The VoiceMaster Inspires Business and Hospitality Management Students in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro

The Divine Word College of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, held its 4^th Business Summit on February 3, 2017 at the DWCC Gymnasium. Over 600 Business Management and Hospitality Management students participated in the event, to learn more about social entrepreneurship and innovation. In relation to the event’s theme, “Social Entpreneurship: Paving the Way for Millennium Supremacy,” a lineup of resource speakers were invited to speak about topics such as media, ethics and entrepreneurial responsibility.



Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales was invited to talk about the role of media in promoting social entrepreneurship. As a Go Negosyo Angelpreneur and a Youth Entrepreneurship advocate, Pocholo shared his experience in building what he calls “passion-driven businesses”. He started by sharing the story of how as early as the age of seven, he discovered his skills and passion for voice acting, and found himself pursuing the craft almost a decade after when he won a contest in DZMM. He also talked about his extensive experience in Broadcast Media, not only as a broadcaster and radio drama artist in DZMM, but also as the founder of the largest Youth Media organization in the country, the Voice of the Youth Network.

Pocholo talked about how radio broadcasting enabled him to spread his advocacy for youth empowerment, and how it opened the doors for him to get into the world of voice acting. He also talked about the challenges and frustrations he met in the industry, until he built his own voiceover services company, Creativoices Productions. Pocholo also shared how his frustrations fueled his passion for the craft, and led him to build the first and only voice acting school in the Philippines.



Pocholo transitioned to talk about the importance of the voice, and how it is the most valuable instrument that we have as human beings. He set himself as the perfect example as someone who has maximized his voice not only to share his talent, but to also motivate and empower others to do the same. He then encouraged the participants to find their own voice – a.k.a. their PURPOSE – so that they can live a fulfilling life and not be stuck in a viscious cycle of working day in and day out just to earn money.

This discussion about finding one’s purpose was Pocholo’s segue to share his topic which he calls “8 to be GREAT” – or the 8 qualities that lead a person to become great. According to Pocholo, everyone should not only aim for happiness but also for greatness, to leave the world better than how we found it. He talked about having passion, availability, attitude of sharing and gratitude, and courage in order be able to build a business that will not only make money, but also make meaning.

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The VoiceMaster Inspires Young Rotarians in the Rotary Youth Leadership Award

The Rotaract Club of Taal-Lemery hosted the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards held on January 27-29 at the Little Bridge Resort in Taal, Batangas. Over 200 delegates spent 3 days of fun and experiential learning about transformational leadership through games and motivational talks. The participants came from various Rotaract Club chapters, including some foreign delegates from Canada, France and Switzerland.



Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales was invited for a motivational talk to cap off the last day of the camp. The VoiceMaster started his hour-long talk with high energy, as he brought the audience to laughter with his repertoire of character voices and hugot lines. He also talked about his journey as a voice artist, radio broadcaster, youth advocate, and motivational speaker, and how he has used the gift of his voice to inspire, motivate and empower those around him.

The VoiceMaster also talked about Dr. Jose Rizal, whom he considers to be the epitome of Filipino greatness and excellence. He challenged the audience bring out their greatness through their skills and talents, especially now that their generation have better tools and technology compared to Rizal! He also gave the participants an assignment to reflect on 3 simple but life-changing questions: 1) Where have you been, 2) Why are you here, and 3) Where are you going?

With those three questions, the VoiceMaster then transitioned to talk about leadership. He quoted his favorite definition of leadership, the kind that is anchored on passion and integrity. For him, leading others is not possible without first leading one’s self, so it’s important that the leader knows of his true intention and desire to lead others towards greatness and success. The VoiceMaster talked about the importance of discovering one’s life purpose, and how doing so will enable them to be a source of inspiration and motivation to their fellow youth. He shared his own experiences on how he has succeeded in leading others because he was true to his own personal mission to make other people better and happy using his skills and talents.



At the end of his talk, he inspired the participants to pursue their dreams by giving a copy of his book, “Gusto Kong Maging Voice Talent” to a member of the audience, who shared his dream of becoming a voice artist and a broadcaster someday.

The day ended with the awarding ceremony for the games and group activities.

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The VoiceMaster Inspires Broadcasting Students at the PUP Radio Conference 2017

The Young Communicators Guild – the official radio organization of Polytechnic University of the Philippines College of Communication – organized the PUP Radio Conference 2017 on January 27. With the theme “IGNITE ME: The Art of Radio Broadcasting in the Social Media Era,” the conference featured speakers who are exemplary contributors to the radio broadcasting arena. Over 200 Broadcasting students from PUP and nearby universities participated in the event, which was held at the PUP COC Theater.



Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales was one of the speakers during the event. As the pioneer of Youth Media in the country, Pocholo shared how radio broadcasting opened the doors for him to become who he is today – the most recognized voice artist, internationally-awarded youth advocate, and a highly sought-after motivational speaker, especially for young people. He recalled how he won DZMM’s radio drama and singing contest back in 1996, which earned him a slot on AM radio as a radio drama talent, scriptwriter, anchor and one of the directors. Pocholo talked about his frustrations and challenges in the beginning, and how those challenges led him his personal life mission to be the one to open the doors for talented young people to express their passion and talent.

Pocholo then introduced his advocacy organization Voice of the Youth Network (VOTY), a volunteer youth organization that gives the Filipino youth a voice on issues that affect them through radio broadcasting and ICT. With its mission to inform, inspire, involve and empower young people, VOTY has produced over 20 radio programs all over the Philippines, including its provincial chapters such as Sorsogon, General Santos, Lanao, and Bataan. Through their radio programs and online platforms, VOTY has become a venue for thousands of young people to do their part in contributing to positive social change.



Pocholo emphasized the importance of giving people the venue and the opportunity to share their skills and become an inspiration to their fellow youth. This is why aside from sharing his airtime to aspiring broadcasters in his shows, he also shared the stage with them. He called onstage three of his anchors – DJ Kelvin, DJ Denn and DJ Jomel – who inspired the students to volunteer their time and effort to pursue their dreams of broadcasting. They took turns sharing how joining VOTY has allowed them not only to be heard, but to also enhance their skills and confidence in communication. And, as the VoiceMaster would have done, they also did their own ‘sample’ of character voices they can imitate.

At the end of his talk, Pocholo gave away a copy of his book, “Gusto Kong Maging Voice Talent” to the person in the audience who courageously went onstage to “get it.” This gesture led to a powerful close for the VoiceMaster, as he challenged them to go out and CLAIM what the believe life has reserved for them.



The PUP Radio Conference also featured other radio personalities including Zhander Cayabyab of DZMM, Tere Gonzales of Radyo Inquirer, and John Gemperle or more popularly known as Papa Jack.

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The VoiceMaster Trains Pharmaceutical Students on Public Speaking

On January 25, the University of the Philippines Pharmaceutical Association (UPPHA) of the University of the Philippines Manila held its first ever public speaking seminar entitled “Beyond Say”. This half-day seminar focused on developing the communication skills of Pharmacy students through public speaking and social media. It was held at the auditorium of the College of Pharmacy, and was attended by around 50 students, particularly those who are graduating from the course.

Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales was invited to do the public speaking workshop. The participants were in for a treat as the VoiceMaster did not only teach the basics of public speaking, but also demonstrated it during his own presentation.



Pocholo started with an introduction of the VoiceMaster – who he is, and how he uses the power of his voice to convey powerful and meaningful messages through public speaking. He told the story of his journey as a voice artist, a broadcaster, and a youth advocate, and how his experiences made him discover his calling as a motivational speaker. Of course, he didn’t disappoint as he showcased his repertoire of character voices – from famous cartoon characters to famous celebrities.

The VoiceMaster also motivated the students as he talked about passion, greatness and excellence. He talked about the National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, and how he was accomplished noteworthy things despite the lack of resources and technology. He challenged the audience to do the same thing and become an inspiration to their fellow youth.



The last part of his talk was a mini-workshop on public speaking. But instead of the conventional tips and techniques on public speaking, the VoiceMaster dove straight into the heart of public speaking. He enlightened the audience about why people fear and struggle with public speaking. Through some activities, he taught the audience how to practice spontaneity, which he considers to be the number one skill needed in public speaking. Lastly, he gave 4 strategies to engage the audience during a speech: stories, humor, involvement and pause.

Towards the end, the VoiceMaster encouraged the participants to see public speaking as a venue where they could inspire and contribute towards positive social change.

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The VoiceMaster Inspires his Young Kababayans at the Third Mariveles Youth Congress

The Third Mariveles Youth Congress happened on January 20-21 at the Bataan Convention Center in Mariveles, Bataan. MYC is the gathering of youth leaders and to ensure compliance with the vision of the Province of Bataan and the Municipality of Mariveles. Hundreds of youth leaders and youth-serving organizations attended the event to learn and pitch in on the 4 thematic areas of the congress: health, employment, education and youth participation.



Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales graced the event as one of the speakers, where he talked about the role of the youth in nation building. As a proud native of Mariveles, Pocholo inspired the audience by sharing his own personal journey – from discovering his talent as a young boy growing up in the province, to traveling all over the country to inspire, motivate and empower his fellow Filipinos. He talked about how he got his break in the voice acting industry, which was powered by the simple dream of hearing his voice on the radio greeting his mother on air. He then went on to share how that simple dream propelled him to bigger and greater heights in the voice acting industry, until he became the most recognized and respected voice artist in the country.  Of course, the audience were not left empty-handed as the VoiceMaster entertained them with his ensemble of character voices.

Pocholo also spoke about his work as the Filipino Futurist. He talked about technology and how it has greatly influenced the way people live and function everyday, especially the youth, the so-called ‘millennials’. Having been working with young people for 20 years, Pocholo has recognized the youth’s behavior, lifestyle and mindset, and has adapted to an effective way to communicate with them. He encouraged the parents and the teachers in the audience to have a more open mind when it comes to leading today’s youth, in order for them to reach their full potential.



Pocholo talked about the beginnings of his 20-year experience as an internationally-awarded youth advocate. He shared to and encouraged the audience to join local and international youth programs, in order to expand their mind and their network, and so that they can contribute to positive social change. He challenged the youth to live a life of passion and purpose, and to not succumb to the idea of studying in order to graduate and get a good job. “Being a youth is a gift that one day will be taken away from you,” were the wise words of the VoiceMaster. So he encouraged the participants to believe in their dreams and act on it immediately.

Pocholo’s talk in MYC is one of his most memorable, as it is his first speaking engagement where his entire family – his parents and his sister – were present to watch.



Also included in the speaker lineup were Senator Bam Aquino, Perci Cendana, Mayor Ace Jello Concepcion, and Congressman Joet Garcia. MYC was spearheaded by the Municipal Government of Mariveles to promote a unified approach to the formulation of Local Youth Development Plan (LYDP) for the municipality.

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The VoiceMaster Shifts the Youth’s Financial Mindset at the 6th Thomasian National Finance Summit

The Junior Finance Executives of University of Sto. Tomas conducted its 6^th National Finance Summit on January 14, 2017. Over 900 students flocked the St. Martin de Porres Medicine Auditorium for a whole-day event of learning about investing, business and financial management.



Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales was the last speaker for the event, who spoke about “The Future of Entrepreneurship.” The VoiceMaster’s hour-long talk started at a high energy, especially with his icebreakers, hugot lines and ensemble of character voices. He then proceeded to sharing the story of his entrepreneurial journey in the voice acting industry – first as a freelancer, until he eventually built his own voiceover company. He talked about how he opened the first voice acting school in the country, and how it opened the door of the voice acting industry to all who aspire to become part of it.

The rest of Pocholo’s talk was about motivating the audience to shift their mindset when it comes to money and business.  As a futurist, he talked about how technology will continue to evolve and will exponentially change the way business and money are handled. He then encouraged the audience to go beyond working for money and instead work for MEANING. “Before you manage your finances, you should first manage your life” were the wise words of the VoiceMaster, as he talked about living a life of passion and purpose.



Pocholo’s story is in itself a testimony of how being driven by passion and purpose will help anyone push forward regardless of the struggles that come their way. His journey in the voice acting industry was met with challenges and frustrations, but Pocholo stayed true to his vision, and that empowered him to get to where he is today.

In the end, Pocholo motivated the students to seek their life purpose, and to use their passion – and not money – as their motivation to succeed in life.

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The VoiceMaster Inspires Aspiring Young Entrepreneurs at the First National Youth Business Convention

The University of the Philippines Business League, together with 16 other university-based organizations, conducted the first-ever National Youth Business Convention on January 12-14. The 3-day convention was filled with seminars and activities to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit in the Filipino youth, and is envisioned to be the apex of youth business summits. Each day of the convention was held in different venues to accommodate the activities prepared for each day.



Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales capped off the second day of the summit with a motivational talk about the future of entrepreneurship. Held at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati, the talk was attended by over 200 delegates who were preparing for their case presentation for the last day.

Pocholo shared his knowledge and experience in entrepreneurship, as a Go Negosyo Angelpreneur, and a proponent of Youth Entrepreneurship through his advocacy Negosyo Kabataan. He shared the story of how he discovered his talent in voice, and how his passion for voice acting became the fuel to establish not only his own voiceover company, but also his voice acting school which is the first in the Philippines. Pocholo talked about his challenges and struggles as a young entrepreneur in 2005, and how he was able to navigate through those experiences through passion, dedication and commitment.



As the Filipino Futurist, Pocholo gave the audience a glimpse of the future, especially in the world of business. He recapped some of the major trends and advancements seen today and how technology has greatly changed the way business is done – with things like artificial intelligence, cloud storage and smart gadgets.

Pocholo then posed the question “So, what kind of business will you start?” to the audience, and challenged them to think beyond the purpose of making money. He encouraged the audience to build a business with passion, purpose and legacy, to ‘future-proof’ themselves in the world of business.



In the end, the participants of the NYBC were given a fresh new perspective on what it means to become an entrepreneur.

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Pochology Academy Kicks Off 2017 with a Leadership Workshop for a Construction Company

The S.L. Development Construction Corporation held its 5^th Annual Project Management Review at the New World Manila Bay Hotel on January 3 and 4, 2017. Over 80 employees – engineers, foremen, project managers, and supervisors – attended the event, where they will be presenting the projects that will become the company’s focus in 2017.

Pochology Academy was invited to conduct a whole-day Team Effectiveness and Leadership Workshop on the first day of the event. The goal of the workshop is to teach and instill leadership principles to SLDCC’s employees, which they can apply to their day-to-day functions in the workplace.



The program started with a powerful motivational talk from Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales, Founder of Pochology Academy. Pocholo set the energy high during his talk, entertaining the audience with his witty stories, hugot lines, and repertoire of character voices. He shared the story of his journey as the VoiceMaster, from starting with a small dream to becoming an instrument to enable others to pursue theirs. He also told of his struggles and challenges that fueled him to live a life of passion and purpose. At the end of his talk, he encouraged the audience to create meaning in their work. His unforgettable piece of advice: “love your job, and your job will love you back.”



Pocholo’s inspiring talk was followed by the workshop proper, which was facilitated by one of Pochology Academy trainers, Ada Cuaresma. The workshop started with a discussion on trust, which Ada identified as the “heart of leadership.” The participants were divided into groups, who took turns to role-play scenarios of low trust in the workplace.

After lunch, Pocholo came back onstage to share more principles on leadership. He talked about vision, passion and influence as the keys to being the kind of leader that people would want to follow. After his talk, Ada facilitated a workshop on communication, the most crucial skill for a leader to learn and develop. The workshop tackled 3 important aspects of communication, especially for leaders in the workplace: listening, giving encouragement and handling conflict. The workshop closed with an action planning session, where the participants were asked to write down concrete, actionable steps to apply what ther learned when they go back to the workplace.



The day capped off with a double-celebration for SLDCC – the company’s 25^th anniversary and the birthday of their President, Ms. Anita Uy – which Ada and Pocholo also hosted.

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The VoiceMaster Teaches Teachers about the Future of Education

What is the future of education? In an era where information is literally “at the tip of your fingers,” what is the teacher’s role in educating students in the classroom?

This concern was addressed during the Teachers Induction Program organized by the DepEd Schools Division of Iloilo last December 26-28 at the Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center in Iloilo City. Over 600 Elementary school teachers attended the event, to learn about the theme of the conference, “21^st Century Teachers: Meeting Standards and Exceeding Expectations.”

Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales was one of the speakers during the Induction. Dubbed as the Filipino Futurist Speaker, Pocholo delivered an informative, entertaining and inspiring talk entitled “The Future of Education, Learning and Knowledge.” His talk started with the bold statement that “the future is NOW,” referencing the popular 80’s movie “Back to the Future,” where the lead characters travelled forward to year 2015. Pocholo then transitioned into explaining how the evolution of techonology has quickly changed the landscape of how we live – especially today’s youth who were born without knowing what it’s like to be “offline.”

Pocholo delved deep into how the young people of this generation has been shaped by their environment and technology, and how the old way of teaching is no longer relevant to the 21^st century classrooms. He made the audience realize the long-term impact of the internet, social media and touchsceen gadgets have on today’s kids. Pocholo’s talk was an eye-opener to the audience that someday, these young people will grow into full-blown adults, and they need to be prepared for the future of the future.

With all the gadgets and programs available for self-paced learning, Pocholo made the teachers realize how valuable their role is in shaping the minds of the youth, and how they can employ modern teaching strategies to make learning in the classroom meaningful, fun and relevant to these digital natives. He emphasized how VOICE was, is and will always be the teacher’s most valuable teaching tool, and gave them a few tips and strategies to use their voice effectively in teaching.

Pocholo left the audience with a powerful message that life is all about “doing something today that your future self will thank you for.”

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The VoiceMaster Shares his Time, Talent and Voices in a Christmas Charity in Silang, Cavite

A Christmas Giving Program was held on December 23, 2016 in Brgy. Bucal, Silang Cavite. Over 200 kids and their parents filled the venue for an afternoon of fun, games, prizes and giveaways from generous sponsors in the area.

The participants were welcome by the program host, Ada Cuaresma, one of the trainers of Pochology Academy. As the participants settled down, the program began with an opening prayer and welcome remarks from Fr. Arnel Valderama.

The VoiceMaster was then introduced to do a storytelling session for the kids. He started his presentation by doing the voices of characters and commercials he has made, like the voice of the puppets in the commercial of Bibo Hotdog. He also did a whole repertoire of voice impersonations – from famous celebrities to politicians to cartoon characters. The VoiceMaster left the audience in awe and amazement as he did a one-man radio drama of his childhood favorite “Gabi ng Lagim”. The VoiceMaster ended his talk with a short message of inspiration, telling the kids to always dare to dream and believe in their capacity to achieve.

The VoiceMaster’s storytelling session was followed by a series of games for kids and adults, where they won cash prizes and gift packs. Raffle draws were also held in between the program, where more cash and gift items were given away. The participants also enjoyed a generous afternoon snack before more games were played in the second half of the program. Finally, the Christmas charity ended with the participants receiving their noche buena package, and more cool giveaways for the kids.

Indeed, a great way to celebrate the Christmas season – with a generous heart to help and share blessings to the less fortunate.

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The VoiceMaster Bagged Two Awards at the Philippine Social Media Awards Night

The Philippine Social Media Awards was held on December 15, 2016, at the One Shangri-la Place in Mandaluyong City. The awards night was organized by the Philippine Social Media Examiner in partnership with Center for Sagip-Hirap Charity Foundation Inc. to recognize individuals and organizations that used the power of social media to create a positive impact to the society. Over a dozen awardees graced the event with their presence, to receive their Philippine Social Media Star Achiever and Philippine Social Media Star Brand Awards for their respective fields.

Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales bagged not just one, but TWO awards during this event. The VoiceMaster was awarded the Philippine Social Media Star Achiever for Arts and Entrepreneurship, in recognition for his accomplishments and contributions to the voice acting industry. His company, Creativoices Productions, was also awarded with the Philippine Social Media Star Brand for Most Outstanding Center for Voice Acting and Dubbing.

The VoiceMaster is considered an institution in the voice acting industry. Being the most respected and recognized voice artist in the country, he has been true to his vision to make the Philippines the center of voiceover excellence in Asia for 20 years and still counting. He revolutionized the industry by creating the first and only voice acting school on the Philippines, the Philippine Center for Voice Acting. The school did not only raise the bar on the quality of talents that do voiceover projects, it also opened the doors of the industry to those who have the passion and commitment to practice the craft. Since 2005, Pocholo’s school has produced thousands of graduates, with hundreds of them making their name in voice acting, voiceover, hosting, broadcasting and even public speaking.

Pocholo has also brought pride to the Philippines in the international voice acting scene, by becoming the only Filipino/Asian panelist in the 2012 VoiceOver International Creative Experience (VOICE) convention, which was then held in Anaheim, California. His company has also taken on one of its biggest international clients, SEGA Games, in 2008, and did voiceovers for their video games such as Golden Gun, Operation Ghost, Harley Davidson King of the Road, and Transformers: Human Alliance.

The Philippine Social Media Star Achiever award was also given to multi-awarded legends such as Comedy Queen Ai Ai delas Alas and world-class ballerina Shirley Halili-Cruz during the evening.

Truly, a recognition fit for the “man behind a thousand voices.”

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The VoiceMaster Hosts Oyayi TV Launch in Davao City

The newest children’s show on Philippine Television took Davao City!

On December 14, the cast of Oyayi TV invaded the Davao City National High School gymnasium to meet and greet with thousands of students and teachers from the school. A half-day program of fun, games and learning was prepared for the students. The event was hosted by voice artist, youth advocate and motivational speaker Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales, who also hosted the grand launch of the show in Manila last November.

Pocholo’s perfect blend of hosting skills, wit, and voice acting prowess made him a one-man powerhouse onstage. The audience roared with laughter as he made the program fun and exciting all throughout. Honorable guests from the Department of Education, National Council for Children’s Television, and CBN Asia also spoke onstage to highlight the importance of having a values-oriented program for children, amidst tons of consumable content on the internet and social media.

During the program, the VoiceMaster did not just entertain the audience, but also shared his experience in understanding how young people today think and behave differently. As a youth advocate, he reminded the parents and teachers present that educating today’s kids is very different from how the older generation learned as students. He encouraged the adult in the audience to embrace the truth that digital technology is now part of young people’s lifestyle, so they should understand instead of reprimand its use.

In the middle of the program, the students were engaged in a fun game, followed by a preview of one of Oyayi’s episodes. Then the long wait was over, as the cast of Oyayi was soon called onstage for meet and greet and photo opp with the students. Led by the main character Kuya Maki, the Oyayi crew is composed of characters inspired by animals that are native to the Philippines – Tama Raw, Bon Haribon, Diva Butanding, Tarsiera, and Dok Pil.

Oyayi airs every Sunday morning at 9:30am in ABS CBN. The title is derived from the Tagalog term meaning “lullaby,” and was based on an award-winning story of the same title by Fernando Rosal Gonzales.

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The VoiceMaster Inspires the Youth During AIB’s Outreach Program

Christmas is the season of giving. But for awesome people like the Awesome Team of AIB Training and Events, Christmas is the season of giving back.

Led by AIB’s Chief Awesome Officer and Founder Al Ian Barcelona, “The Awesome Outreach Program” was held last December 12 at the Manila Youth Reception Center. Around 100 at-risk teenage boys – so-called ‘juvenile delinquents’ of the society – attended the event for a day of fun, celebration and inspiration.

It was an outreach program with a heart, as motivational speakers from the AIB team and its partner organizations also did their share in giving inspiration and motivation for these young people, whom, through the aid and intervention of the government and organizations such as AIB, are on their way to being re-integrated to the society. Among the speakers present during the event were Pambansang Inspirasyon Lloyd Luna, and Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales.

The speakers took turns onstage to inspire the participants to make better choices and to rekindle the fire of their passions and ambitions. A breakout session was also conducted, so that the participants get their turn to share their dreams and realizations as they journey towards healing and repentance.

The outreach program was made possible in partnership with DSWD, Elevaxion Project, Negosyo University and Creativoices Productions.

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The VoiceMaster Speaks at the First Youth Print Media Congress

The United Print Media Group and Creativilla organized the first-ever Youth Print Media Congress, on December 10 at the Manila Bulletin Convention Hall in Intramuros. Around 200 students from various colleges and universities attended the event, which was aimed to encourage the appreciation of reading and writing among the youth, albeit the proliferation of touchscreen and voice-activated devices.

Noteworthy speakers from various sectors – government, PR and marketing, technology and media – were invited to share their experiences on the importance of print media in the age of digital technology.

[caption id="attachment_4915" align="aligncenter" width="820"] The VoiceMaster Speaks at UPMG Youth Print Media Congress[/caption]

Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales was one of the speakers in the event, who spoke about “The Voice of Reading.” In his short but sweet presentation, the VoiceMaster introduced the industry of voice acting to the audience. He shared the story of how he got started with voice acting, including the challenges he met that led him to build his company and the first and only voice acting school in the country. He encouraged the audience to discover their passion, and to use it as a fuel to overcome obstacles in pursuit of their life purpose.

The VoiceMaster also talked about the art of storytelling, and encouraged the audience to read and expose themselves more to the stories of the greatest men and women of history. He emphasized the importance of voice in bringing stories to life, and even demonstrated it by doing a quick one-man live radio drama performance! In the end, the VoiceMaster left the audience with a message of inspiration and motivation – to make sure that they live their life to become a story worth telling.

[caption id="attachment_4916" align="aligncenter" width="820"] Pocholo The VoiceMaster Gonzales speaks about the Voice of Reading[/caption]

In the last few minutes of his presentation, the VoiceMaster called onstage his son, Patrick Gabriel Gonzales. Dubbed as the country’s youngest broadcaster and motivational speaker, Patrick amazed the audience with a quick yet powerful speech on how they should believe in their capacity to succeed, as long as they dedicate their lives to their passion.

The United Print Media Group (UPMG) is the premier association of major publications in the Philippines, including major newspapers, tabloids and magazines.

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The VoiceMaster at Psicom’s “Dreaming of a Write Christmas” Book Sale

On December 4, hundreds of book lovers flocked the SM Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong City for one of Psicom Publishing’s biggest book sale of the year, “Dreaming of a Write Christmas”. Psicom readers did not only enjoy discounted prices for old and new titles, they also got the chance to get freebies, win prizes, and meet and greet with Psicom authors for a photo opp and autograph.

Over 30 Psicom authors graced the event with their presence, to have the opportunity to personally meet with the readers of their books. Among them were Melai Quilla, (“Bukas na Lang Kita Babastedin"), Bryan Olano (“Mga Hugot Para Sayo”), Marco Pile (“Eh Kasi Mahal Ko Pa”), Youtube sensation Lloyd Cadena (“Eng Serep Megwele”), and Vinci Glodove ("Mapagmahal Problems"), among many others.

Filipino motivational speaker Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales came to the event to meet and greet with the buyers and readers of his book, “Gusto Kong Maging Voice Talent.” Dozens of students, anime enthusiasts and book lovers lined up to meet the VoiceMaster for an autograph and selfie. He was also given time onstage to introduce himself and his book, and to showcase his voice acting skills.

“Gusto Kong Maging Voice Talent” is the first-ever voice acting book in the Philippines, where the VoiceMaster shares 20 years of his joys and pains, successes and faiures, wins and losses in the voice acting industry. He shares the tools and techniques that would help aspiring voice artists to kickstart their voice acting career. More importantly, the VoiceMaster leaves an inspiring message to the readers to always follow their passion and to be an instrument to help others find theirs… which he has done through the use of his voice.

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Philippine Association of Public Speakers: The Future of Filipino Motivational Speaking

December 1 marks a milestone in the public speaking arena in the Philippines, with the ceremonial signing of the Philippine Association of Public Speakers (PAPS). PAPS is the first and only organization in the country that aims to standardize the quality and professionalism of public speakers through training, certification, and best-practice sharing.

The ceremonial signing was held at the Manila Bulletin headquarters in Intramuros, Manila. Eight of the founding members of PAPS participated in the signing – Pambansang Inspirasyon Lloyd Luna, AIB Training’s Chief Awesome Officer Al Ian Barcelona, Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales, SM Retail Creative Director Cleo Serevilla, TAG Media and Public Relations Founder Grace Bondad-Nicolas, 2002 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Karen Ostrea, Professor and Author Carlo “Pido” Aguilar Jr., and Manila Bulletin Head of External Affairs Barbie Atienza.

The evening began with a fun-filled dinner, where they took turns sharing their story and how they ventured into public speaking. It was evident that each person has his or her own story of frustration, defeat and challenges which they have overcome to get to where they are today.  For instance, Barbie shared how he has survived a late-stage cancer, and is now inspiring others with his story of courage and persistance. Karen shared how she went from being a college kick-out to Bb. Pilipinas-Universe, and to now as an owner of a Personality Development school. Pocholo told of how he has been rejected and passed on for roles as a young voice artist by the veterans, and how those negative experiences fuelled his desire to open the doors of the industry to all aspiring voice artists, which led him to open the first and only voice acting school in the country, the Philippine Center for Voice Acting.

The ceremonial signing happened after the sumptuous dinner, which signified the official launch of PAPS. Planning for its future initiatives and programs will be scheduled in the coming weeks.

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Pochology Academy Conducts Public Speaking Workshop for PLDT Employees Credit Cooperative

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On November 26, the PLDT Employees Credit Cooperative, Inc. or PECCI organized a one-day workshop on Public Speaking and Effective Communication, held at its headquarters in Universal Re Building in Makati City. Over 20 PECCI officers and PLDT managers attended the workshop to hone their skills in public speaking, which will be useful in their business presentations, board meetings and even their everyday communication within the organization.

Pochology Academy was invited to conduct the workshop, led by its founder Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales. After some introduction and welcome remarks, the workshop began with a motivational talk by the VoiceMaster on how to speak so people will listen. During his presentation, the VoiceMaster demonstrated and shared the tools and techniques that he uses that made him one of the country’s most sought-after speakers. He emphasized that the first thing speakers need to develop is the mindset that they are public speakers in all shapes and forms, and that they should see speaking engagements as a two-way communication with the audience, instead of a lecture.

The VoiceMaster also inspired the participants to look at public speaking not just as a way to communicate their message to an audience, but also as an avenue to express what they are passionate about in a way that is inspiring and motivating to their audience. He also spoke about the power of the voice, and encouraged the participants to look at their voice as the “force” that can transform the lives of those that would receive their message.

After the VoiceMaster’s inspirational talk, Pochology Academy trainer Ada Cuaresma started the workshop proper with a group activity. She gave the participants a mini-workshop on voice, and gave them tools, techniques and exercises to develop their vocal power, and tips on how to take care of their most valuable tool in public speaking.

The voice training was followed by another mini-workshop, this time on managing public speaking anxiety and engaging the audience. The participants were led through a series of fun activities to help them become more confident, and to enable them to speak naturally and spontaneously in front of their audience. They were also given 4 elements that they can incorporate into their presentations to better involve the audience in their public speaking.

The day capped off with the participants lining up to have the VoiceMaster sign their copy of his book, “Gusto Kong Maging Voice Talent,” which was given to the participants by PECCI as a token.

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The VoiceMaster Inspires IT Students in Bulacan State University’s 6th IT Congress

The Society for the Welfare of Information Technology Students (SWITS) of Bulacan State University organized the 6^th IT Congress last November 25. Over 2,000 IT students filled the KB Gym in Malolos, Bulacan, to learn from the invited speakers regarding the ICT industry.

Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales was one of the resource speakers for the event. His talk was preceded by a segment they called “Creative Voice” – a voice acting and fun dubbing contest. Several contestants were grouped together to do a fun dub of scenes from popular anime. The winners were decided as the audience applauded for their favorite group.

After “Creative Voice,” The VoiceMaster came onstage to speak about the art of voice acting in the Animation and ICT industry. He shared the story of his company, Creativoices Productions, to the audience, and how he built his company to open the first and only voice acting school in the country. Pocholo amazed the audience by doing an ensemble of character voices. He then challenged the students to discover their own talents and passions so that like him, they can also live a life where their passion comes into play.

The VoiceMaster also showed the audience the world-class talent of Filipino voice artists, as he showed video after video clip of international video games and animations that were voiced by Filipinos. He also showed video clips of some of his TV features in local and cable television, as he spoke about the art of voice acting. The VoiceMaster then emphasized that he is showing his company’s accomplishments not just to brag about their achievements, but to demonstrate the limitless opportunities in the voice acting industry – not just for voice artists, but also for ICT professionals. “As technology grows, the need for voiceover grows,” were the wise words of the VoiceMaster. He discussed how animation has become a billion-dollar industry, and how other emerging media have increased the demand for voice artists.

In the end, the VoiceMaster took the opportunity to promote his book, “Gusto Kong Maging Voice Talent,” the first and only voice acting book in the Philippines.

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The VoiceMaster Talks About Passion-Driven Business at the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit in CDO

The Department of Trade and Industry – Misamis Oriental organized the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit held on November 24 at the N Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City. About 300 students from different schools attended the summit, all eager to learn about entrepreneurship from distinguished speakers and young entrepreneurs.

The Philippine Center for Entreprenuership (PCE), more popularly known as Go Negosyo, was represented by one of its awardees and Angelpreneurs – Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales. At age 25, he started his own voiceover services company, Creativoices Productions. Having mastered the art of voice acting, he envisioned the Philippines to become the center of voiceover excellence in Asia, and went on to build the first and only voice acting school in the country, the Philippine Center for Voice Acting. Since 2005, the school has produced more than a thousand graduates, and gave an opportunity to aspiring voice artists to get into what was once an elusive industry.

In 2009, Pocholo was awarded as Go Negosyo’s Most Inspiring Bataeno Microentrepreneur. His achievements in the voice acting industry, coupled with his life-long advocacy to inspire and empower the youth made him a perfect fit to be the resource speaker at the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit.

Pocholo’s main advocacy on Youth Entrepreneurship is centered on helping young people build what he calls a “passion-driven business.” His life and business is a perfect testimony of how building a business based on one’s life purpose is the best way to thrive as an entrepreneur. He believes that if you create a business for the purpose of making MEANING instead of making MONEY, the business becomes a vehicle to live one’s full potential while bringing value to others and the world.

During the first half of the summit, Pocholo came onstage to speak about “Unlocking the Entrepreneurial Mindset.” He talked about the 12 qualities of a person who thinks like an entrepreneur, like “being focused,” “committing to their why,” and “knowing how to prioritize.” He believes that everyone has to think, act and live like an entrepreneur, focused on serving others with their greatest passion and highest skill.

After lunch, the VoiceMaster spoke on another topic, “How to Invest in the Right Business.” He started by sharing the staggering statistics that 50% of startups fail within 1 year, and 96% never get to survive to a decade.  He challenged the participants to reframe their mindset regarding business – to ask the right questions and seek the right answers. He advised the participants to go beyond starting a business that is trending or money-generating, but instead start a business that will enable them to express the best version of themselves. To better help the students start their entrepreneurial journey, Pocholo also led the participants to an activity where they choose their passion and skills from a list of many possible talents that they may possess.

The Youth Entrepreneurship Summit also featured other speakers to speak about various business opportunities – Ms. Katrina Jereza on franchising, Queritess Queja on agri-business, Roselle Machate on service-related business, and Viel Jose on manufacturing. An open forum with the speakers capped off the very successful summit.

With his passion to inform, inspire, involve and empower the Filipino Youth, Pocholo founded Negosyo Kabataan, a group of young entrepreneurs whose mission is to empower and enable young people to start their own passion-driven enterprises. As PCE’s youth arm, it launches the Youth Entrepreneurship Academy, which features training and mentoring programs to support the Youth Entrepreneurship Act (R.A. 10679) of Sen. Bam Aquino.

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