Professional Speakers Unite at Keynote 2017: First Professional Speakers Conference

On July 26, 2017, the Philippine Association of Professional Speakers, Inc. (PAPS) organized the first-ever conference for professional speakers entitled “Keynote 2017”. Around 100 aspiring and existing professional speakers filled the Jesus V. Del Rosario conference hall of the AIM Conference Center in Makati City to witness this milestone in the field of public speaking.



The whole-day event started with an inspiring keynote by Jonathan Low, past President of Global Speakers Federation and Malaysian Association of Professional Speakers. In his keynote, Jonathan shared his experience of having a sense of community within the speaking profession in his country, and also shared some valuable insights on how a professional speaker can uphold himself to the highest standard. He also highlighted authenticity as one of the qualities that a professional speaker should possess, in order to become successful in his career. Jonathan also led the induction and oath-taking of the PAPS Board of Directors right after his speech.

Two panel discussions followed shortly after the oath-taking. The first panel discussion was geared towards aspiring professional speakers, on how they can jumpstart their profession. The panel was composed of Karen Agustin-Ostrea, 2002 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe and Managing Director of Global Image Management, Inc.; Bryson Bonsol, Laughter Yoga Leader and owner of Be Blest; and Ricky de Vera, a business mentor, consultant, trainor and motivational speaker. The panel was moderated by Pambansang Inspirasyon and PAPS Founding President Lloyd Luna. The panelists shared how they started their career in the public speaking arena, as well as the challenges they had to overcome in order to make a name for themselves as speakers.

The second panel discussion was about benchmarking the profession, where they discussed current industry best practices, as well as how a Filipino motivational speaker can conquer the international stage. The panel was moderated by PAPS Chairman of the Board Carlos “Pido” Aguilar. Among the panelists were Dr. Joyce Dy, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences of Lyceum of the Philippines University; NPI Communications Consulting Inc. CEO Archie Inlong, and Lhoree Valerio, a Certified Hospitality Educator at De La Salle College of St. Benilde.



After lunch, the participants were treated to another inspiring keynote by ABS CBN and ANC Host, and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, Ms. Karen Davila. Karen acknowledged and lauded the participants, recognizing that being a motivational speaker is a noble calling that they should be proud of undertaking. She gave the audience her perspective of the qualities that make a great professional speaker. She emphasized being authentic, having a great story, and keeping an open mind. A quick open forum was conducted where Karen answered questions from the audience.

Two more panel discussions happened in the afternoon session. The first panel was about mentoring for professional speakers, which was moderated by Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Assistant Vice President and PAPS founding member Jesse Rebustillo. The panel was composed of Salt and Light Founder Boris Joaquin; Southeast Asia Speakers and Trainers Bureau Founder Dina Loomis; author, TV host and actor, and motivational speaker Michael Angelo Lobrin; and Voice Director, author, youth advocate and PAPS founding member, Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales.



The last panel discussion was about building the community of professional speakers, where they discussed the value of camaraderie and synergy among speakers, and reaching consensus on the standards and norms of the industry. The panel was composed of Manila Bulletin Head of External Affairs Barbie Atienza; author and founder of Project CourageZone JC Libiran; DLSU educator and Kairos recollection master No-el Salvacion; and PAPS CEO Michelle Lim. The panel was moderated by AIB Training’s Chief Awesome Officer, Al Ian Barcelona.

Keynote 2017 closed with the singing of the PAPS hymn.

Here are the highlights of the event.


Philippine Association of Professional Speakers is a network of existing and aspiring professional speakers whose mission is to uphold the holistic development of professional speakers in the country.

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The Pochologist Talks about Public Speaking for Sales and PR Professionals

On June 29, TAG Media and Public Relations organized a workshop on blogging, branding, SEO and public speaking, held at the Misono Teppanyaki restaurant in Makati City. Around 50 participants attended the event to learn about the topics from the industry experts, including TAG Media founder, Engr. Grace Bondad-Nicolas, and Filipino motivational speaker Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales.



The event started with a networking activity, where the participants were given time to go around and chat with each other. As some participants have come from provinces near and far, the networking was a good opportunity to establish potential partnerships and future deals.

After the networking activity, Engr. Grace was the first speaker in the four-hour event, where she talked about the importance of blogging and the use of social media in PR. She shared her own experience as a marketing and blogging expert, and also shared tips on how to write a good press release in as little as 5 minutes! She gave the participants a few minutes to write their own article, using the technique and structure she has shared.

The next speaker was Robert Rillorta of Tree Top Adventure Baguio. Robert talked about search engine optimization. He explained the benefits of SEO to any business, and how they can leverage the power of social media to engage with their audience. He also touched on some of the metrics that gauge the effectiveness of one’s SEO efforts. Robert was followed by Jackie Dilag, Marketing and Sales Head of Tree Top Adventure in Subic. Jackie’s presentation was about branding, both for businesses and individuals. Jackie spoke of brands that have dominated their respective brand categories, and also shared some tools and tips on how to estabish one’s brand.



The last speaker for the event was the VoiceMaster, who discussed the art of public speaking. Pocholo started his presentation with an introduction of who he is and what he does, and how he journeyed into the public speaking arena. He also gave the audience a glimpse of his career as a voice artist, and impressed the audience with his reportoire of character voices.

Pocholo then transitioned to his topic, and gave an explanation as to why public speaking has become the number 1 fear in the world. He also talked about spontaneity, and how this quality can be the key to overcoming a person’s fear of public speaking. Pocholo also reminded the participants to always speak FOR the audience instead of TO the audience. He also emphasized the use of humor, stories and pauses to make one’s presentation powerful, engaging and memorable.

The workshop was organized TAG Media and Public Relations in partnership with Elabram Systems, Multibiz International Corp., Tree Top Adventure and Zoomanity Group.

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Pochology Academy Conducts Voice Acting Workshop in Sykes Makati

On June 16, a half-day voice acting workshop was conducted at the Sykes Asia office in Makati. The workshop was organized by Artist Anonymous as part of the Sykes Choices program. Filipino motivational speaker Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales led his team of trainers to teach the basics of voice acting to Sykes employees.



The workshop kicked off with the Voice Care Queen Ada Cuaresma, as she introduced the art of voice acting to the class. She gave them a glimpse of the industry, the various media where voice artists are needed, and the basic requirements needed to start a voice acting career. She then led the class through a series of vocal exercises, from warm up exercises to those that would improve the quality of one’s voice. She also gave them breathing and relaxation exercises, as those are also essential in increasing vocal power.



After those exercises, Ada called the next speaker, Kelvin Lumibao, who discussed the “VoiceMaster’s Formula in Creating Character Voices.” Kelvin is also one of Pocholo’s proteges and a scholar of his voice acting school. Kelvin started by sharing his experiences in voice acting, and even impressed the audience with an ensemble of character voices that he can do – from cartoon characters to famous personalities. He then discussed the different vocal elements that anyone can mix and match to create character voices, the way he did. This formula is also being taught by the VoiceMaster in his workshops, and is included in his second book, “Gusto Kong Maging Voice Talent.”



Then came the participants’ turn to experience voice acting. Ada came back onstage to transition the workshop to the subject of dubbing. She taught the audience how to write and translate scripts for dubbing, including proper format and labeling. The class was then divided into groups, and were assigned excerpts from movies and cartoons for them to translate and then dub in front of the class.

After the fun dubbing activity, Ada introduced the VoiceMaster, who closed the workshop with powerful and inspirational words. The VoiceMaster shared his vision for the voice acting industry in the Philippines, and his inspiring story of how he mastered the craft and built his voice acting school. He inspired the participants to develop an appreciation for the power of their voice, and encouraged to go beyond their current line of work to utilize it.



Artist Anonymous is one of the duly-organized clubs in Sykes Asia, where creative enthusiasts get to meet like-minded individuals to express and develop their artistic side.

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Pochology Academy Conducts Sales and Public Speaking Training for Multibiz International Corporation

On June 7, Filipino motivational speaker Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales led his training team to conduct the Public Speaking and Effective Sales Presentation workshop for Multibiz International Corporation. Ten participants attended the whole-day workshop, which was held at the Moderno restaurant in Tagaytay City.



The workshop started with a focus group discussion, led by Pocholo. He set the mood and the expectations of what the participants were to learn for the rest of the day. He also talked about his school, Pochology Academy, and shared the organization’s mission of inspiring greatness and excellence in every Filipino.

Pocholo then gave the floor to the participants, and asked them to share their challenges and what they would like to learn about public speaking and selling. One by one, the participants talked about what they feel they need to improve in order to confidently sell the products of their company. They brought up their fears in public speaking, and how they would want their voice to improve in order to deliver their sales presentation better.



After the focus group discussion, Pocholo called the next trainer, Ada Cuaresma, to begin the workshop proper. Dubbed as the “Voice Care Queen,” Ada is one of Pocholo’s students whom he trained to become a motivational speaker. She handled the public speaking section of the workshop, to share what she has also learned from the most sought-after Filipino motivational speaker.

After a quick icebreaker to energize the class, Ada started with an activity, where the participants did a 1-minute product presentation to evaluate the pre-workshop performance of the class. This activity was followed by a short lunch break. After lunch, Voiceworx scholar and VOTY broadcaster Kelvin Lumibao energized the crowd by doing several voice impersonations that he does as a voice artist.



Ada came back onstage and resumed the lesson with managing public speaking anxiety. Ada explained the reasons why public speaking is the number 1 fear, and equipped the class with tools to overcome that fear. She also shared the different elements that the participants can use to make their presentations more engaging and relevant to their audience, and ended with a structure that they can use to give their presentations a better flow.

The last part of the workshop was handled by Microphone Club member Mike Acuna, who focused on selling tips and strategies. He supplemented the public speaking training with tools to help the participants present their products better to their clients. From proper selling mindset to effective selling vocabulary, Mike provided a clear roadmap for the participants, and opened their mind to a new approach on effective selling.



The whole-day workshop prepared the participants for the sales presentation simulation the following day. They were asked to prepare a 10-15 minute presentation with product demonstration, which they presented in front of a panel and the class. The panel consisted of the Pochology Academy Trainers, TAG Media Founder Engr. Grace Bondad-Nicolas, and Multibiz Founder Christian Leynes.

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The Pochologist Shares his Business Failures in Impact Hub’s Fuck Up Night

On May 31, Filipino motivational speaker Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales was invited as one of the speakers in Impact Hub’s “Fuck Up Nights Volume 5.” The event started out as a normal gathering and networking event, which turned into an event where people can learn and be inspired by the failures of now-successful entrepreneurs. Each speaker was given 15 minutes to share their “fuck-up story,” which was followed by a 5-minute question and answer session.





Pocholo came onstage as the first speaker. He began by introducing what he does as a voice artist, and even impressed the audience with a “sample” of the character voices he has dubbed. Pocholo then went on to share his first-hand experience of the monopoly and politics that surrounded the voice acting industry. He recalled his first dubbing experience, where he was told by a veteran that he is no good and that he will not make it in the industry.

Pocholo transitioned into telling his “fuck up” story, where he invested a huge amount of money to build his own recording studio, with little experience in handling a business. He bought a large office space which he turned into a studio complete with state-of-the-art equipment. The business closed in just half a year because in that short moment, Pocholo lost hold of his vision to make the Philippines the center of voiceover excellence in Asia.

Pocholo then told of how he bounced back in 2005, and built his second company as well as the first voice acting school in the country. Even though he started out small and in a more shaky ground, it was then that he let his passion for voice acting take over, and his business turned out more successful than expected.



In closing, Pocholo shared the number one lesson he learned in his experience: STICK TO YOUR WHY. Ultimately, it’s his passion that fuels him to work on his business, and to keep giving opportunities to those who aspire to become voice artists like Pocholo. Because of Pocholo’s school, what was once an elusive and closed-door industry became open to those who wish to become part of it.

Impact Hub is one of the country’s leading innovation labs and startup incubator, with its headquarters at the Picadilly Star in Taguig City.

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Creativoices Productions Conducts Advanced Voice Acting Workshop for Radio, TV and Animation

Creativoices Productions conducted an advanced voice acting workshop on March 28, at its headquarters in Makati City. The workshop was facilitated by Voiceworx Director Brian Ligsay, and Creativoices CEO and Filipino motivational speaker Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales.



The whole-day intensive workshop was intended for Voiceworx graduates and those with some experience in dubbing and voiceover. Ten participants experienced this comprehensive voice workshop to sharpen their voice acting skills, particularly in dubbing and voiceovers.

The day started with an introduction and an icebreaker, and a motivational talk by the VoiceMaster. He set the mood for the participants to develop a deeper appreciation for the art of voice acting. Pocholo shared the stories of how the industry has grown in his 20 years of being in it, and how their voice acting school has opened the doors to all who used to just dream to become voice artists.

Then came Voiceworx Director Brian Ligsay, who started the intense training with a unique get-to-know-you activity. A thorough discussion about the voice acting industry followed, where Brian gave a high-level overview of voice acting history and trends. The presentation gave the participants a huge awareness on the world of opportunities that await them.

After a quick break, the students went through various voice exercises to improve their breathing, pitch range, and articulation. The exercises prepared them for a mock recording at the latter part of the workshop.



After lunch, the students moved to Creativoices’ recording studio where the workshop continued. Brian shared what the participants should expect as they journey through the voice acting industry. He also gave tips on how they can create their voice demos, behave in auditions and recordings, and a lot of tips to market themselves as freelance voice artists. He also walked them through the various studio equipment that they will encounter inside a recording booth.

The discussion prepared the participants for their mock recording, which was the last part of the workshop. One by one, the participants entered the recording booth to record a couple of voiceover scripts in various genre – commercials, narration, documentary, among many others. Feedback was given by Brian and the class as to how each student can improve their script reading and their vocal quality.

The workshop ended with the participants receiving their certificate of participation, and with a whole new set of knowledge to conquer the voice acting world.

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The VoiceMaster Celebrates Love Month with Psicom’s Love At First Write Book Sale

Psicom Publishing celebrates the love month with yet another book sale for their fans! The book sale, dubbed as “Love at First Write: Share the Love, Triple the Fun,” was held on February 12 at Function Rooms A and B of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. Hundreds of Psicom book readers filled the venue not only to buy their favorites at affordable prices, but also to get their books signed by the authors.



Over 51 authors graciously attended the book sale to sign autographs, and meet and greet their fans. Among them is Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales, who has published his second book “Gusto Kong Maging Voice Talent” under Psicom. As the country’s most recognized voice artist, Pocholo’s book is about his 20 years of experience in the voice acting industry – his successes and failures, his triumphs and defeats, his happy and sad moments as a voice artist. He also lays out a simple roadmap for all aspiring voice artists who would like to start their own voice acting career. “Gusto Kong Maging Voice Talent,” is the first and only voice acting book in the Philippines, and is written in a motivational and entertaining manner.



 

The VoiceMaster signed dozens of books, took selfies and had quick chats with the buyers of his book. He also came onstage and amazed the participants with his ensemble of character voices – from the cartoon and Koreanovela characters he has dubbed, to the commercials he has done, and even the famous personalities he can imitate!



“Gusto Kong Maging Voice Talent” is available at all leading bookstores nationwide.

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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 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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The VoiceMaster at PSICom’s Book Signing in Mystical Rose School of Caloocan

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In celebration of National Book Week and English Month, Mystical Rose School of Caloocan held a Book Selling and Book Signing event in partnership with Psicom Publishing. Hundreds of Junior and Senior High students filled the school’s gymnasium to buy their favorite Psicom books, and to meet and greet some of the authors.

The event started with a writing workshop by one of the authors, Melai Quilla, author of the book “Bukas na Lang Kita Babastedin.” Melai shared basic tools and tips on how to create characters and plot for fiction book. She also led the students through some activities to practice their writing skills before the end of the workshop.

After the workshop, a representative from Psicom introduced the authors present for the book signing – Melai Quilla, Bryan Olano (“Mga Hugot Para Sayo”), Marco Pile (“Eh Kasi Mahal Ko Pa”), Youtube sensation Lloyd Cadena (“Eng Serep Megwele”), and Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales (“Gusto Kong Maging Voice Talent”). Each author introduced themselves and had the opportunity to introduce themselves and perform in front of the audience.

Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales came onstage and introduced his book. He briefly explained what voice acting is, and how every person can bring out their talent through his book. The audience were treated to the VoiceMaster’s repertoire of voices – from cartoon characters to famous personalities and celebrities.

During the book signing, the VoiceMaster delighted the students who bought his book by approaching them to sign the book, and to take pictures with them. Dozens of students were entertained and inspired by the VoiceMaster, and look forward to pursuing their voice acting career through the help of his book.

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The VoiceMaster Teaches Voice Acting to Animation Students

On November 19, Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales conducted a 3-hour voice acting workshop for the Animation students of iAcademy in Makati City. Over 30 participants attended the workshop to learn about the art of giving life to animation through the use of voice.

The VoiceMaster shared the story of his journey in the voice acting world. He told the story of how he discovered his talent and inclination for the craft, and how it has given birth to his vision to make the Philippines the center of voiceover excellence in Asia. He also talked about the opportunities that await those who want to get in to the industry, as well as the future of voice acting amidst all the technological advancements today.

The VoiceMaster also went beyond the topic of voice acting and also highlighted the importance of voice as the most powerful human instrument. He shared how voice is what makes an animation human, and that voice is what enables us to move the world with our message. The VoiceMaster drove the point home as amazed the audience with a repertoire of character voices that he has done and imitated – cartoon characters, famous personalities and celebritites. He also performed a one-man live radio drama for the participants, and afterwards asked the students to draw the characters that they heard in the radio drama.

The VoiceMaster’s talk was not only informative, but more importantly, a very inspirational one. His story of how he made it in the voice acting industry was not only a testament of his talent, but also of his passion and commitment to be true to the life mission he has discovered for himself. He encouraged the students to identify their life purpose – their calling – and dedicate their life to pursuing and living that calling.

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The VoiceMaster Motivates Graduating Students at CEU Makati’s Job Hunting Seminar

More than 500 graduating students gathered at the Activity Center of Centro Escolar University, Makati for their annual Job Hunting Seminar, on October 25, 2016. With the theme, “Branding on Campus: Maximizing Career Opportunities,” the seminar aims to help graduating students gain a competitive advantage as they go out to pursue their respective careers after graduation.

The first half of the seminar featured two of the country’s most sought-after motivational speakers of this generation – Pambansang Inspirasyon Lloyd Luna, and Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales.

After an intermission number, the VoiceMaster came onstage to talk about “Personal Branding for Students.” He began his talk with an introduction of what he is doing – as a voice artist, youth advocate, storyteller and a motivational speaker. The VoiceMaster entertained the crowd with his repertoire of character voices, hugot lines and humorous banters.

The VoiceMaster then transitioned to the meat of his talk – about finding one’s purpose in order to establish their brand. He emphasized how important it is to discover one’s passion and purpose, in order for them to do work that is meaningful and not just do work to earn money. He reminded the young people that they are not “young” forever, and that it’s never too late or too early to pursue what they would like to become. The VoiceMaster also told the story of how he, at the young age of 16, discovered his passion for voice acting, which later on became the catapult to establish his brand as the VoiceMaster.

The VoiceMaster also shared his “8 to be GREAT” – or the 8 qualities of people of greatness. He explained that one’s success in his/her chosen career or profession does not rely on how you write your resume, or how you dress up or answer questions during an interview. Rather, being great has to do with building character, so that they don’t just ace their job application, but their career as well.

The VoiceMaster closed his talk with his Pochology: Availability is the best ability. He challenged the students to be open to opportunities for them to express their passion and skills.

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The VoiceMaster Inspires UST Marketing Students in their ‘Breakthrough Seminar’

The University of Sto. Tomas Junior Marketing Association held a half-day seminar entitled “Breakthrough 2016” on October 24, 2016 at the Commerce AVR of St. Raymund de Penafort Building. Around 100 students attended the event to learn to build their self-confidence, particularly in the area of hosting and public speaking. The highlight of the seminar were 3 guest speakers who are esteemed in their respective fields when it comes to hosting and public speaking.

Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales was the second speaker on the lineup. In his talk entitled “The Art of Voice Acting in Public Speaking,” he emphasized on the importance of the voice in public speaking. According to the VoiceMaster, the voice is the most powerful human instrument, yet most people never pay attention to how they use it in their everyday lives, much less when it comes to public speaking. He shared his experiences as a voice artist, and even entertained the audience with his repertoire of character voices.

This showcase of voice acting skills was the VoiceMaster’s transition to inspire and motivate the students to appreciate their voice and use it to affect positive social change. According to the VoiceMaster, no amount of public speaking techniques or do’s and dont’s will take the place of speaking from the heart, especially if you’re speaking in front of an audience. He challenged the students to always be intentional in their actions and in life. To the VoiceMaster, as long as you are clear with your intention on why you are speaking in front of the audience, you will not only have confidence, but you will also have a purpose.

The two other speakers in Breakthrough 2016 are DJ and host Angel Jones, and TV reporter Carlo Lorenzo.

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The VoiceMaster Inspires Thousands of Students and Teachers at DepEd NIR’s Youth Formation Summit

The Department of Education – Negros Island Region held its fourth Youth Formation Summit, more popularly known as the “Nation of Heroes 4” on October 21-23, 2016 at La Carlota City, Negros Occidental. Thousands of students and teachers from the different schools in the region gathered for 3 days of fun and learning.

With the theme “Batang Bayani: Bahagi Ako ng Pagbabago,” the summit aimed to build the leadership skills and mindset among the Filipino youth.

Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales was invited back to the Nation of Heroes event as one of the speakers on the third day of the summit. He inspired and motivated more than 2,000 students and teachers by teaching them a simplified approach to leadership with his talk entitled “8 to be GREAT.” The VoiceMaster shared the 8 qualities that makes a great leader, which includes passion, persistence, sharing, and love. He challenged the young people in the audience to discover their passion and purpose, and spend their lives expressing it. He even talked about Dr. Jose Rizal as the epitome of Filipino greatness, and shared untold stories about the National Hero. He challenged the audience to become familiar with Rizal’s life and work not for learning history, but to learn and emulate his principles and ideals.

The VoiceMaster also talked about the power of the voice, and how he has used his own voice from when he was young, not only to entertain people but to also inspire and motivate them. He told about his experience starting out young in the voice acting industry, and how he built his reputation in the world of voice by building the first-ever voice acting school in the country, the Philippine Center for Voice Acting. Of course, the VoiceMaster’s talk would not be complete without the proverbial “sample” – which he did by imitating personalities and showcasing the commercials, animation and Koreanovelas he has voiced. He also wowed the audience with a storytelling session where he did cartoon character voices. The VoiceMaster gave the opportunity to volunteers from the audience to showcase their talents.

Nation of Heroes 4 was held in partnership with the Schools Division of La Carlota City, Gaba-an Youth Lead, New Ground Events and PRISAAP.

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Society of Young Filipino Speakers Conducts Self-Discovery Workshop

The Society of Young Filipino Speakers (YFS) rolled out its first training for members to hone their skills in motivational speaking. On October 10, the first batch of participants attended the Self-Discovery workshop, which aims to help the members to discover and uncover their personal stories, experiences and life lessons that can be used to inspire and motivate others.

The half-day workshop was facilitated by one of YFS mentors, Ada Cuaresma, who handled the first half of the workshop. She led the participants through a series of writing activities where they would write their life experiences and the lessons they learned from those experiences. After some time for self-reflection and writing, the participants took turns to share what they have written during the activity.

Some of the self-reflecting activities included writing what they have learned about leadership, money, happiness and other aspects of life, lessons learned from first-time experiences, and writing thank-you letters to people who have impacted their life in a positive and negative way.

After a short break, YFS founder Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales inspired and motivated the participants on discovering their life purpose, and how they can use their passion and skill to be of service to others. He encouraged them to think of public speaking or motivational speaking as a way to make other people better and happy, and not just as a way to push their own beliefs or interests on others. He challenged their thinking to go beyond the norms of the society, and to believe that they are the creator of their own reality. The participants were left the workshop with a whole new perspective on faith and life.

The Society of Young Filipino Speakers was founded by the VoiceMaster to hone young people to become motivational speakers for their fellow youth.

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The VoiceMaster Speaks about Greatness at the AdJMA Marketing Summit 2016

Hundreds of Marketing students filled the Adamson University Theater for Adamson Junior Marketing Association’s Marketing Summit 2016. With the theme “Sprinting Towards Marketing Homerun,” the seminar focused on learning best practices in Marketing and Business from some of the country’s finest CEO’s.

Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales was the last speaker of the event, who talked about the art of Personal Branding in his talk entitled “8 to be GREAT.” After energizing the crowd with a quick icebreaker, he started off with the story of how he branded himself in the world of voice – as a voice artist, radio broadcaster and motivational speaker. The VoiceMaster filled the audience with awe and amazement as he did his repertoire of character voices – from the commercials and shows he has done, to imitating voices of famous personalities both dead and alive.

Pocholo also touched on about the life of Dr. Jose Rizal, whom he believes is one of the greatest Personal Branding experts of the country. According to Pocholo, Rizal is a hero not only because of what he has done for the country, but more importantly, for the ideals and principles that he stood for. Pocholo encouraged the students to learn more about Rizal not only for remembering history, but in order for them to discover their own greatness as Filipinos.

Pocholo tackled the subject of personal branding from an inspirational and motivational perspective. His talk centered around the 8 qualities that makes up a person of greatness and excellence, which he believes everyone has in one way or another. The 8 qualities included passion, faith in one’s self, purpose, and sharing, among many others. Pocholo encouraged the participants to identify their purpose in life, because that is the only way they can truly be happy and successful. He challenged the students to shift their mindset from getting into business for the purpose of earning money, to getting into business for the purpose of serving the world.

The VoiceMaster also shared the stage with a couple of his students, who also inspired the audience with their own talent and personal stories of reaching for their dreams.

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