ANNAlysis

Our first meeting for what is now known as Cat@lyst (then with a completely different name) was in September 2012. I still remember that day–the supposed one-hour meeting in the early afternoon evolved into a dinner at Borough because we (the Global Shapers Manila Hub) had so much fun brainjamming. Our sentences began with “What if…” and we kept building on (and laughing at) each others’ ideas.

Our dream was to hold a nationwide competition for young people to propose tech-based solutions to existing community problems. Then, the winning ideas would be further developed through Shapers Lab, which we envisioned to be something like American Idol or even America’s Next Top Model. We had no idea how we were going to fund it then.

But, as the Universe has proven time and again, when you pursue something you believe in, the stars will align. It turns out Globe had a similar idea and was looking for a youth group to partner with. After a series of meetings, revising the mechanics and program of Shapers Lab, another series of meetings and revisions, we finally launched Cat@lyst last Thursday, May 2 at the Ramon Magsaysay Center. It was quite a production number to mount, but we were lucky to have a great support system in the forms of my brothers, Ike, our wonderwoman of a project manager Kat, our Founding Curator Karen, and my mof, Kakki, who did an excellent job of hosting.

To give the guests an idea of what the Global Shapers are involved in, we invited them to visit three booths showcasing different projects. Noreen set up a booth for Jacinto & Lirio where people could see how water hyacinths can be woven into bags, Harvy showed parasites that caused neglected tropical diseases through a microscope and large photos, while Bianca asked people to help her pack school supplies for students in Taguig.

To spur ideas, we posed the question, “What change do you want to see in the Philippines in 5 years?” Check out the video below to see what Pinoys from all walks of life have to say. I got goosebumps the first few times I watched this video. It seems that we all want the same things for our country.

During the press launch, we asked the guests to write their answers too.

Here’s mine:

Cat@lyst invites Filipinos ages 18-30 to pitch their tech-based solutions to existing community problems. Proposals may be submitted by individuals or a representative of an organization, company, or community. We’ve listed some examples of tech-based solutions here. Don’t limit yourself to mobile and online stuff, yeah? Think about people with limited or no internet connection, or those without smartphones. Let your imagination run wild! No need to think out of the box because there is no box.

Applicants must upload a one-minute video answering the guide questions, and submit the completed application form, along with photos of the community you want to help and empower. Click here to download application form and here to view the complete mechanics. Deadline is on May 31, 2013.

The applicant must be available to attend the development forum, Shapers Lab, on Saturday, June 22, 2013 at the ADB Headquarters in Ortigas, Metro Manila. Financial assistance for transportation and accommodations will be provided for non-NCR based participants.

Five winners will each receive P200,000 in cash for program development, as well as Information and Communications Technology support to see through the ideation, distillation, and incubation of technology-based innovations.

We are so excited that this project has come to life!

We’d like to introduce you to Shark Stanley and his friends Manta Reina, Pierre le Porbeagle, and Waqi Whitetip, who now are traveling around the world to find people who will support shark and manta ray protection at the upcoming Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) meeting in March in Bangkok, Thailand. With 176 member countries, this multilateral agreement protects more than 30,000 species globally (including species of dolphins, turtles, and corals) and plays a powerful and key role in preventing extinction of many plants and animals by ensuring sustainable rates of trade.

Sharks and rays are extremely important to local tourism. Studies show that they are much more valuable alive and in the sea than dead. Much to our frustration, shark fishery is still legal in the Philippines, with the sole exception of the whale shark. It is highly unregulated too. Manta rays are protected (FAO 193) but they’re still fished in many parts in the Philippines, including Bohol, Surigao, and Leyte. Watch this video by Born to be Wild to find out more.

If you would like to help these species, you can print a picture of Shark Stanley, Manta Reina, Pierre le Porbeagle, and Waqi Whitetip, cut them out, and take a photo with them anywhere you wish. Then send it to us, along with your name and where you are from. Shark Stanley’s friends at Shark Defenders will compile photos according to country in compelling visual mosaics, send to all 176 representatives, and display them at the CITES meeting.

1) Get to know the characters better.

2) Upload your photos to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram tagged with @SharkDefenders, #SharkStanley, @SavePHSeas and #Philippines

3) Email your photos to info@sharkdefenders.com for them to compile into a unique petition.

4) Work with kids! If you work with kids in schools, aquariums, museums (wherever!), Shark Defenders will provide their activity booklet for free or help you to design a workshop on shark conservation.

5) Be a partner. If your organization would like to partner with Shark Stanley at CITES, write a story about it on your blog or website with a link to this page, then email your logo and five photos of your friends with Shark Stanley to info@sharkdefenders.com. They’ll post your logo and link to your website on a special sponsors’ page.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, traveling would be it. Go to a new continent and explore your own backyard. Carry the proverbial Philippine flag proudly wherever you go. Traveling will show you how much you know and how much you have yet to learn.

Germany, January 2012

Losing your job could be the best thing that could happen to you, if you choose to see it that way. The more time you spend with the wrong job means less time with the right one. Sharks can be your officemates, dive guides your mentors, and the sea your office.

Photo by Klaus Stiefel

It’s not the number of conferences you go to and funders you meet. What matters more is how you use those connections and funds to serve the people.

Make friends with people you wouldn’t normally make friends with. They might be your next best friends.

With Lynn and Pie in Davos, Switzerland, January 2012

As your network expands, keep your oldest friends closer. They loved you before the titles and awards, when your socks were too high and you hadn’t discovered eyebrow threading. They will keep your feet planted firmly on the ground.

With Mikki in Hong Kong Disneyland, February 2012

With Donna, Ma, and Abet in Skye, December 2012

There’s politics in every work environment. People will judge and people will talk. Put your earphones on and focus on doing an excellent job. Work harder than anyone you know. Submit on time. Rehearse and time your presentations. Don’t just prove them wrong, prove yourself right too.

Don’t gloat about how tired you are and how much sleep you lack like it’s a badge of honor. It’s disgusting.

Your dreams and ambitions can be overwhelming. You will get panic attacks and doubt your capabilities. Breathe. Fear reminds you that you are on to something important. But do not wait for conditions to be perfect. The only way to begin is to begin.

TEDxKatipunan: Modern Day Revolutionaries, June 2012

Evaluate the professional and personal growth that work can offer you. Do not be afraid to say no to certain opportunities. Really. It’s not going to make you look weak. Choose a few things that you can excel at, as opposed to many things you can be mediocre at.

Don’t ever let corporations and politicians turn your advocacies into commodities. Money is just money; it can be earned and raised. Reputations take years to build. Your principles should never have a price tag.

Collaborate.

Take your vitamins, drink more than 8 glasses of water a day, and engage in physical activity. Wear paraben-free sunscreen everyday.

Read.

Enjoy being single. It doesn’t equate to being lonely. Flirt, date, and tease. (And use protection, please.)

Commit only when you’ve gotten to know someone who makes you understand the term “better half.” Relationships are complicated–that’s why there’s no “in a simple relationship” option. They need work. Swallow your pride every now and then. Learn to say sorry and learn to forgive.

Maintain independence. Whatever your boyfriend/girlfriend can do for you, you must be able to do on your own. Just much better.

Fill your life with music. Make several playlists that will serve as soundtracks to your moods and phases: Chill, Good Vibes, Kill Yourself Senti, Angsty, Roadtrip, Dance On Top of the Table, and Karaoke Queen. Share these playlists. People should never be selfish with good music.

Laugh a lot, especially at your failures.

Keep banging your head on the wall. The wall will break eventually.

And trust me on the traveling.

The 2011 version
The 2010 version
The 2009 version

Original lyrics of “Everybody’s free to wear sunscreen.”

I always thought I would be in Silliman University to attend the National Writers Workshop. I was rejected not once but twice (!) because fate had other plans. They turned out to be Great Plans that included testifying in a Senate hearing and teaching in an Arts-Environment Festival.

This week, I find myself in Silliman as a speaker at the 1st National Youth Development Summit (NYDS). The opportunity to be with some 200 youth leaders from all over the country is pretty awesome :) Ika nga ni Katy Perry, “no regrets / just love.”

I felt like a participant during this event and sat in almost all sessions. Tito Tony Meloto, one of the greatest visionaries I know, kicked off the series of talks. His mom passed away before the date, but he wanted to go to the NYDS before the wake because he “lives for the living.”

“I went to the best schools but they didn’t teach me vision. They only taught me ambition,” said Tito Tony. His ambition is now married to an extraordinary vision: to end poverty in the Philippines by 2024. He brought up the World Economic Forum and quipped, “I was the only one old there. I was with Anna, Lynn, and Pie — puro bata. You know why? Dahil ako lang ang 62-year-old na hindi pa tapos mangarap.”

The indefatigable May-i Fabros then talked about women’s health. She shared stories of a 24-year-old with 12 kids (first kid at 13), and a 15-year-old with 3 kids. May-i flew back to Manila right after her talk to attend what would be the historical third reading of the Reproductive Health Bill at the Senate and House of Representatives.

Xiao Chua capped Day 1 with a lecture entitled “Learning From Our Heroes.” He revealed parts of our history that our Araling Pilipino teachers never told us, from photos of Rizal playing dress-up with his friends to etymologies of words that bring new and rich layers to our heritage. I am certain that if all Filipinos had him as their teacher, we would have a deeper appreciation of our past and a clearer direction to our future.

I missed most of Day 2′s speakers because THE Eve Ensler happened to be in the auditorium across NYDS. Eve Ensler is one of my heroes; I’ve read the Vagina Monologues, I’ve seen it on stage, and I’ve seen her TED talks.

Eve stood behind the podium and spoke with no PowerPoint presentation, no props, no fancy clothing — just her and her message to end violence against women and girls around the world. She spoke about her beginnings as an abused child. In her experience, her heart and spirit broke wide and far enough to let more love to enter. Isn’t that a beautiful thought? The overwhelming stories of resilience and hope from the women and men she has met through the V-journey continue to break her and heal her.

Eve briefly discussed how recent events made her think about violence and what caused people to commit acts of violence. She pointed out that violence made her think of love “and how scary it is.” She adds, “The only thing that moves us forward is love. That is the only antidote to violence.” She invited us to open ourselves to love. Eve also congratulated the country for the RH Bill and stated, “The women’s movement in the Philippines is one of the best in the world.”

I went back to the NYDS in time for Mae Paner’s (a.k.a. Juana Change) talk, the last of Day 2. I first watched her in the rally for the National Artists years ago. “Kung may gusto kayong baguhin, kailangan kaya niyo silang banggain,” she declared. Mae also stressed the importance of recognizing one’s weaknesses and finding ways to engage the good and bad sides for constructive change.

Halfway through the year, I started questioning the value of giving talks. I would have 4-6 speaking engagements a month and started to feel burned out. “It’s not like the audience members will actually remember anything I say and DO anything after this,” I thought. From July onwards, I decided to focus on projects in Cebu and Palawan and accept only one invitation a month.

During Xiao’s talk, he compared inspiration to a candle. If a candle fails to pass on the light, it won’t be able to draw a flame from another candle and reignite. He said we had to keep lighting candles and passing on the inspiration, so when our light dims, we can rekindle it. That’s exactly what the NYDS did to me – rekindle my sometimes dimming positivity.

It’s a great time to be alive, lovers. It’s an even greater time to be a Filipino in the Philippines. Let’s set our souls on fire :)

I’d like to introduce you to the newest “baby” of Save Philippine Seas and PhilippineBeaches.org: SeaNN (Sea News Network).

Our first collaboration took place a few months back with #LeaveNothingButFootprints. We’ve joined passions once again for an independent reporting network focused on news about Philippine beaches and seas. Our Facebook page-based “newscast” is from Monday-Friday at 9-10PM.

Anyone and everyone who loves the Philippine seas and coasts can actively participate in information dissemination via social media. You’re invited to contribute news, photos, videos, blog posts, etc. via PM. It doesn’t have to be all tragic ha. Baka naman we’ll just keep receiving news about dead sharks and turtles :)) Good news is MOST WELCOME!!!! :)

One topic I’m particularly excited about is the “Heroes of the Sea.” This was inspired by SPS volunteers who are doing extraordinary things in their communities. Every month, SeaNN will feature 1 or 2 individuals who have done something exemplary for the preservation or protection of our seas. They could be of any age, civil status, from anywhere in the Philippines, Pinoy or non-Pinoy, and the ~heroic act~ should have occurred inside the Philippines.

To submit: just send us via private message a short write-up about your hero and what s/he has done, as well as a nice photo of your hero.

Keep the contributions coming!