The Red Whistle Campaign

After hearing the story of Wanggo Gallaga (@wanggo_g)in The Bottomline, I immediately tweeted him and 

Niccolo Cosme (@niccolocosme) manifesting my desire to help in spreading their advocacy.

Wanggo Gallaga is not just an HIV positive personality.

Read his story here. Wanngo

Niccolo Cosme and The Red Whistle Campaign

The Red Whistle is an advocacy campaign that aims to respond to the alarming increase of HIV and AIDS cases in the Philippines.

The Story

The Red Whistle Campaign began as a personal advocacy of Niccolo Cosme, a mainstream photographer in the country. Niccolo was inspired by a UNAIDS representative who wore a whistle at one of the conventions he attended. The whistle, as explained to him, is used as a tool for UNAIDS to sound the alarm for disaster preparedness and prevention. This gave Niccolo an idea. He wanted to do something about the HIV- and AIDS-related deaths being reported by the Philippine National AIDS Council – where some of whom are part of his social circle. 

Niccolo started buying red whistles from a bookstore, hooking them to a tag and began sporting them in social gatherings. People started to inquire about the accessory, which gave Niccolo the opportunity to engage with them about the rising epidemic. 

He then started to purchase more, distributing them to his friends who also shared his belief in the advocacy. Different HIV and AIDS organizations began to approach him to collaborate… and the rest is history.

To date, The Red Whistle has become the mainstream community response to HIV and AIDS, calling on the government, institutions, and media to educate Filipinos and alleviate the spread of the epidemic.

Senator MIRIAM SANTIAGO is one of the Ambassadors. 

Visit them at http://www.theredwhistle.org/home/

SIGE lang

Started my life at the Ateneo as a volunteer at the College Guidance Center. It was a crazy ride of fun yet very challenging activities and tasks. Just like what I've been sharing to everyone; the who, what and where I am now at this very moment is because of the CGC. It is in this center where I would usually hear the words "Sige lang". At first I was a bit pissed when I hear those words from my mentors. Everytime I would share something which is happy - they would say: "Sige lang", whenever I would share something which is sad - they would say" "Sige lang". 

Sige lang (GO! Gora! Go on!). Recently, I realized that these words entered into my system already. These words became my source of inner strength and confidence. Sige lang, for me, is like saying - Go! I'm just hear! 200% trust on you beybi! 

4 years passed and I found my self saying those words to my fellow volunteers. I hope they will soon find the meaning of the words "Sige lang" in their volunteer life. :)

 Sige lang! Because you're...

Know that there is something very special in you. HUMBLY share it to your fellow volunteers. 

Inspire them to be more than you so that they would also be more to others.

spread HAPPINESS

Many people would ask me: Where do you get your energy? You always look energetic, passionate, alive. Hindi ka ba napapagod? Hindi ka ba nagsasawa?

Every time I hear these questions, I could not help but SMILE.

You know guys and gals, I'm not superman. I get tired, get lost, get busted (OUCH - ito yung pinakamasakit eh). I also feel emptiness, loneliness, hopelessness. Just like anyone of you - I also cry. Nothing is so special in me that I should be considered as someone who is "extra"ordinary. 

There are some things that I want to share with you so that you would look HAPPY everyday.

Find HAPPINESS in everything that you do. 

People might not always understand why you have to do this thing and that thing. Don't mind them. Let criticism build a better you. You have your friends and most importantly your self who trust you! Bring it on!

Being PASSIONATE takes a lot of PAIN.

I may have a lot of success stories in leadership but together with those joys are tons of pains too. I have organized a movement which led to nothing, collaborated with a government official who left me hanging, loved someone who eventually killed my inner soul and being (Yun oh).

These painful stories could not stop me to improve my self so that I could be a better volunteer and advocate. 

Don't stop TRYING.

Sabi nga nila, if plan A failed you - don't worry - you still have 25 letters left. If one man failed you - don't worry - you still have God (Syeeet. Ito yung masaklap).

We found LOVE in a hopeless place (Rihanna, 2011)

Since that love is my favorite topic, hindi pwedeng hindi masali ang love. You know, love keeps us alive. And diba, sabi pa sa isang kanta, love is all we need. I may be everywhere but it doesn't mean na salawahan ako ah. My heart is madly and deeply in love with VOLUNTEERISM and YOU. (Ay, may ganun talaga). I make sure that I love the cause that I advocate. Hindi pwedeng kung ano-ano lang. 

Life sometimes writes a very tragic test. Minsan, papaikut-ikutin ka talaga. Yung akala mong multiple choice, identification pala, yung akala mong simpleng true or false, modified pala. Life will surprise us everyday. Take everything lightly and happily. Live and share yourself with others!

Enjoy life! :) 

MARKPROF CamSur Roadshow

Every year, MarkProf Foundation searches for the 25 most promising graduating college students who want to pursue careers in Marketing and Sales. After a long and stringent screenng process of business simulations, interviews and case studies, these lucky few are offered an exceptional means for jump-starting their career via a prestigious free-of-charge Marketing Leadership Bootcamp where they would get unparalleled training from the country’s most renowned corporate leaders and entrepreneurs.

This bootcamp is held for 7 consecutive Saturdays, each covering 3 to 5 sessions on today’s most relevant topics, and offers a competitive, thought-provoking and transformative setting where marketing and leaderships skills are unlocked and developed. The students are also assigned a real-life case study for an actual company, which they would be presenting to an esteemed panel of judges when the bootcamp ends. 

To forward this advocacy, MarkProf Foundation decided to conduct a roadshow to reach more aspiring  students and inspire them to do more in their fields as future marketers. 

The first roadshow was held at Avenue Plaza Hotel, The Tent, Naga City. The event was facilitated by a pool of student leaders from Ateneo de Naga University led by the current valedictorian of MarkProf Bootcamp, Scud Dy. 

Scud Dy, MarkProf Valedictoruan

the organizing committee

The CamSur Roadshow was participated by around 500 students, teachers, professionals from different provinces of Bicol. 

The Roadshow gave the participants the rare opportunity to listen to some of the top marketers of the Philippines. 

Nikko Briguera

Ding Salvador, Co-Founder, MarkProf Foundation

Arrci and I hosted the event. It was fun. The crowd and speakers were very engaging. 

Thanks to all those who participated. See you around!

Milo Mier @MaielloMier

Scud Dy @DanielPhilipVDy

Arcci Relloso @thenerdhub

Raffy Magno @raffymagno

Photo credits: Prof. Juan Relloso, Ateneo de Naga University