Theme: Grit

Grit: courage and resolve; strength of character.
Life is full of obstacles, of highs and lows that the struggle in which we embark on forces us to rush to the finish line. Yet, no matter how difficult things may be, we must remember that the journey is the destination -- to who you are and who you're meant to be. We all embark on our own journeys, and end in the same place as different individuals.
And that mindset makes all the difference.
On the 23rd of April, join us for this year's installment of TEDxUERM where we explore and understand various forces of change, fighting its way against their respective currents.

Zoom platform
64 Aurora Boulevard
Quezon City, National Capital Region, 1113
Philippines

Anton Fausto

All-around performer and entertainer

Anton Fausto is an all-around performer & entertainer. He won the MYX VJ Search 2019 and has hosted events from weddings, to parties to TED Talks since he was a student. He produces and hosts his own podcast brought about by his quarter-life crisis during the pandemic, the Anton on One Podcast, which revolves around honest and casual conversations for the ambitious and anxious young Filipino. He also produces all Tiktok content for IFE Management, Inc. He is a dance fitness instructor as well for 808 Studio, the country’s first boutique dance fitness studio. He’s also dabbled in DJ-ing, making having fun his profession. He believes that one’s career and life in general is actually a straight line. Meaning, every single experience and challenge you go through is what ultimately brings you to where you’re supposed to be. There are no wasted opportunities.

Jai Cabajar

Doctor of Internal Medicine

Dr. Jairus Cabajar is a first-generation doctor who specializes in Internal Medicine, and is an upcoming Pulmonary Medicine fellow. Along with other healthcare workers, he serves as a front-liner since the beginning of the pandemic. Aside from being a physician, he spends a lot of time discussing health and politics through social media and podcasts. Having been able to achieve his dreams through scholarship grants, one of his passion projects is to create a scholarship program for kids. At his core, he believes that health is a human right, and that healthcare should be accessible and affordable for everyone, regardless of age, location, and societal status.

Natasha Bautista

Head of Growth and Programs at 917Ventures

Natasha is the Head of Growth & Programs for 917Ventures, Globe’s corporate venture builder that ideates, launches, and accelerates new businesses that have the potential to grow and scale fast. Previously, she co-founded and headed the operations of QBO, the national innovation hub of the Philippines and the first of its kind non-profit foundation and public-private partnership initiative geared to provide resources, connections and support to accelerate the growth of Philippine startup companies. She also brought over Grab to the Philippines when she was just an intern and in a span of 3 years, led the company to what it is today with the Head of GrabCar as her last role. She has been helping existing startups and new ventures, and her passion for development, whether it be as an individual, as a team or company, or as a nation, fuels her drive to empower the people and companies she works with.

Nick Daez

Kundalini Yoga, Meditation & Breathwork Teacher and Sound Healer

Nick Daez is a Kundalini Yoga, Meditation & Breathwork Teacher and Sound Healer. He completed his teacher training courses in New Mexico, Nepal, Bali and Palawan. Embracing his calling to serve and teach, he also leads healing rituals and does creative work as a multi-disciplinary artist for traditional and NFT art. He co-founded the award winning boutique video production company, Seabiscuit Films which is based in Manila. He is a big advocate for mental health and mindfulness.

Rica Cruz

Psychologist. Sex and relationships therapist.

She is a psychologist,certified sex and relationships therapist, and broadcaster with a PhD in Psychology and training and certifications from the University of Guelph, Harvard Medical School, the Society for Scientific Study of Sexuality, and the American College of Sexologists. With an expertise on Filipino sexual behaviors and sexual pleasure, her practice centers on individuals and couples with sexual and relationship issues. She also provides sexuality education to Filipinos everywhere through campaigns for HIV and Reproductive Health Awareness. Her goal is to normalize conversations on sex in our country. Thus, she co-hosts a daily TV show, Feelings, on OnePH, has two podcasts, Conservative Ako and The Sexy Minds; and hosts Love and Sex with Doc Rica on Kumu in partnership Metro.Style. Recently, she launched her own sexual wellness brand called UNPRUDE, that encourages women to explore their sexual selves freely through expertly-curated products and therapy-driven conversations.

Sylvia Estrada-Claudio

Dean of the College of Social Work and Community Development in the University of the Philippines-Diliman. Co-founder for an NGO that provides reproductive health services and education to urban poor women.

Dr. Sylvia Estrada-Claudio is the dean of the College of Social Work and Community Development (CSWCD) in UP Diliman. She is a professor at CSWCD’s Department of Women and Development studies, and was the Director of the University Center for Women’s Studies from 2011 to 2014. She has authored several works on feminism and reproductive health, including “The War on Women’s Bodies: Religious Fundamentalisms and the Struggle for Reproductive and Sexual Rights” (2011) and “Democracy and Theocracy: Justice and Sexism. The Philippine Roman Catholic Church in the 60s and the 70s” (2013); As an advocate for women’s rights and reproductive health, she also co-founded Likhaan Women’s Center Inc., a non-governmental organization with a mission to provide reproductive health services and education to urban poor women.

Tricia Robredo

Primary health physician. Public health advocate.

Dr. Tricia Robredo is a primary health physician and a public health advocate in the Philippines. She is involved in various initiatives that strive to improve delivery of quality healthcare, such as providing accessible medical aid to indigent Filipinos, and consulting for research on public health. She is also the Executive Director of the Jesse M. Robredo foundation.