11 Passionate Filipinos Share the One Thing They Do To Be Happy and Successful
There are many routines that make some people happier: starting the day with coffee, adopting a pet dog, going to bed early, being on time for meetings, accomplishing your goals for the day, and many more. The list could go on and on, but there could be that one thing a person does which would affect all these other little things.
As cliché as it might seem, I think the one thing a person could do that would make everyday happier is deciding to pursue one’s passion–and it’s more concrete and doable that it might seem!
More than people who are rich, famous, and incredibly skilled at something, I look up the people who are incredibly passionate about they do.
I met people who get six figures a month, but detest their jobs with a passion. And it affects so many apsects of their lives.
But I also met people, who, against others’ warnings, pursued their passion and are now incredibly rich and happy and so in love with life and what they do. The passion for whatever it is they do made them excited to face the day’s challenges, made them want to network with others, made them on time for all their meetings, and made them sincerely want to learn more. The decision to pursue their passion was their key to make everyday happier and more fulfilling.
I’ve always strived to be that kind of person: the one who does what she loves, works hard to be really good at it, and makes a living out of it. I’m passionate about stories that come in all forms, from different people and places. That’s why I’m interested in communication and in the different forms of media. Anything related to that makes me giddy, kilig and unable to sleep just at the thought of it.
But I’ve met people who were giddy over a Math equation. Or coding. Or the anatomy of a cat. Or dancing. And I’m often awestruck and humbled at the diversity of dreams, which is why I talked to people with varied interests. I asked them about what their passion is, and what they do to pursue that passion.
What’s your passion, and what do you do to pursue it?
Louie Poco
Louie Poco is a member of the band The Bloomfields and is a co-owner of Gouache. I enjoy listening to The Bloomfields’ music, and months after featuring Gouache in When in Manila, I continue to gush about it whenever I talk to someone about my favorite brands. Even with Gouache’s success, I think the best is yet to come for them, especially with their new products and with a report by Rappler stating that a majority of Filipinos are socially-conscious consumers.
It’s amazing how Louie plays an active role in both The Bloomfields and Gouache: performing in a band and being hands-on with a thriving local business. I found it perfect to ask him what his passion is. Louie explained, “My passions are playing music, performing on stage, and product and graphic design.”
Wondering what it takes to pursue those passions? “Just do it,” Louie advised. “Let your imagination roll, organize your thoughts. Work really hard for it and make mistakes–a lot of it–then learn from it. Then repeat step 1.”
Check out the website of Gouache here, and The Bloomfields here.
Abbey Sy
Abbey Sy just graduated from college, but you’ll be amazed at all the things she’s already achieved. My friends and I follow her online to see her artwork regularly. She sells creative and thoughtful products such as bookmarks, bags, and notebooks that are always the perfect gifts (for ourselves and our loved ones!). She had already conducted workshops and had given talks on her craft. Her Instagram feed is a constant feed of creativity, inspiration, and good vibes.
“I am passionate about all things creative, specifically hand lettering and moment collecting,” Abbey said.
“Aside from constantly keeping busy with freelance projects, I like to keep a daily journal and do a bit of scrapbooking on the side. I also make sure to practice at least every day and explore new styles I can improve on – which is why I usually post daily musings over at my blog, Le Reveur. It also helps that I love music, books and travel as much and these are key things that stimulate my creativity.”
Deb Victa is one of the artists from Team Bamboo during the first season of The Voice Philippines. She is also among the Top 10 Finalists of the Meg Face Search in 2010. Armed with a bubbly personality, a go-getter attitude, and a beautiful face, Deb has a wide array of experiences in hosting and events. Her voice is calm and relaxing, at the same time very powerful. I heard her give a talk before, and from that, I could safely say that she’s the type of girl who personifies beauty and brains. She’s also very approachable and friendly!
“My greatest passion is performing – more specifically, music. To be able to pursue my passion, I have to constantly put in time to train and stay inspired. That means vocalizing and taking care of my voice and my body on a day to day basis, since my health is key to my performance. I’ve also recently brushed up on my piano-playing again just to help myself be able to write songs better. As a musician, it’s also imporant to surround yourself with people who understand you and keep you inspired.”
“But it’s not just all about music, I’ve learned that in order to keep doing what I love, I need to do other things to support my passion. So I’ve taken up other jobs such as hosting, writing and commercial modelling and use the extra income to pay for bills, gas money to get to gigs, music classes, or buying new gear. Which is why I think it’s true what they say, that: “ang buhay ng musikero ay mahirap, pero masarap.”
This is a video of one of her live performances of none other than a the Taylor Swift Medley!
Although still a student, Hannah is also a writer, a photographer, a blogger, an entrepreneur, and ultimately, a go-getter. She has already appeared in online campaigns. She maintains a strong online presence through her creative photos and writings. “My passion lies in appreciating the beauty of things–may it be nature and its many facets, people’s stories, or a blossoming idea–and communicating it.”
“Writing, creative direction, entrepreneurship, and photography are merely means to communicate this passion. I mostly develop these abilities by opening my mind to new experiences and allowing myself to be inspired by different things. I ask questions when I can, seize opportunities, permit myself to see the world from new perspectives, and learn from my mistakes. And if there’s anything I must always do, it would be to not (even for one second) doubt myself, because it limits me from what I can become. Apart from these, I rely on God’s grace and wisdom to support me in my endeavors, for I owe all credit to Him.”
Amanda Lim is a talented photographer. She documents her travel experiences, food, and everyday things like the city landscapes, and makes all these look like a colorful adventure.
“My passion is photography. I’ve been working to define what I love most about taking photographs. A single photo can help preserve the memory a moment, helping you remember and relive the feeling of that moment over and over and share it with others.”
“Being creative for me is not about being the “better” one. That usually means you’re walking in the footsteps of someone else. But if you strive to be unique, thinking of new ways to create different things, then you are lighting your own path.”
Check out Amanda’s Instagram photos @amandajoylim.
Samantha Aguinaldo
Sam is one of the girls who manage the Instagram page of @AgapeRealm. @AgapeRealm is one of my favorite accounts to follow because I could rely on it to consistently produce creative typography and inspiring photos daily. It has reached followers from different parts of the world, and it’s interesting how the people behind it are all college students who are able to commit to it daily despite the demands of their academics.
“I am passionate about serving, encouraging, and empowering people. My friends and I commit ourselves to provide daily inspiration through social media. We have a designated schedule, and we distribute the tasks among ourselves. “
Follow @AgapeRealm on Instagram, Twitter, and on Facebook.
Mikka Wee
Mikka Wee is the Managing Editor of Pepper.PH, maintains her own personal blog, and is passionate about travel. “It allows me to immerse myself in different cultures and learn from the locals who live there.”
“I always find time to travel. While I know a lot of people my age (I’m 24 years old) invest in expensive shoes, bags, and watches, I invest in a discounted plane ticket and a few nights in a local hostel, or an experience of camping out in nature without electricity, wi-fi, and signal.”
“I feel more connected and alive when I’m rid of technology (though, don’t get me wrong, I still have my social media splurge ever-so-often), and taking everything in, finding stillness in certain moments allows me to reflect on my life and gives me room for introspection. I also have a personal blog, mikkawee.com, where I use the moniker “The Tiny Traveler”. This is my storytelling platform, and it’s great because I get to meet other individuals around the world and hear about their stories as well.”
Connect with Mikka at mikkawee.com, @mikkawee on Instagram and on Twitter.
Franc Kevin Mangahas
Franc Mangahas is an amazingly talented artist. He makes sketching look so easy and takes the yummiest-looking food photos! He always has an interesting backstory to behind his works. I love looking at his feed over social media accounts because of his amazing food photos. He’s a guy who has a zeal for life + food. After all, what’s life without a bit of flavor?
“Food photography and volleyball are my two passions that fuel my drive to succeed in life,” he said. “In order for me to excel in my chosen practice, I always make sure that I am surrounded by people that are better than me and would make excellent role models.”
“I constantly check on what is the latest trend online and try to incorporate it in my works. I also try to go out of my comfort zone in order to produce materials that are always different from the previous ones in order to create variety and to also find my own unique style. Lastly, I make sure to keep intact my competitive spirit. This is to make sure that I will never be complacent with my work.”
I love workshops, and I’m usually willing to shell out cash for it, if the topic and speaker interest me. But there are some really awesome people in the world who offer these workshops for an extremely minimal price. I tried attending a discussion on Women in the Media by the Better Story Project. What we paid for were the food and drinks that were served during the event.
It was a fun and relaxing event where we got to exchange ideas and meet new friends with similar interests. Isa Garcia is the one who founded it. The Better Story Project is a non-profit mentoring program for young girls. “I am deeply passionate about people,” Isa said.
“I currently run a non-profit program called The Better Story Project. Our primary aim is to empower women through community (bringing them together and sharing in a conversation) so we doing this by hosting workshops and forums on a monthly basis. I care about changing culture, about growing up among a generation of strong, brave, smart women, and I believe that this is possible. I believe that compassion and creativity are part of what will help us make better stories together.”
Kim Tiam-Lee is the girl behind the online accessories shop, @PulserasbyKim. She has somehow managed being an college student and maintaining a thriving online shop. Now, she is a licensed architect and continues to attract more fans and followers for her business.
“During my thesis year, I started tinkering with my old box of threads to make friendship bracelets as a stress reliever. Friends and friends of friends started asking about htem, one order led to the next, I started to charge a minimal fee, posted items and DIY s on my blog: mokimikmak.tk, then gave selling online a shot.”
“I love love love looking at Etsy and Pinterest for design inspiratins as well as other jewelry stores. Handmade items are so adorable, and made with so much love and effort, there’s just this quality of perfection in the imperfection of the craft.”
Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @ylrebmiktl, and follow her online shop @PulserasByKim and its Facebook page.
Sean Si
Sean Si is a motivational and leadership speaker, an SEO and digital marketing speaker, and a CEO at age 22! He turns something as technical as Search Engine Optimization into an understandable concept even to beginners. Sean pays it forward by sharing whatever he knows through his blogs and through charity events like the recently concluded SEO Summit, for the benefit of the children from Timoteo Paez Elementary School.
“My passion has always been writing. Put me in a box, give me a pen and paper, and I will write the entire day. I studied IT in DLSU but it didn’t work out for me. Sure, I graduated (albeit, with a lot of failing marks) but I still pursued writing as my career. It got me to discover blogging and SEO and ultimately, it led me to start up my own company: SEO Hacker.”
“I blog around 4x a week in different blogs. God and You (h3sean.com), SEO Hacker (seo-hacker.com), My personal Ideas (seansi.org/ideas) and Success Hacker (successhacker.org). Of course, in order to fuel my writing, I read a lot. Some of the books I’m currently reading are ReWork by 37Signals and Good to Great by Jim Collins. I also read around 5 blogs a day to keep me up to date with the SEO and digital marketing industry.”
11 Passionate Filipinos Share the One Thing They Do To Be Happy and Successful
It was extremely rewarding to work on this piece because I got to talk to people I really look up to. More than that, I realized something common among all respondents, even though their interests vary.
Some pursue their passion by running a non-profit program, or blogging, or reading blogs, or going on Pinterest and Etsy, or networking, or practicing endlessly. But all these began with a conscious decision to do something about what they love. None of them were born skilled and passionate immediately. It was something they worked hard for, and something they decided on.
And I think there’s something extremely empowering about that. Tweet me @rebeccaallee to share what your passion is. I’d really love to hear from you. <3
I used to tell stories for a living, but now work as a performance marketer for a tech company. During my free time, I maintain a blog, ThePassionProject.PH. I also enjoy going on road trips, snorkeling, reading, writing, and practicing yoga and Pilates.
11 Passionate Filipinos Share the One Thing They Do To Be Happy and Successful
11 Passionate Filipinos Share the One Thing They Do To Be Happy and Successful
There are many routines that make some people happier: starting the day with coffee, adopting a pet dog, going to bed early, being on time for meetings, accomplishing your goals for the day, and many more. The list could go on and on, but there could be that one thing a person does which would affect all these other little things.
As cliché as it might seem, I think the one thing a person could do that would make everyday happier is deciding to pursue one’s passion–and it’s more concrete and doable that it might seem!
More than people who are rich, famous, and incredibly skilled at something, I look up the people who are incredibly passionate about they do.
I met people who get six figures a month, but detest their jobs with a passion. And it affects so many apsects of their lives.
But I also met people, who, against others’ warnings, pursued their passion and are now incredibly rich and happy and so in love with life and what they do. The passion for whatever it is they do made them excited to face the day’s challenges, made them want to network with others, made them on time for all their meetings, and made them sincerely want to learn more. The decision to pursue their passion was their key to make everyday happier and more fulfilling.
I’ve always strived to be that kind of person: the one who does what she loves, works hard to be really good at it, and makes a living out of it. I’m passionate about stories that come in all forms, from different people and places. That’s why I’m interested in communication and in the different forms of media. Anything related to that makes me giddy, kilig and unable to sleep just at the thought of it.
But I’ve met people who were giddy over a Math equation. Or coding. Or the anatomy of a cat. Or dancing. And I’m often awestruck and humbled at the diversity of dreams, which is why I talked to people with varied interests. I asked them about what their passion is, and what they do to pursue that passion.
What’s your passion, and what do you do to pursue it?
Louie Poco
Louie Poco is a member of the band The Bloomfields and is a co-owner of Gouache. I enjoy listening to The Bloomfields’ music, and months after featuring Gouache in When in Manila, I continue to gush about it whenever I talk to someone about my favorite brands. Even with Gouache’s success, I think the best is yet to come for them, especially with their new products and with a report by Rappler stating that a majority of Filipinos are socially-conscious consumers.
It’s amazing how Louie plays an active role in both The Bloomfields and Gouache: performing in a band and being hands-on with a thriving local business. I found it perfect to ask him what his passion is. Louie explained, “My passions are playing music, performing on stage, and product and graphic design.”
Wondering what it takes to pursue those passions? “Just do it,” Louie advised. “Let your imagination roll, organize your thoughts. Work really hard for it and make mistakes–a lot of it–then learn from it. Then repeat step 1.”
Check out the website of Gouache here, and The Bloomfields here.
Abbey Sy
Abbey Sy just graduated from college, but you’ll be amazed at all the things she’s already achieved. My friends and I follow her online to see her artwork regularly. She sells creative and thoughtful products such as bookmarks, bags, and notebooks that are always the perfect gifts (for ourselves and our loved ones!). She had already conducted workshops and had given talks on her craft. Her Instagram feed is a constant feed of creativity, inspiration, and good vibes.
Deb Victa
Deb Victa is one of the artists from Team Bamboo during the first season of The Voice Philippines. She is also among the Top 10 Finalists of the Meg Face Search in 2010. Armed with a bubbly personality, a go-getter attitude, and a beautiful face, Deb has a wide array of experiences in hosting and events. Her voice is calm and relaxing, at the same time very powerful. I heard her give a talk before, and from that, I could safely say that she’s the type of girl who personifies beauty and brains. She’s also very approachable and friendly!
“My greatest passion is performing – more specifically, music. To be able to pursue my passion, I have to constantly put in time to train and stay inspired. That means vocalizing and taking care of my voice and my body on a day to day basis, since my health is key to my performance. I’ve also recently brushed up on my piano-playing again just to help myself be able to write songs better. As a musician, it’s also imporant to surround yourself with people who understand you and keep you inspired.”
“But it’s not just all about music, I’ve learned that in order to keep doing what I love, I need to do other things to support my passion. So I’ve taken up other jobs such as hosting, writing and commercial modelling and use the extra income to pay for bills, gas money to get to gigs, music classes, or buying new gear. Which is why I think it’s true what they say, that: “ang buhay ng musikero ay mahirap, pero masarap.”
This is a video of one of her live performances of none other than a the Taylor Swift Medley!
Follow her on SoundCloud at, www.soundcloud.com/dcjvicta, on Youtube, Facebook, and, @debsilog on Twitter and Instagram.
Hannah To
Although still a student, Hannah is also a writer, a photographer, a blogger, an entrepreneur, and ultimately, a go-getter. She has already appeared in online campaigns. She maintains a strong online presence through her creative photos and writings. “My passion lies in appreciating the beauty of things–may it be nature and its many facets, people’s stories, or a blossoming idea–and communicating it.”
“Writing, creative direction, entrepreneurship, and photography are merely means to communicate this passion. I mostly develop these abilities by opening my mind to new experiences and allowing myself to be inspired by different things. I ask questions when I can, seize opportunities, permit myself to see the world from new perspectives, and learn from my mistakes. And if there’s anything I must always do, it would be to not (even for one second) doubt myself, because it limits me from what I can become. Apart from these, I rely on God’s grace and wisdom to support me in my endeavors, for I owe all credit to Him.”
She captures all these in her blog, As Captured by Hannah. Connect with her @hgdt on Instagram and on Twitter. Check out her shop here: https://instagram.com/dashndonna and https://marketplace.zalora.com.ph/dash-donna/.
Amanda Lim
Amanda Lim is a talented photographer. She documents her travel experiences, food, and everyday things like the city landscapes, and makes all these look like a colorful adventure.
“My passion is photography. I’ve been working to define what I love most about taking photographs. A single photo can help preserve the memory a moment, helping you remember and relive the feeling of that moment over and over and share it with others.”
“Being creative for me is not about being the “better” one. That usually means you’re walking in the footsteps of someone else. But if you strive to be unique, thinking of new ways to create different things, then you are lighting your own path.”
Check out Amanda’s Instagram photos @amandajoylim.
Samantha Aguinaldo
Sam is one of the girls who manage the Instagram page of @AgapeRealm. @AgapeRealm is one of my favorite accounts to follow because I could rely on it to consistently produce creative typography and inspiring photos daily. It has reached followers from different parts of the world, and it’s interesting how the people behind it are all college students who are able to commit to it daily despite the demands of their academics.
“I am passionate about serving, encouraging, and empowering people. My friends and I commit ourselves to provide daily inspiration through social media. We have a designated schedule, and we distribute the tasks among ourselves. “
Follow @AgapeRealm on Instagram, Twitter, and on Facebook.
Mikka Wee
Franc Kevin Mangahas
Franc Mangahas is an amazingly talented artist. He makes sketching look so easy and takes the yummiest-looking food photos! He always has an interesting backstory to behind his works. I love looking at his feed over social media accounts because of his amazing food photos. He’s a guy who has a zeal for life + food. After all, what’s life without a bit of flavor?
“Food photography and volleyball are my two passions that fuel my drive to succeed in life,” he said. “In order for me to excel in my chosen practice, I always make sure that I am surrounded by people that are better than me and would make excellent role models.”
“I constantly check on what is the latest trend online and try to incorporate it in my works. I also try to go out of my comfort zone in order to produce materials that are always different from the previous ones in order to create variety and to also find my own unique style. Lastly, I make sure to keep intact my competitive spirit. This is to make sure that I will never be complacent with my work.”
Follow him in Behance: https://www.behance.net/franckevinm and Tumblr: https://franckevinm.tumblr.com/
Isa Garcia
It was a fun and relaxing event where we got to exchange ideas and meet new friends with similar interests. Isa Garcia is the one who founded it. The Better Story Project is a non-profit mentoring program for young girls. “I am deeply passionate about people,” Isa said.
Kim Tiam-Lee
Kim Tiam-Lee is the girl behind the online accessories shop, @PulserasbyKim. She has somehow managed being an college student and maintaining a thriving online shop. Now, she is a licensed architect and continues to attract more fans and followers for her business.
“During my thesis year, I started tinkering with my old box of threads to make friendship bracelets as a stress reliever. Friends and friends of friends started asking about htem, one order led to the next, I started to charge a minimal fee, posted items and DIY s on my blog: mokimikmak.tk, then gave selling online a shot.”
Sean Si
Sean Si is a motivational and leadership speaker, an SEO and digital marketing speaker, and a CEO at age 22! He turns something as technical as Search Engine Optimization into an understandable concept even to beginners. Sean pays it forward by sharing whatever he knows through his blogs and through charity events like the recently concluded SEO Summit, for the benefit of the children from Timoteo Paez Elementary School.
“My passion has always been writing. Put me in a box, give me a pen and paper, and I will write the entire day. I studied IT in DLSU but it didn’t work out for me. Sure, I graduated (albeit, with a lot of failing marks) but I still pursued writing as my career. It got me to discover blogging and SEO and ultimately, it led me to start up my own company: SEO Hacker.”
“I blog around 4x a week in different blogs. God and You (h3sean.com), SEO Hacker (seo-hacker.com), My personal Ideas (seansi.org/ideas) and Success Hacker (successhacker.org). Of course, in order to fuel my writing, I read a lot. Some of the books I’m currently reading are ReWork by 37Signals and Good to Great by Jim Collins. I also read around 5 blogs a day to keep me up to date with the SEO and digital marketing industry.”
Visit Sean’s blogs and websites at: God and You, SEO Hacker , https://seansi.org/ideas/, and Success Hacker.
11 Passionate Filipinos Share the One Thing They Do To Be Happy and Successful
It was extremely rewarding to work on this piece because I got to talk to people I really look up to. More than that, I realized something common among all respondents, even though their interests vary.
Some pursue their passion by running a non-profit program, or blogging, or reading blogs, or going on Pinterest and Etsy, or networking, or practicing endlessly. But all these began with a conscious decision to do something about what they love. None of them were born skilled and passionate immediately. It was something they worked hard for, and something they decided on.
And I think there’s something extremely empowering about that. Tweet me @rebeccaallee to share what your passion is. I’d really love to hear from you. <3
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About The Author
I used to tell stories for a living, but now work as a performance marketer for a tech company. During my free time, I maintain a blog, ThePassionProject.PH. I also enjoy going on road trips, snorkeling, reading, writing, and practicing yoga and Pilates.