TEDxUSC: Breakdown – A Rundown
TEDxUSC has launched another successful event last Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018 at the building of School of Fine Arts, Architecture, and Design (SAFAD) in Talamban Campus. With the theme “Breakdown”, speakers shared their stories and ideas on how their goals came to be and how they achieved them.
The first speaker was Francis Sollano, co-founder and executive director of the Youth for a Livable Cebu (YFLC), who talked about environmental issues in the city. He also talked about sustainable wearable art and how trash can be incorporated into the fashion industry. He said that textile and fabric can be made from trash and plastic, where they take materials that are mundane and invaluable and turn it into something that resonates to people. He asked the audience, “How could we make trash fashionable? How could solve these issues as an individual? How can I mix trash and fashion?”
He presented various campaigns that were successful and heard by the general public and the local government such as a proposal for garden parks for each barangay, Save the Rivers campaign, and “Hugot sa Climate Change” campaign which the latter made the Cebu City government junk a proposed coal power plant to be built in the province.
YFLC is currently working with Cebuano youth in spreading their campaign against environmental damage and help the youth stay out of harm’s way. He stated that the youth can make an impact in the community.
“How could you change and better the world than you live in before?” he said.
Following Sollano was Jane Llanes with her talk on “The Physics of Pole Dancing”. Llanes is a registered nurse and a co-proprietor of Pole Sphinx Aerial Arts Studio, where she is also an instructor. On stage, she performed various pole dancing techniques while discussing elements in the aerial art. She explained three things that made her a successful pole dancer: Training the body especially on strength, flexibility and stamina; commitment and science. She explained the physics that helped her in pole dancing; mainly momentum and friction that helped her body balance and sway on the pole. She said that pole dancers don’t wear much clothing because it could affect their performance as the body will easily slip from the pole. She is also aware of the misconception of the public when it comes to pole dancing and how incredibly taxing it is to a person’s body. She stated that pole dancing involves understanding the body and the world around you.
Johnn Mendoza, an aviculturist, ornithologist and hotel manager presented how to talk with animals, specifically with birds. Along with him onstage was one of his beloved birds, Alpha. He said that birds have different languages as much as humans and that there are no shortcuts in communication. He presented the challenges and roadblocks in communicating to animals, saying, “Stop thinking birds are like humans.”
He talked on the various ways of understanding parrots. First, to learn a language, you must understand it, explaining that birds talk to each other through various screeches, squawks and tones. Next is to know what they’re thinking, which can be seen through body language, whether they are in pleasure or displeasure. He also talked about building bird relationships, and that in order to build a bond, you must take it slow and be considerate. They illicit responses whether they love you or not, as birds are not just glorified pets but also friends as they too have feelings and personalities.
“The core of being successful in communication is compassion.” He said before ending his talk.
“We only have ourselves to hold on to no matter how tough life may get.” Mannit said. He played a composition that is soon to be included in the upcoming Missing Filemon album.
Vincent Villanueva presented prosthetic hands made from 3D printing during the program. He is a Carolinian engineering student and served as proxy speaker for Chris Blanchard, owner of B3D Printing and e-Nable Cebu. Blanchard made use of 3D printing to help the amputees that could not afford medical prosthetics and to satisfy the lack of 3D printing technology in the Philippines.
The company is also working on the Upcycle project where people can trade discarded bottle caps for money. These discarded bottle caps are shredded and turn into works of art, thereby minimizing plastic pollution.
Next was Max Maquiling, co-founder of UNITY Productions. He explained his advocacy on the importance of video games and its benefit to the youth and his goal of removing the stigma against the culture. He has headed and co-organized almost 80 tournaments since 2015. He talked about video games and e-sports and how they can help the youth from staying away from drugs and other bad habits.
He plans to have an Interschool Esports league that can help fight against drugs, improper gaming etiquette and help spread the right info on the benefits of videogames. He also wants to establish an Esports club in every school. However, its requisites include no failing grades and must remain drug-free.
Cebu Esports United (CESU), of which Maquiling is part of, have talked with Mayor Tommy Osmena on an anti-drug program that integrates Esports which has already been signed and approved on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018.
Asther Ryan Mannit and Annielou Incenales performed for the event. Mannit, a musician and IELTS instructor told stories about his interest and passion fir music and the hardships he went through throughout the years. He got into music at a young age and during his college and adult years, dealt with drugs and alcohol before getting his life back on track. He said that music was his safe haven and best friend that made him stray further from the spiral. Incenales, on the other hand, had her passion for dancing at a young age and she has been a part of the Cebu dance sports team and performed in various competitions. She performed a solemn ballet dance entitled “The Nutcracker” during the event.
Marie Abendan, presented “Kalamrag sa Kasisidman: Finding the Light in Darkness”. She is a mental health advocate and an organizer of the Cebu Mental Health Week, which aims to remove the stigma and raise awareness regarding the issues of mental health. She explained the tips in avoiding depression, one should find comfort among friends and reach out whenever you need someone to be with you, keep a journal or diary; make a list of things that makes you happy, and remember that depressing thoughts are lies and always be honest.
Final speaker Jose Guardo II presented his patents and inventions on magnetic levitation or maglev. He is an advocate for the monorail project that will be paired to the proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) program. He explained the physics of electromagnetism and the science of magnetic levitation and showed prototype works on the projects. He presented a proposal of the monorail project that span Consolacion to Talisay. The proposed monorail is public transportation systems that uses the maglev system for ease of travel and lessen traffic noise.
