Theme: Innovation in Isolation

TEDxBritishSchoolManila has been an annual event hosted on the BSM campus. In light of the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines, the TEDx conference for 2020 has been canceled. The mission of TEDxBritishSchoolManila 2021 is to revive the tradition of hosting a TEDx event under our school name, albeit under an online platform rather than a physical one.

The goal of our theme "Innovation is Isolation" is to share the stories of a wide variety of individuals – mostly from the Philippines – who have had their livelihoods drastically changed by the course of the pandemic. We want to share stories of people who were able to adapt and innovate despite the constricting circumstances; stories that demonstrate innovation in isolation. Regardless of who it may be, we believe that these stories of success and prosperity can enlighten many people in our community who feel lost due to the pandemic.

Although our workshops are exclusive to BSM students, anyone can view our talks and performances. No registration is necessary. Simply click the link to our YouTube live stream, and we hope to see you on September 3, 2021 at 8:30am Philippine Standard Time!

British School Manila
The British School Manila, 36th Street
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, National Capital Region, 1634
Philippines

An Alcantara

Clay artisan + writer

An Mercado-Alcantara is a writer, editor, clay artisan, innkeeper, and storyteller. She believes storytelling gives people the power to make the world a better place.

Brian Moore

Creative director + inventor

Brian Moore is a Los Angeles-based, mostly technology-focused creative director who makes weird, fun, and arguably “innovative” projects. From pull cords that help you escape Zoom calls to real scooters powered by angry screams to Emmy-nominated political commentary video games, Brian’s work is medium agnostic and religiously irreverent.

Chot Reyes

Basketball coach + CEO of coachcom.inc

Chot Reyes is an experienced CEO - Coach, Executive, Owner. He is responsible for making ‘PUSO’ (HEART) the national battlecry, and the former Head Coach of GIlas Pilipinas who has led the country’s national team to its first Basketball World Cup stint in 40 years in 2014.

Dave Lamar

Singer-Songwriter

Dave Lamar is a Filipino-American singer/songwriter/producer whose music ranges from modern pop to a mix of soul and R&B. He was also a contestant on several tv shows such as The Voice of the Philippines and American Idol. He has also released several EPs and has collaborated with artists such as Reneé Dominique and Morissette.

Josh Manoharan

Physiotherapist

Josh Manoharan is a Filipino-Sri Lankan Physiotherapist based in BGC. He holds clinic at Kerry Sports Manila at Shangri-La Fort. For about 6 years, he was appointed the head coach and studio manager of F45 Training BGC Stopover, an Australian gym that pioneered in Manila. Starting with a vision to thoroughly understand the human body, he began his career in basic healthcare, got sidetracked to fitness and is now merging both through a telehealth startup company called “Kakayanan”, Filipino for “Ability”. This initiative offers opportunities for Filipinos of all socioeconomic demographics to access physical therapy services online and in-person. Using different channels, Josh aims to share science-based advice to improve the quality of life of Filipinos around the world and expats based in the Philippines.

Juliet Aspin

Juliet Aspin started composing songs during quarantine with the company of her phone’s microphone and a ukulele. Although she had already started writing lyrics at a very young age of 6, she started to find her passion once again in this quarantine, creating melodies that speak to her and others. From her songs about isolation called “Home Alone”, or a cover of City of Stars on her Youtube Channel, she continues to thrive in creating more and more music.

Larah Teng

Country Manager of Philippines & Malaysia at Zoom

Larah Salonga-Teng is Zoom’s Country Manager for the Philippines and Malaysia. In her role, Larah enables Zoom’s international expansion and is responsible for delivering value, site strategy, management and driving strategic objectives. She has successfully grown and sustained Zoom’s Philippines and Malaysia operations in a challenging global pandemic environment.

Leni Robredo

Vice President of the Philippines

Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo is the 14th Vice President of the Philippines. After years of educating marginalized communities about their rights under the law, she began her political career in 2013 as a congresswoman, and was called upon to run for the Vice Presidency a few years later. As VP, she has led many initiatives, ranging from her office’s flagship anti-poverty program (Angat Buhay) to the BAHAYanihan housing initiative in response to a series of typhoons in 2020. Believing in the power of collaboration, and a faith in the people, VP Leni vows to keep working to help her fellow Filipinos, especially those in the fringes of society.

Markki Stroem

TV and Radio Personality

Marcello Angelo Ledesma Stroem is an advocate for mental health awareness. He produced a song, music video and photoshoot to help the Psychiatric association of the Philippines raise awareness about the rising cases of suicide and self-harm in the Philippines. He hopes to inform using my hashtags #ItIsOkayNotToBeOkay and #UnmaskYourFears.

Reese Lansangan

Musician

Reese Lansangan is a pop-folk singer-songwriter, musician, visual artist, author, and multi-awarded creative from Manila. A trailblazer in the Philippine indie scene, she has brought her music to international shores and beyond, having been featured by NASA for their historic #LaunchAmerica campaign videos. She takes slices of life and spins them into head-bopping melodies and heartwarming confessionals.

Sam Villavicencio

Co-founder of Aksyon ng Kabataan

Samantha Villavicencio is the co-founder and executive director of the Aksyon ng Kabataan Organization, otherwise known as AKO. Aside from being a first year student at the Ateneo de Manila University taking a bachelor science degree in Psychology, she is an 18 year old activist for children’s welfare and social justice. She is currently an active member in youth organizations such as Aiesec in Ateneo and Barefoot Philippines.

Sofia Coyiuto

Co-founder of 808 Studio

Sofia Coyiuto is the co-founder of 808 Studio, Manila’s first boutique dance fitness studio. As someone who loves dancing but was intimidated by the competitive nature of dance studios, Sofia wanted to create a space where everyone felt free to move without the fear of judgment. Despite the studio’s opening being postponed due to COVID-19, 808 Studio has grown to be one of the country’s leading fitness studios through its online and on demand classes. With her co-founder Dorthee Li, Sofia hopes to inspire people to find joy in dance and to elevate the dance fitness experience in the Philippines.

Stephanie Zubiri

Content creator + writer

Stephanie Zubiri is an author as well as a food, lifestyle and travel journalist with an active online and social media presence. Her bestselling travel-inspired cookbook ”Feast With Me” won the Philippine National Book Awards for the Best Book in the Food Category (2018) and was also a finalist for the World Gourmand Book Awards (2017). She is currently the Editor-in-Chief for Tatler Homes Philippines, Senior Writer for Tatler Philippines, and Senior Contributor to Tatler Online. Stephanie’s regular column in the Philippine Star has been running now for more than nine years and she is a contributing writer to Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia as well as many other regional and international travel and inflight publications such as: Singapore Airlines' Silverkris, Silkair's Silkwinds, Cathay Dragon's Silkroad and Cebu Pacific's Smile.

SYLAS - The Band

Musical Artist

SYLAS is the combo music project comprised of Filipina Romanian singer-songwriter Stephanie Belle and Irish producer/instrumentalist Patrick Campbell, dishing out a mesh of electronic alternative pop sounds.