Theme: DisconnecTED

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Saint Jude Catholic School
327 Ycaza St., San Miguel
Manila, National Capital Region, 1005
Philippines

Chel Diokno

Founding Dean / Chair of FLAG

Atty. Jose Manuel I. Diokno is the founding dean of the De La Salle University (DLSU) College of Law, and Chair of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG). He has been practicing law for 30 years, and gained prominence as a human rights lawyer and litigator. Though already well-known in legal and human rights circles, Atty. Chel gained wider public prominence when he ran on a platform of justice and judicial reform during the 2019 senatorial elections. Though he actually has no grandchildren yet, many young Filipinos adopted Atty. Chel as their “Woke Lolo” during the campaign because of his progressive stand on issues, his advocacy for youth empowerment, and his witty remarks, despite the occasional dad jokes. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in line with his belief that justice should be accessible to every Filipino — Atty. Chel set up a free legal helpdesk on his Facebook page which, in its first 3 months, has helped several thousand Filipinos, and more.

Cyrene Garcia

DP Language and Literature Teacher

Cyrene completed her degree in Bachelor of Secondary Education with a specialization in English from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Now an IB DP Language and Literature teacher at Saint Jude Catholic School, she still enjoys discussing a variety of texts with her students, most of which deal with important themes like identity, gender, community, and power. In her classroom, she wants her students to not only immerse themselves in the stories of the characters but to also walk away from what is familiar to them and question the things that are normally taken for granted. Her hope is for them to see the bigger picture - to see the world as being seen from more than just one fixed point of view.

Janeena Chan

Host & Content Creator

Janeena Chan is an award-winning professional multi-platform host and content creator. She has taken on anchoring stints for Kids’ TV on ABC 5, RPN’s Newswatch Junior Edition, Fox Sports, Upfront at the UAAP on ABS CBN Sports and Action, and Chinoy TV on ANC and now on CNN, among many others. A youth columnist for OneMega.com, Janeena is currently the podcast host of Rise Up with Janeena Chan on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. She is also one of E! Asia’s “Women to Watch,'' where she proudly represents the Philippines.

Jeremy Ace Ng

Medical Student, International Biology Olympian

Jeremy Ace Ng is a second-year BS MD Intarmed student at the University of the Philippines, Manila. Through the years, he has joined several local and international science olympiads, where he became the first back-to-back International Biology Olympiad medalist from the country and the first-ever Grand Award winner of the International Applied Biology Olympiad. In 2019, he was also named one of the Most Outstanding Chinese-Filipino Students of the Philippines by the Ai Xin Educational Foundation. During his term as an SJCS Student Council President, he spearheaded several projects underscoring youth civic engagement — such as fundraising and mobilization initiatives for local farmers, hospitals, and victims of the Marawi siege. Currently, he is a volunteer peer tutor and biology trainer who engages in horticulture, table tennis, and Chinese calligraphy.

Katrina Pablo

Pre-University Student

Katrina Luise Pablo is a transferee student in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) at Saint Jude Catholic School. Born and raised in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Katrina claims a multifaceted identity that brings a fresh perspective to preconceived ideas on family and culture. With her unique background and talent in the visual arts, she sports a creative, one-of-a-kind outlook in life. Katrina calls on the youth to speak and be heard, believing that it takes more than just bricks and mortar — it takes voices to build our future.

Morissette

Musician

Touted as "Asia's Phoenix," Morissette is set to soar greater heights as she conquers the world stage. She got her wings in TV5's Star Factor, where she placed as a runner-up, and in ABS-CBN's The Voice, where she was a semi-finalist. With her performances and YouTube covers gaining millions of views and fans all across the world, she was able to bag Wish FM's first ever Hall of Famer 2020 award for having over 600 million combined views for her videos. She has worked with the likes of Alan Menken, and Will Smith for Disney's Aladdin, and hosted two singing contests with singer-songwriter Michael Bolton for AXN. Now focusing on original music, Morissette released “Signature,” her first EP of original songs, and most recently her first English-Bisaya single, "Undangon Ta Ni." She was also a judge in the singing competition “Sing Galing Kids.” Currently on her 12th year in the industry, there is no stopping her ascent; because love, for life and music, is what fuels this Phoenix's fire.

Paula Salvosa

Youth Pastor

Paula Jamie Salvosa, missionary pastor and preacher of the word, is currently taking up a Master of Divinity in Theology at the Asian Theological Seminary. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of the MindLove Movement, an organization that seeks to provide a safe place for people who struggle with mental health. As a preschool teacher, resource speaker for cyberbullying, and the producer and host of "Headspace with Paula Salvosa," Paula is a living testament to the transformative power of human growth. Finally free from the shackles of her past, she is now a proud survivor of cancel culture.

Reinabelle Reyes

Data Scientist & Astrophysicist

Reinabelle “Reina” Reyes, PhD is an Associate Professor of the National Institute of Physics at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, where she leads the Data and Computation Research Group. After graduating Summa Cum Laude in B.S. Physics from the Ateneo de Manila University, she proceeded to pursue graduate studies abroad and obtained a PhD in Astrophysics from Princeton University. When she returned to the Philippines, Reina also pursued a career in data science and currently serves as a consultant for organizations in the development and private sectors. Passionate about basketball, education, space, Haruki Murakami, and unraveling the secrets of the universe, Reina believes in the power of the collective: a symposium of minds moving to make sense of the world one theory at a time.

Reneé Dominique

Musician

Reneé Dominique, a triple threat singer, songwriter, and actor, is a young international artist known for her music and beautifully crafted videos on YouTube that feature her unique voice, ukulele and style. Covering classic pieces by The Beatles, the Carpenters, and her own original songs (like her 3-track Tagalog EP "Kundiman"), Reneé has bagged a jaw-dropping total of 260 million views on YouTube. She has over 1.5M YouTube subscribers from Asia, America, Europe, and many other parts of the world, and has collaborated with international artists like Jason Mraz. Recently, she also showed off her skills as a host and jock in PIE channel's "PIE Night Long" segment. To this day, Reneé’s music continues to inspire and touch the hearts of countless across all ages and corners of the world.