

With a solemn silence not heard since Mr. Pagsi’s talk in WhyNot?Forum 3.0, Rapa then ends by asking young children from the audience what their dreams were, what they wanted to be when they grew up. And he parts by saying that these children are the future – they are the Filipinos that are worth living and dying for.

Benigno Aquino Foundation Executive Director, MicroVentures Chairman, and Tita Cory’s Nephew Rapa Lopa

The last speaker for WhyNot?Forum was another new addition to the mix.

Howie Severino – renowned journalist – shared his thoughts not with a prepared speech, but rather with an extemporaneous spiel, as a reactor.

Able to simultaneously juggle insight, humor, and heart, he provided a sharp recap of the key points of each speaker – at times distilling and enriching what each speaker had tackled in his or her respective talk.

It would prove to be a fruitful exercise, as Howie was able to provide a unity of perspective across the different topics tackled, painting a distinct yet unified picture of what had transpired that afternoon. One particular theme that Howie captured is that the speakers provide us a glimpse of who the Filipino can be, not just who he is.

A First for WhyNot : A Reactor c/o Journalist Howie Severino

All-in-all, it was another powerful and moving WhyNot?Forum — filled with several a-ha! ideas, points of laughter, and heart-rending moments.

In a conversation on reimagining the new Filipino, we realized that we may indeed be a ‘work-in-progress’, but a clear vision of who we can still be is what should capture our imagination. To echo Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, “reimagination is the beginning of hope.”

WhyNuts L-R : Timi Gomez, Bam Aquino, Carlo Calimon, Rapa Lopa, Jan Chavez-Arceo, Angeli Ko, Mark Ruiz, Lino Rivera

—

As we wait for the official videos to be up in a few weeks, here is a teaser video on some highlights of 7.0 :

To end, WhyNot?Forum would like to give a very special thanks to its partners : OneAsiaTouchpoint, DVTech, and HavocDigital; and special sponsors for WhyNot?Forum 7.0 Ayala Museum, Signum, Yakult, and Rene Barbier.

Think New Thoughts. Share Big Dreams. Do Brave Things
The WhyNot?Forum : Inspiring Filipino Ingenuity
www.whynotforum.com

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WhyNot?Forum 7.0 Teaser

Why Not A ReimagiNATION?

Imagine the New Filipino : Homebound, not Outbound. Competitive, not Complacent. Global Perspective, not Regional Mindset. Renegades, not Robots

Paco Sandejas, Brain Gain Network
Major Dennis Eclarin, Philippine Army
Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel
Howie Severino, Journalist
and Rapa Lopa, Executive Director of Benigno Aquino Foundation on his Tita Cory’s reimagination of the New Filipino through her work and advocacies

August 22, 3pm to 6pm @ the Ayala Museum. Tickets at P200 each.
Please email whynotforum@gmail.com for reservations

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Written by Neil R. Ramos / Photos by Nonie Reyes
Thursday, 11 June 2009 19:16

Change, it has been said, is an inevitable aspect of life and living. v Though indeed this  adage could only be too accurate, some of us go about life seemingly content to just allow for it to happen—regardless of the outcome, whether it be good or bad.

Well, this shouldn’t be—that is, according to a group of individuals that have banded together united in the idea of spurring the nation to take charge and take control.

Their clarion call? “Think New Thoughts. Share Big Dreams. Do Brave Things.”

According to the group founder, educator Mark Ruiz, the idea was hinged on the belief that we can “do more.”
“We shouldn’t just sit down and accept things as they are. We need to ask. We need to know. We need to move,” he said.
And how does he propose to spread his novel message? Through a series of talks he dubbed the Why Not? Forum.

Why not, indeed?

“Our aim is to inspire so the forum will be like a big open source, a well of ideas. Our aim is that through our select group of speakers, we will be able to propel Filipinos to connect, take action, and together weave new bright ideas,” he said during the recent Dialogues at Starbucks event at Starbucks 6750 in Makati.

Ruiz admits his idea is nothing new. He got it after stumbling into TEDTalks (www.ted.com), which gathers some of the best minds to share ideas for 15 minutes each and discuss it with the audience.

“I thought maybe I could do the same in a local context,” he said.

The first Why Not? Forum gathered a group of dreamers—leaders, achievers, doers, from diverse fields. “We had Dondi Gomez, managing director of Unilever Philippines; Gang Badoy, the bold mind behind RockEd Philippines; professor Jay Bernardo of the Asian Institute of Management, notably, the first-ever Filipino to have been named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP) by the Junior Chamber International; Greg Tangonan, who like Ruiz teaches Innovation and Technology at the Ateneo de Manila University; Brian Tenorio, of shoe label Tenorio Manila; film maker Quark Henares; and Fr. Ted Gonzales, SJ, of the Center for Family Ministries,” he boasted.

It was, no doubt, a huge success. Still, of course, Ruiz thought he could do well to reach a bigger audience.

“I thought of a kid, somewhere in a province who, obviously, wouldn’t have access to the forum, which we usually do within Manila. I thought maybe I should just document the whole thing and broadcast it via the Net.”

This also serves another aspect of Ruiz’s dream for the forum—of it being a “huge megaphone for the whole world to hear what the Filipino has to offer.”

“We should be known as the country that said, why not?” he said.

Although Ruiz admits he still has a long way to go with achieving his goals, he is proud to have created a spark that is now slowly worming its way into the nation’s consciousness.

“The hits our videos are receiving is rising constantly so I just know that, at the very least, we have established the idea… and that is success in itself,” he said.

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Great Filipinos exposed
READ NOW By J. Vincent Sarabia Ong (The Philippine Star) Updated May 30, 2009 12:00 AM

The WhyNuts?: These are core group members of WhyNot? Forum L-R Richard Estuesta, Carlo Calimon,Jan Chavez-Arceo Bam Aquino Timi Gomez,Angeli Ko, Mark Ruiz.

With the recent level of Filipino media gunk rising and its content reaching a new low, St. Paul nailed it on the head when he said we must “drown evil in an abundance of good.” Fortunately for us, thanks to a group of young entrepreneurs, the word “Filipino” on the web is not Googled, tagged and associated only with terms such as singer, boxer or the song Careless Whisper. Instead of providing us videos that make us scratch our heads and say “Why?” these yuppies have pooled their resources together to give us online content that inspires us to do good as Filipinos and say “Why Not?”

I’m talking about the WhyNot? Forum spearheaded by social entrepreneur Mark Ruiz. Aside from his unmistakable white glasses, he is the board director of Rags2Riches and managing director of Microventures that manages Hapinoy. The WhyNot? Forum is an event already in its sixth run and features various inspiring Filipino speakers — from the three women who climbed Mt. Everest to Mr. Pagsi, an 80-year-old teacher who has been teaching first year high school English for 50-plus years. Among the other 31 speakers featured, this list includes corporate big wig Mon Isberto of Smart Communications, shoe designer Brian Tenoro, Jesuit priest Fr. Ted Gonzales, Senator Kiko Pangilinan and RockEd’s Gang Badoy who ad-libbed her eloquent speech when her computer presentation wouldn’t open.

Yet, the magic of WhyNot? is that these talks (inspired by the TED Talks in the US) are not just for a live audience. They are recorded and uploaded for free viewing in their website for Filipinos to follow the WhyNot? mantra of “Think New Thoughts. Share Big Dreams. Do Brave Things.” Thus inspiring Filipinos to unleash their ingenuity.

The First Step Is To Ask Why

Before leaping into WhyNot?, Mark Ruiz had the question “Why?” in his head. Already known for his speaking engagements, Mark was invited to a small school. He was shocked when they told him that he might not be able to speak because they couldn’t raise the P1,000 honorarium for him. This honorarium issue raised various questions in his head such as “Why are privileged people allowed to be exposed to great talks or ideas?” and “Why does it have to cost P10,000 to attend a conference of business gurus?” and “Why do you have to be in Manila to hear an engaging talk?” As an avid fan of TED Talk videos that feature remarkable Americans online, Mark then dared to ask, back in August 2007, “Why not do a TED with Filipino flavor?”

With his birthday only a month away on September 17, Mark, armed with his laptop already primed with a WhyNot? presentation, pitched the idea to his fellow social entrepreneurs friend Bam Aquino (his Microventures partner) and Carlo Calimon who works at R.A Gapuz Nursing review center to help him out as a birthday gift. They agreed to say “Why not?” and the first WhyNot? Forum was held in Warehouse 135 on September 27. It was an unexpected success as the people poured in to hear seven speakers deliver their WhyNot? despite the rain and UAAP basketball finals at the same time.

Yet, Mark and Carlo share that the first WhyNot? was a P100,000 ragtag production, like a high school project with glitches and all. So, on their third WhyNot? on education held at Mag:Net Cafe, they brought events specialist and managing director of One Asia Touchpoint Jan Chavez-Arceo to watch in awe and become a WhyNut herself to help with more sponsors. The stories of Tony Lopez and how he reinvented University of Makati and 80-year-old Mr. Pagsi captivated her; she soon became the group’s events organizer and secret weapon. Soon, they rounded out the crew with logistics head Angeli Ko and Timi Gomez to inspire Filipinos everywhere.

Be A WhyNut

The last WhyNot? Forum held in Tiendesitas on urban tribes had some freakshow fanfare as it was attended by various “whynuts” in Manila such as comic creators, costume fantatics in Star Trek getup, travel junkies and reggae lovers. When asked how the group would be able to top the last WhyNot? or even better it, they were hush-hush about the next topic. Mark hinted at radical plans such as holding one in a cemetery or another unusual venue. Jan Arceo says she tells the group to dream big and she’ll see how to fit it in the budget.

Asked what’s on their WhyNot wish list, Angeli Ko said she would like to speak about her passion for travel. Mark would focus on WhyNot itself. Jan Arceo was the most ambitious, saying she wanted to round up Filipino scientists abroad and bring them back to Manila to speak. Carlo, meanwhile, dreams of sharing his views on education.

After my interview with the “WhyNuts,” I was able to watch the rest of WhyNot talks online. The magical energy of each one, I learned, lies not in the oratory tricks used or the flashiness of their PowerPoint presentations, but in the fact that the speakers talk from the heart and with character. As Mr. Pagsi said in his own WhyNot talk, “When the heart speaks, there are no questions asked.” This is true for each video; they leave us in awe about how great the Filipino can be.

This is why I can’t help but ask, “Why are we so bent on spreading how bad the Filipino can be?” We need to first quit reading about and spreading the indiscretions of our own countrymen in media scandals and the like. Then, let us do our best to spread the good news in our blogs, twitter messages and Facebook pages. It is a matter of clicking away from the usual sleaze and doing our part to say “Why not view something better?”

* * *

WhyNot? Forum website @ http://www.whynotforum.com.

* * *

Why not e-mail me at readnow@supreme.ph?

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