Theme: The Magic Within Us

The Magic Within Us is borne out of our idea of re-awakening human fascination. In the age of--so they say--shorter attention spans, instant gratification, and technology blurring the depth of our social relationships, we wanted to create a space to celebrate the magic within us.

Marco Polo Hotel
Roxas st.
Davao City, Davao (Region XI), 8000
Philippines

Alfonso Manalastas

Gender Rights Activist/ Writer

y day, Alfonso Manalastas is an advertising copywriter, a content creator, and a published creative non-fiction writer, and by night, he is a touring spoken word artist who has performed in more than 10 major cities in the country. He writes about gender equality, regional representation, and women's rights.

Angel Abella

Senior Community Manager - Presidential Communications Operations Office

Angel Abella is the Senior Community Manager of the Presidential Communications Operations Office. She finds purpose in bringing people together, fostering these groups into communities that she has initiated, by voluntarily convening people for prominent international events and groups such as: Startup Weekend Davao, AngelHack Davao and Google Business Group - Davao. She has also worked for Oxfam Philippines for the organization's "Women's Market" and "#iScore4Peace in the Bangsamoro." Since 2016, Angel has moved and lived in Manila to work for the communications arm of the government, working with the internal and external community on furthering the projects and policies of members of the executive branch such as: the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of National Defense, and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, among other agencies.

Jhoanna Cruz

Professor/ Writer

Jhoanna Lynn B. Cruz is an Associate Professor of literature and creative writing at the University of the Philippines Mindanao in Davao City. She received her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, and a Master of Arts in Language and Literature, major in English, both with high distinction, from De La Salle University-Manila. Her first book, Women Loving. Stories and a Play, was published in 2010 by De La Salle University and Anvil Publications, Inc. It is the first sole-author anthology of lesbian-themed stories in the Philippines. Her stories are available as an eBook entitled Women On Fire. In 2011, she came out with a poetry chapbook entitled Heartwood. She has won the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Literary Award for the full-length play and for the essay in English.

Lunar Tan Fayloga

Theology Professor

Lunar Tan Fayloga is a Theology Professor and the Head of the Theology Department of Ateneo de Davao University. Being an active social media user with thousands of highly engaged students as part of his following, he tackles how the teaching of theology is challenged through the growth of dependence and communications in various social media platforms. He also serves a main anchor in a weekly local religious radio program that is simultaneously aired through social media.

Lyre Murao

Molecular Biologist/ Virologist

Lyre Anni E. Murao is a virologist who, after years of international training, returned to the country to serve as an Associate Professor at University of the Philippines Mindanao. She teaches anything of the micro scale- from molecules to microbes and cells- but once outside the classroom, she goes hunting for nasty viruses. Her research engagements have also opened doors for collaborations, as well as mentorship of students and young researchers who want to venture into science.

Mitch Miller

Marketing Adviser/ Company Director

Mitch Miller is a world class copywriter, author, musician, speaker, and co-owner of Opposed Media, a marketing education company. He has repeatedly crafted advertising campaigns that have brought in millions, and holds live trainings all over the world teaching others to do the same.