Mac Florendo: The Magician Using Storytelling to Spark Social Change

At Summit 360’s “Meet the Storytellers” gathering in May 2022, Mac Florendo was recognized under Cluster 2: Good Livelihood and Quality of Life, highlighting his work as a magician, advocate, and creative storyteller.

Known as Mr. Magic of the Philippines, Mac is not only a performer who amazes audiences through magic, voice acting, and video creation. He is also the founder of Food Rescue Philippines, a volunteer-based initiative that works with food establishments to rescue good quality surplus food and redistribute it to churches, shelters, and organizations that support people in need.

His advocacy journey has earned recognition from the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Seeds for the Future grants contest, the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations Awards, and The 2030 Project, where he was recognized as an SDG Youth Champion for Zero Hunger.

But Mac’s work goes beyond charity. Through food rescue, he promotes a practical solution to hunger, sustainability, and community support. His mission is rooted in the belief that ordinary people can create meaningful change when they choose to act.

As he shared during Summit 360:

“I’m not alive just to save the world, but I hope to inspire authorities and people in position to do more because they can do so much more.”

Aside from advocacy, Mac has built a creative career in magic, media, and voice performance. As a magician, he has performed for personalities such as Nas Daily, Maria Ozawa, Manny Pacquiao, and Mimiyuuuh. He is also a cardistry champion, having won at the Runit Decks Cardistry Deathmatch Competition during Card Con PH 2017.

His media background includes producing and directing advocacy-based programs such as ANC’s Green Living and Rappler’s Gameplan. He also worked as an editor for the YouTube show Street Singing Superstar by Graham Caygill. As a voice artist, Mac has dubbed several English movies into Tagalog and has worked on voiceover projects in Cebuano, Tagalog, and English.

Through all these roles, Mac Florendo continues to show that storytelling can be more than entertainment. Whether through a magic trick, a video, a voiceover, or a food rescue initiative, his work carries one message: real magic happens when creativity is used to help others.

Summit 360’s feature on Mac Florendo reminds us that impact does not always begin with big institutions. Sometimes, it begins with one person willing to tell a story, take action, and inspire others to do more.