"The Magic of Creativity: A Journey from Voice Acting to Food Rescue"

I’ve always been drawn to curiosity and adventure, a mindset that has led me on a unique journey—becoming a voice actor, food rescue advocate, multimedia producer, and magic performer. Growing up, my passion for creative arts, such as music and magic, was often misunderstood by my family, who saw me as the "black sheep." Despite this, I persevered, learning that failure was simply part of the process.

Choosing to study Mass Communication at Silliman University, though not my original plan, was one of the best decisions I made. It provided a foundation in media and communication that significantly shaped my career. In 2013, I expanded my horizons by studying Global Communication at Hannam University in South Korea. The exposure to different cultures, languages, and media production sharpened my skills. During this period, I also became involved in the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), which allowed me to study in the U.S. and even meet former President Obama at the White House.

This experience prompted a pivotal question in my life: "How do I become a better Filipino?" The answer led me to form Food Rescue Philippines, initially known as Food Rescue ASEAN. My team and I began collecting surplus food from markets to distribute to families in need, addressing both food wastage and hunger. Our work was recognized internationally, including being awarded the YSEALI Seeds for the Future grant and becoming one of the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) in the Philippines.

Aside from food rescue, my passion for performing arts, particularly magic, remained strong. As a child, I found fascination in playing with cards, inspired by my father’s gambling habits. Over the years, I honed my magic skills, joining The Story Circle, a group of magicians. I won the Runit Decks Cardistry Championship in 2017 and was featured as a hand talent in a Unilab advertisement the same year.

Despite my love for magic and voice acting, working in corporate media and events production made me realize that wealth is not just financial but also found in relationships, experiences, and helping others. In 2020, I decided to dive deeper into voice acting, joining the Certified Voice Artist Program under Pocholo Gonzales. This leap into freelance work—leaving behind the comfort of a stable job—taught me that my skills could sustain me.

Voice acting, to me, is an art of storytelling. It requires mastering emotions and influencing people using only your voice. While artificial intelligence continues to advance, I believe that genuine human emotion remains irreplaceable. The challenges in voice acting are many, but I’ve learned that embracing failure is crucial to success. By accepting my mistakes and growing from them, I’ve become more resilient.

Looking ahead, my goal is to become "wealthier" in terms of trust, experiences, and friendships rather than just money. Whether I’m rescuing food, performing magic, or lending my voice to a project, I aim to leave a positive, lasting impact on the world—much like the superheroes I admired as a child. Through my creative and social endeavors, I strive to be the hero the world needs.