The Indiependent Collective

EP #1 Alexandro "Xandro" Khemlani, Co-Founder & CEO of TaskMango, On Creating Opportunities for the Filipino People

The wait is finally over! Here is our first episode of the year featuring Alexandro "Xandro" Khemlani. Xandro is the Co-founder and CEO of TaskMango— a company that “sources top remote talent from the Philippines to help one grow their team.” It aims to relieve the intricate and complex processing of not only searching but also hiring and negotiating potential employees from the Philippines. It is available to international prospects looking into the Philippines' talent pools. In turn, it also provides a wider range of opportunities for Filipino professionals.

He specializes in Management (Project & Operations) and is very well-versed in Marketing. He is also an Accounts Director in 5th P Advertising which is a highly dynamic organization that aims to provide excellent marketing, advertising, promotions, and research services to individuals and institutions which require such. 5th P Advertising has had over two decades of experience, handling over 100 brands with 500+ projects completed. It continues to accomplish more and receive testimonials from satisfied clients.

In this feature episode, Xandro talks about the roots of TaskMango and how their journey has been as a startup company. Was there a certain “lightbulb” moment for him? How is TaskMango unique compared to similar companies? He also highlights the creativity and passion that the core team of TaskMango exerted to establish and create a name for themselves in the headhunting industry. Just like any other startup, he reflects on the challenges and setbacks that TaskMango had to endure in its first years. Acknowledging this, he shares a Cinderella story on how they were able to recover after hitting rock bottom in their operations, proving that there’s no way to go but up. Such adjustments benefitted not only the company’s success but also individual progress as well.

In line with this, he discusses the product roadmap that TaskMango is currently focusing on, to provide sounder working environments and opportunities for its peers in the next few months. Having the international scene as their primary audience, TaskMango pushes for fair working compensation for professionals to break the stigma that Filipinos are “cheap”. With such advocacies and success, Xandro shares his most notable takeaways from his experiences for young and aspiring entrepreneurs to learn from.

EP #2 Jason Deniega and Dan Arambulo of Lyon, On the Art of Building a Successful Online Platform for Virtual Learning

In this episode, we feature yet another successful company that sparks inspiration in aspiring startup founders. Lyon Co-founder and CEO Jason Deniega with Business Development Executive Dan Arambulo talk about building their Brainspace Venture to life. From financially bleeding for their startup, walking for an hour to meet investors, to convincing each other to pivot, they went through it all. Now, at four years old, Lyon is a force to reckon with, backed by big-time angel investors and VCs from all around the world.

Jason and Dan reminisce about their humble beginnings with Lyon, how they met and how the idea of creating an online space for learning came about. How long did it take them to conceptualize Lyon? What are the steps that they took to successfully launch their idea? What challenges did they face as a startup company? The two share about how they were able to overcome hindrances brought by the pandemic during the early years of Lyon. 

Fast forward to 2022, Lyon is slowly emerging as one of the top platforms for online learning, content creators, and businesses that are heavy on virtual setups. However, their success was not always an upward slope as problems in their strategy cannot be avoided. Despite this, Jason, as the CEO, makes sure he does his role as the vision setter to find ways to work around tremors encountered along the way. After their affiliation with Brainsparks, they were able to expand their horizons and boost the competency of their startup. Telling their notable experiences with Brainsparks brought them closer to their connection with their own company. They also share some recommendations on how to maximize startup ideas, and how to make them work from the ground up. 

Tune in as Jason and Dan talk more about their visions as they continue to improve Lyon’s usability and introduce new concepts that could change the way we see virtual service forever. 

EP #3 Roland Ros, Founder and CEO of Kumu, On Building What Could be the First Filipino Unicorn Company

Roland Ros is the founder of KumuMedia Technologies, a live stream technology company for over 10+ million GenZ & Millennial Filipinos. Since its launch in 2018, Kumu has reached the #1 Grossing Social App in the Philippines. It has also cracked the Top 10 in Canada, Hong Kong, Kuwait, UK, and Norway, as well as the Top 20 in several other markets like the United States, Saudi Arabia, Italy, and Australia. He also currently serves as an investor and advisor for several start-ups; and is passionate about helping others. 

Prior to KumuMedia Technologies, Roland was Vice President of Spark Revenue, an Inc. 500 listed performance marketing & growth acquisition platform. Roland started his career as a Business Development Associate with GE Money Bank, overseeing a $400 million book of business. Roland will also be one of our panel participants for our event this January 31, 2022, so make sure to register below.  

About our partner, the University of the Philippines' Consulting Group (UPCG): Now in its second year, The Business Building Bootcamp (BBC) of the UP Consulting Group aims to educate small business owners on ways to take their business to the next level. This year's BBB will be held on March 5 and 6, 2022 (Saturday and Sunday) and will cover the following topics: business planning, digital marketing, brand positioning, finance and accounting, legal matters, and corporate social responsibility.

In this episode, Roland tells us about his early influences in life, explaining how he sees the needs of the world first before his own. Thanks to his mother, he was able to explore greater horizons and have a good foundation in his career. His unwavering nationalism continues to drive him to become better and grow more as a Filipino. He also had early exposure to the business culture in the country which prompted him to be part of the growing technological ecosystem. With this, he mentions that one of his goals is to find passionate Filipinos all around the world that can help in sustaining the advancements of the country. 

Driven by market trends, Roland hopes that Kumu (short for Kumusta) grows to become a company as large as Apple or Ayala Corp. As a technology-based platform, he believes that conglomerate companies must be treated as partners rather than competitors, given the difference in target market and strategies used in their businesses. This brings better enterprise value and offers more content to users worldwide, which then translates to more funding and financial returns for them. Given that business is not always an upward slope, Roland also unfolds the challenges that Kumu has experienced over the years, and how they were able to resolve these issues.

As the founder, he envisions the platform to be more than just an app—but a medium for change and communication to bring people closer together, one Filipino at a time.

EP #4: Cliff Eala, Founder and Serial Entrepreneur, on Work and Life Design "That Gets You Out of Bed" for Entrepreneurs

For this episode, we invited tech entrepreneur and author, Cliff Eala, to share with us some valuable insights regarding his platform, Synerbyte Limited which launched Life and Work Design. Life Design is an iterative process to understand yourself, challenge and reframe beliefs and assumptions about your life and work, and try new ways of living and working that are more attuned to your happiness. In this conversation with Cliff, we explore how the life design process and how it applies specifically to startup founders. 

His company provides last-mile delivery optimization with big data and AI. They also offer energy efficiency technology solutions for commercial and industrial customers across Asia. These include smart optimization for large HVAC systems using AI, IOT alert systems, intelligent lighting, and smart voltage control. 

Prior to this, he founded and managed a software company, and sold it to a VC fund in 2007. He sits on the Board of software company Magenic and was Senior Partner at AI consulting firm ADDO AI. He is an innovation consultant, with exposure in telecom, banking, healthcare, and supply chain. He is also a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional and a software technology resource person. Cliff is the author of the book Sh*tty Places & Selfish People: 7 Rules of Engagement. 

Cliff opens about how Life Design is imperative in the development of oneself, a process that helps us redesign our lives and gives us a better track of our goals and achievements. He also gives advice on how a person can discover and work for their passion, especially in entrepreneurship. For him, passion is not the only factor that can help someone reach their dreams, but also the availability of resources (such as skills and capital) and the priorities of a person. Practicality and reality are also a priority when it comes to choosing a career to build. In the context of entrepreneurship, a person cannot simply be a successful businessperson overnight, on the contrary, it would take lots of effort, skills, and management to achieve.

Building a startup requires maximum mental presence, rationality, and positivity. Roland shares some character skills that a good entrepreneur must possess in order to effectively run a company. Being aware of market conflicts is also vital in pronouncing which type of business to prioritize, to have a better tradeoff between available resources. He also emphasizes some must-have founder skills that every entrepreneur needs to be effective in starting their own business. 

EP #5 Dela Kate: On Achieving Your Dream Body and Developing a Healthy Relationship with Food

In this episode, Health and Fitness Influencer Dela Kate joins us to talk about how important mental health and fortitude play in achieving fitness goals. Dela Kate is most known for being a fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle influencer with more than 240,000 followers on TikTok (as of February 2022). 

On her social media platforms, she promotes an active and healthy lifestyle by offering her followers advice and support. She often talks about the blood, sweat, and tears that she puts in to achieve the great shape she is in today. Dela Kate makes it a point to use her platform to always inspire and motivate her followers with her own story of how, if you set your mind to something, nothing is impossible.

Dela Kate also shares some personal experiences and what motivated her to have a better mindset about her health. She mentions that positive pressure is what keeps her going and that we should value every minute that we have. Adjusting her diet to what her body needs is also a silver lining that she took advantage of to maximize her gains without having to restrict herself too much. Dela Kate finally gives some tips to those starting their fitness journey, emphasizing the fact that goals must be long-term, and there are no shortcuts. 

Now that the pandemic has really stricken most of our fitness goals, it is time to be inspired to get up and move again. It’s not a coincidence that you came across this episode today, go get that beach bod!

EP #6: Gigiboy | On Learning About the Man Behind the Skits

Gigiboy is a sensational Tiktok and Youtube content creator. On Tiktok, he creates funny and relatable content, and he’s most known for his “POV” or point-of-view videos and skits about student life. On Youtube, he shows another side of himself by showcasing his interests and hobbies through vlogs. 

Today, we also want to show what Gigiboy is like behind the scenes as he’s definitely more than just his skits. He’s here to share some fun facts and stories about his life, and like his videos, provide nothing but laughter and joy to everyone who is listening right now. 

Gigiboy starts by sharing how he started making content on Tiktok, pointing out that it was mostly because of the influence of his friends. He also revealed which among his famous roles is his favorite, explaining that for him it was the most relatable persona. As an influencer, he emphasizes how important it is to be relatable, as he looks up to comedians such as Michael V., who he dubs a “comedic genius”. Skits, over-the-top parodies, and real-life depictions are just some of Gigiboy’s favorite types of comedies, and these are evident in his content. Looking back, he reflected on his past experiences that inspired the characters in his Tiktok videos. 

Asked about his plans after graduating, he says that he will attempt to pursue his dream career, all the while still creating hilarious content for the entertainment of his followers. Lastly, he wraps up by sharing his New Year’s resolutions, and a piece of short advice for aspiring Tiktok content creators.

The IndieCo Debate #1: Can Exes be Friends?

The Indiependent Collective (IndieCo) presents: The very first IndieCo debate where we tackle the question, "Can exes be friends?" For the affirmative team, we have Genilson and Derrick. Meanwhile, for the negative team, we have Raya and Nina. What if the relationship ended one-sidedly? Is there a right time to be friends again? Tune in as they debate it out and find out whether YOU could be friends with your ex.

What about you? What are your thoughts? Let us know by commenting on our episode campaign or by recommending us on Apple Podcasts. We'll get back to you with some cool opportunities and a chance to get featured on the show.

EP #7: Gianna Abao, On Becoming a Better Version of Yourself

For today’s feature, we have Gianna Abao, a graduate of Consular and Diplomatic Affairs with Latin honors from the De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde. Her passion for the arts led her to start her venture in content creation and to establish her clothing brand, Touchic, which aims to debunk stereotypes about women and help Filipinas embrace their own body frames by accentuating their best features. She's also a content creator on Tiktok with over 400,000 followers, with her content focused on public speaking, writing, and self-help.

In this episode, Gianna shares some behind-the-scenes stories and some fun facts about herself. While at it, she shares how Touchic came about and what inspired her to build a clothing brand. Was Touchic her life plan all along? What were the inspirations behind her pieces? How is Touchic different? She also shares the compromises and adjustments she had to make in order to adapt to the current situation’s restrictions. When asked about strategies, she gives some tips on how to market products effectively. 

Aside from being a business owner, Gianna is also famous for her motivational content on social media, which has caught the attention of some 400,000 followers. She explains that her content is rooted in her personal experiences since she finds it important to be able to resonate with the audience to fully connect with them on a more intimate level. What was her main motivation? Was she always this confident? We’ll find out as she shares some #TBT stories from her teenage years. 

Lastly, as she is famous for her public speaking prowess, Gianna imparts some tips on improving skills in public speaking and how she decided to focus on this type of content on her social media. Of course, as a TikTok content creator, bashers are always on standby. With this, Gianna lays out her coping strategies whenever she receives hate comments on her videos. To close, she gives a glimpse of her plans for the future, especially with the things going on in her life right now.

EP #8: Pio Silva, On Discovering One's Passion to Create and Educate

Imagine meeting someone who seems like a seasoned doctorate professor with all the intellect, maturity, and confidence, then finding out they’re only 21 years old. That’s the gist of our guest for today’s episode. Meet Pio Silva, a junior at the Ateneo de Manila University taking up BS Management. He has been a video creator since 2015 and has since garnered a significant following on TikTok in 2020 for spreading awareness on religion and education to his audience. His work traverses topics from the humanities extending to motivational content and personal development. 

Today, he gives a little insight into what he is like in real life and he shares his opinions on different topics that we prepared. At this point, the intelligent reader might ask, “How can a 21-year-old not even out of college exude such erudition?” To which we would respond: Listen to this episode to know more.

Pio opens with how he started with video editing, looking back at his early days in high school. He then reveals how he manages his posting schedule and makes sure that his audience always stays hooked with his content. As a college student, he acknowledges his priorities and knows what are the more important things to focus on despite having multiple commitments at the same time. 

His content does not only educate and entertain, but also encourages meaningful discussions on different socio-cultural topics such as religion, and this makes his branding unique from the rest. What are his hot takes on religion? Is he an advocate for religious values and practices? Having this in mind, he explicates how debates in his videos occur, and how he handles these situations. 

Apart from this, he also shares some useful advice for the youth, especially those burdened with the challenges brought by the pandemic. He emphasizes having the strength always to be willing to take risks and to take advantage of being young. In addition, Pio also discusses a segment in his content, where he milks the discussions’ shareability to make more information available to people on TikTok. He then reflects on his main purpose as a content creator and looked back on his growth through the years as an influencer.

IndieCo Debate #3: Can Friends with Benefits Work?

This episode might be suitable for more mature audiences. But we always welcome having curious minds joining an open conversation!

What do you benefit from your friends? How about your friends with benefits? Ever had doubts about starting a relationship like this? How does it affect your friendship after the “benefits” are over?

If you're at that point in your life where you are exploring having friends with benefits, this episode is perfect for you! Join in as we tackle whether or not this kind of relationship really does work. Listen as Anj defends this topic while Kaye tries to intercept her arguments into making her believe that FWB does not work.

Be sure to check out our next episodes as we continue to untangle topics like this that will surely help you clear those doubts in your head!

EP #9: Natalie Barbu on Succeeding in STEM, Social Media and the Startup World

This episode is with our first guest for our Women’s Month special, Natalie Barbu. Natalie is an Experienced Content Specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the internet industry with a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from North Carolina State University. 

She has garnered over 350,000+ followers through YouTube and Instagram for her personal brand and also began consulting services for other individuals and businesses to grow their brand online and connect with their target audience. As you might have guessed, she is strong in communication and marketing, and analytics. 

Natalie talks about her “whys” whenever she wakes up in the morning. She always makes it a point that her long-term aspirations are what keep her going every day. However, despite being a binge worker, she makes sure to set boundaries between work and personal life to always have time for herself. Does she have a role model? Yes! She looks up to a fellow woman-achiever to constantly remind her that women do belong in the startup world and that women can do as much as men.

How did Natalie end up in a STEM career? Find out as she shares a time when she hit a crossroad whether she’ll pursue a STEM or business career. While pursuing her degree, people would always find it surprising that she would take up such a course, though she reminisced that she encountered little discrimination for being a woman in science.

On the flip side, being an influencer at the same time does make up an odd pairing. For Natalie, this is a problem because the notion of having to stick to one field restricts the capabilities of a person. She exclaims that being interested in multiple things makes a person more holistic, and is actually more beneficial for personal growth. 

As a member of the startup world, Natalie shares the inspiration behind her app Rella, and what are her plans with it after a few years. Having the ultimate goal of being a staple for influencers, Natalie hopes that Rella becomes integrated with a bigger company to make the platform more effective and have a better audience reach.

Natalie also reflected on having to suffer impostor syndrome from being overwhelmed with tasks as a startup founder. Challenges on not knowing everything have also been a struggle for her, but at the same time, rewarding. With this, she imparts advice on how to become a good hustler, putting emphasis on starting with small steps and getting there eventually. 

The IndieCo Debate #4: Should You Doubt the Guy/Girl Bestfriend?

Having girl/boy bestfriend problems? Feeling anxious about your partner's best bud? Do we really have the right to doubt them? 

Tune in as we unwrap this classic tale of lover versus bestfriend in another IndieCo debate! For this episode, we discuss whether we should doubt the guy/girl bestfriend. For the affirmative team, we have Sophia and Jez. Meanwhile, for the negative team, we have Patrick and Sam.

This episode will surely bring out your argumentative skills to defend your stance! Join in on the conversation on our social media pages so you don't miss a single episode of IndieCo debates. 

EP #10: Athena Abe on Empowering the Next Generation Through Content Creation

For the second installment of our Women’s Month feature, we invited content creator and education advocate, Athena “Atcha” Abe to talk about the power of content creation focused on educating people about STEM. 

Atcha is a 4th-year Computer Science student, seasoned public speaker, former Application Analyst, and Social Media Specialist. She is currently the Technical Community Manager of Edukasyon.ph. She is also an AngelHack ambassador and mentor of Impact Hackathon, where she shares her knowledge on Web Development and Design, Cybersecurity, and the like with various universities and tech companies. She aspires to be a Computer Science professor and Cybersecurity Analyst someday.

In this episode, Atcha shares with us her journey leading up to her course in college, and how much she has learned about technology as a platform to inform and educate people around the world. As a woman in STEM, she advocates for better education relating to computer science, since she experienced problems navigating her way to her dream career. Having met experts in her field prior to college helped amplify her passion for technology, with lessons that she still applies today.

Atcha looks back on why she even started a Youtube channel and how it helped her cope with the challenges of the current situation. She mentions that content creation also helped her snatch opportunities related to her career path. In the near future, Atcha also discusses how she envisions her content creator/influencer career in the next few years. For her, it’s important that she continues her channel out of passion and not pressure. 

As an advocate, one of her long-term goals is to establish her own tech company that aims to inspire and uplift Filipino workmanship in the field of technology. One of her valued beliefs is that everyone, even professionals, still has a lot to learn in technology given that it’s vastly growing by the day and new innovations are always around the corner. She also leaves behind pieces of advice for aspiring technology students, especially for young Filipinos who feel left behind by the education system in the country. 

IndieCo Debate #5 | Can Men and Women Just Be Close Platonic Friends?

Have you ever fallen in love with your best friend? Can people just be stuck as friends? Is platonic friendship really possible? Do long-term connections always lead to something more than just friendship?

Join us as the youth fights it out in another episode of IndieCo debates where we aim to spark fun and meaningful discussions about relatable and relevant topics. For today, we have Austin, Kriska, and Simon who'll be discussing “Can Men and Women Just Be Platonic Friends?” 

Listen now and decide whose arguments stood out for you the most! Share with us your thoughts on our social media pages and watch out for more episodes of IndieCo debates.

EP #11: Grace David on Owning your Femininity in a Male-dominated Field

Today, we’re featuring our third and last episode for our Women's Month Special featuring the Chief Executive Officer of Edukasyon.ph, Grace David. Grace David joined Edukasyon.ph in 2019 equipped with more than 15 years of experience in brand management, marketing, and sales in large institutions including San Miguel Corp., Kraft, Mondelez and Kerry. 

As a staunch education advocate, David will lead Edukasyon.ph into the next phase of youth-centered engagement and product innovation to guide students toward a successful and fulfilling future. Edukasyon.ph offers eight million annual student visitors an online marketplace to search, compare and apply to higher education institutions and online courses; a platform to engage with leading corporations, foundations, and nonprofit organizations; and a resource for guidance and advice to pursue a successful path from education to career. 

In this feature, Grace shares her goals in the education sector, and how Edukasyon.ph can grow with it. She envisions the best for the Education technology industry in the country, and she strives to use Edukasyon.ph as her platform to achieve this dream.

Given that she’s a woman in EdTech and a CEO, she shared that in her early years as a leader, she had this unconscious urge to mimic certain male attributes that she observed, perhaps a sign of adaptation to her environment. What were some of these characteristics that she embodied? Did she feel comfortable having to “fit in” with her peers? What did she discover about herself moving forward? Grace reflects on her transition phase to embracing the role of being a senior leader in the corporate scene.

Grace shares her struggles of having to work in an environment where there is a looming atmosphere of gender roles, and how she fought her way through it and establish herself in the workforce. How did she become a powerful woman in her industry? What steps did she take to clear the air of doubts and belittling? Her main tip is to find your own self and be the unique persona that people would remember you by. 

For Grace, it is important to have all the joy when working in a position, because you may have all the skills and attributes fit for the job, but not everyone can see themselves grow and develop into the best version of themselves. 

IndieCo Debate #6 | Do Looks Matter in a Relationship?

Should we look for looks in our partner? Is beauty the epitome of love? 

People always say that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. But when it comes to relationships, is there a definite answer to whether or not we should focus on looks? 

The Indiependent Collective presents another insightful debate where chosen applicants discussed the question, "Do Looks Matter in a Relationship?" 

For today, we have Abet trying to convince us that looks really do matter. Meanwhile, Ericel tries to talk us into not having to focus always on the looks of our partner.

Tune in as you may learn a thing or two!

IndieCo Debate #7: Should Men Pay on the First Date?

Are you new to dating? Can't decide whether you or your date should pay? Don't worry, we've got you covered!

Join us in our last debate for March as we discuss whether or not men should pay on the first date. Listen as Jean agrees to have men pay on the first date while Joana tries to change her mind by giving statements on why men aren't required to do so.

For those planning their first dates, this episode is perfect for you!

EP #12: Christa Vega, On Promoting Consent Through Art

Women’s Month celebration may be over, but we still have a treat in line with celebrating femininity and consent through the eyes of art. In this episode, we invited Christa Vega a.k.a. @slothbender, a full-time visual artist behind #SecretNudes — an illustration series based on consensually sent nudes. Her artworks are centered on figure drawing, womanhood, and advocacy against sexual abuse. In this episode, she talks about her journey starting out as an artist, her memorable moments, and where she sees herself in the future.

Christa looks back on her beginnings with visual arts, citing her college thesis as the main culprit behind her art today. Tracing the meaning behind her works, Christa defines her outputs as a statement on one social issue that has been prevalent especially in the Philippines—nudes. For her, nude drawings are not supposed to be sexualized but seen as a statement of how raw and real the human body is. This serves as a reminder to women that they are empowered and that they should not be ashamed.

Apart from this, Christa shares what triggered her urgency to come up with such art, seeing how fast technology has enabled sexual expression, especially to the youth. Dealing with people who disagree with her works, Christa emphasized that she treats it as part of the learning process, as she cannot control the public’s opinion of her. To quote Christa, “...if may mga bastos na view of it, I feel like says more about the person looking at it than the person who made it.” 

One of the things that Christa would never forget about her journey is when the women she draws open up, creating this safe space that only women understand. Furthermore, she sees this as a bonus achievement since her original goal was for her art to be a sign of liberation for women to be comfortable in their own skin. 

However, talking about the future, Christa feels that her technique would change. For her, this change in drawing style reflects her journey as a woman and as a person. Now engaged, Christa is excited about her future in drawing and how she can manage her marriage while at the same time her love for art.

EP #13: Inha Arceo, On Discovering Beauty in the Everyday

For today’s episode, we touch yet again on the intricate language of art and its dialogue with the real world. Meet Inha, she is a brand builder, business owner, entrepreneur, artist, and illustrator. She curates Self-Care and Self-Love Fine Art Prints for the soul.

Aside from this, she also illustrates custom-made minimalistic digital illustrations and wall art and print designs using her unique and free-spirited art style. Ultimately, her goal is to easily upgrade & modernize any home interior’s aesthetic in a non-expensive way. Tune in as Inha shares her inspirations and her journey through art.

She mentions how big of an influence her grandfather is on her, stating that he used to paint portraits for Philippine presidents back then. His art form then inspired her also to be interested in painting. Was art her first love? How did she decide to start an art business? Diving into the pegs behind her outputs, Inha explains that she wants her art to reflect the Filipino culture, and have it shared across the world. Looking back, she tells the story of how she found her niche in the art industry.

On the flip side, Inha looks back on her corporate life journey and how it molded her for the new career path she took. Is entrepreneurship her biggest TOTGA? How did the corporate world affect her transition into pursuing arts? With her crazy journey to get where she is today, Inha imparts some advice to those hesitant artists out there for them to finally find their groove in their passion.

IndieCo Debate #8: Is it fair to ‘unfriend’ someone over political differences?

The elections are just around the corner! We're sure that you have been involved in at least one heated argument with your friends about your chosen candidates. But is it fair to really reach the point of having to unfriend someone over political differences? Does it really matter that we have opposing views with our peers? What should we do in situations like this?

Join us in another IndieCo debate where chosen applicants tackled the question, "Is it fair to ‘unfriend’ someone over political differences?" For the affirmative team, we have Paolo and Eldrin. Meanwhile, for the negative team, we have Joshua and Jan. 
 

EP #14: Aj Bacar, On Creating Art with a Purpose

In another installment featuring Filipino artists, we invited AJ Bacar, a BS Electronics Engineering graduate from De La Salle University, who excels not only in engineering but also in his passion for art.

In this episode, he talks about how he initially entered a leading telco company as a cadet engineer and practiced Project Management in the later years. After about 10 years in the industry, he decided to forego his career to pursue his passion for art. Today, he shares with us behind-the-scenes AJ and talks more about his art.

How did AJ find his purpose in art? He shares his favorite artwork from his portfolio, explaining the backstory behind its inspiration. For him, his passion started as an outlet for him to express his feelings, which eventually led to it being his full-time career now. Torn between his corporate job and his art, he had to consult a lot of people and weigh out the tradeoffs between the two. Does he find his art fulfilling now? AJ points out having no regrets and being able to enjoy what he does for a living.

Owing his success to his supporters, AJ says he loves interacting with the people that appreciate his works. On the other hand, dealing with negative comments has been part of the job for him, saying that reading such feedback makes him refocus on his core and purpose as to why he’s doing art in the first place. What are AJ’s thoughts on the normalization of negative comments on artists? As an artist that has been producing outputs for years, AJ shares how he finds novelty in his work, and what inspirations drive him to always serve something new to the table while maintaining his established brand as a creator. 

Does AJ see himself still doing comics in the coming years? Does he have a bigger life plan set out for his future? Tune in as AJ shares more about his life and plans for his career.

EP#15: Elijah Alonzo "Hellydgreat" on Expressing Love Through Art

Couldn’t get enough of our podcasts on art? Well, this is your lucky day! Our guest for today is an artist and comic creator that has been famous for her work featuring a couple named Helly and Damian. Meet Elijah “Hellydgreat” Alonzo as she shares more about why and how she finds peace and happiness in making and sharing her art.

Elijah starts by sharing her inspiration behind her artwork, revealing that it was mainly influenced by manga and animé, two things she was obsessed with as a kid. But this art style worried her because not everyone is interested in manga. She then tried other techniques which eventually led to the birth of Helly and Damian. What are the advantages that she saw in her style? What tips can she give to artists finding their niche? She also shared what helped her decide on her art genre. How does she decide on her work? Does she have a creative process that helps her come up with ideas? As an artist, she also experiences slumps where she has zero creative juices, and for her, that’s totally fine, because even an artist needs a break once in a while. 

Talking about her future plans, Elijah shares her thoughts on switching to a corporate career and lying low on her art projects. Finally, she leaves behind some tips on struggling artists and how to bring back the fire that has been burning out. Listen now to know more about Hellydgreat and her journey to being a successful artist.
 

EP #16: Jewelle Villarisco on Taking Risks in Pursuit of Passion

Our guest for this week is an Artist-Illustrator, Content Creator, Youth Leader, and Mentor. She has been drawing for children’s storybooks and has done countless portraits and commissions. She hopes to use her art platform, Jewie’s Art Space, to talk about love, true positivity, and kindness. Meet Jewelle Villarisco, and she’s here to share with us her passion for art, the vision of growth, and everything in between.

Jewelle discusses her purpose for her art, that instead of mere motivation, she aspires to uplift people and promote self-growth. With this, her concept revolves around children’s art, because she loved this as a kid. This is the reason why she mostly draws for children’s storybooks. What was her favorite storybook as a kid? Did she get inspiration from this?

At this point in her career, she says that she takes inspiration from everything. Instead of waiting for a spark to come, she uses every moment possible to serve as her guide in creating her next artwork. Aside from this, she has been trying to break art stereotypes and use conventional colors for other purposes (e.g. warm colors to reflect sadness, cool for happiness). 

Artists also experience mental blocks—periods where they can’t seem to get anything done, or even get anything started. There are also times when artists get fed up with thinking that they just want to stop everything and quit. Jewelle avoids this by creating a good schedule and maximizing her creative juices whenever possible. By planning a month-long series of content, she prepares herself for contingencies that may occur. 

In the context of the pandemic, Jewelle says that she actually got busier compared to before. What are her key learnings during the lockdown? What new things did she explore? She also shares her favorite moments of being an artist and how she deals with negative comments on her works. 

EP #17: Carlos Palanca Awardee for Literature Marivi Soliven On the Art of Masterful Storytelling

For this month, we are celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month, where we aim to tell stories that empower and understand the struggles of people when it comes to their mental health. Our first guest for the month is Marivi Soliven, who is most well-known for her novel The Mango Bride, which will soon be a film produced by and starring MegaStar Sharon Cuneta. We had the chance to initially sit down with Marivi and talk about the inspiration behind her work, which involves interpreting for survivors of domestic violence. 

Tune in as she joins IndieCo to talk about she shores up her mental health to deepen her own emotional reservoir for her many roles: as an award-winning writer, a telephonic Tagalog interpreter, and as a mother, among others.

In this episode, Marivi shares the birth of The Mango Bride, and what moments in her life contributed to the idealization of this novel. Was she always a novelist? How did she train herself to write novels? Did she have a eureka moment in her writing? She also enumerates some comparisons between working in advertising and being a full-time writer.

Touching on the topic of coping and taking care of her mental health, Marivi shares some activities that she likes to do in order to regain composure. What is “procrasti-baking”? She mentions that one of her favorite coping mechanisms is doing yoga since it calms the mind and spirit, which enables her to think clearly again to recover from writer’s block. In addition, she also discusses the adjustments she did as she was living in the States but wanted to publish in the Philippines. What was the toughest challenge she faced moving to the US? How was she able to overcome these challenges? 

To conclude, Marivi wraps up with some tips for writers out there who dream of becoming successful (even award-winning) writers. 

IndieCo Debate #9: What is More Important: Passion or Practicality?

Are you inclined in doing art? Do you have a passion that you feel excited about? Or do you feel pressured by society to pick another career for the sense of practicality?

Tune in as we tackle this topic of Passion vs Practicality in another fun IndieCo debate! We have Atty. Aye and Ivan defend the pursuit of passion, while David and Dr. Stephanie support practicality. 

EP#18: Founder and CEO of BackScoop Amanda Cua On Building a Company Instead of Going to College

Welcome to another episode of IndieCo podcasts! For this week, we are featuring a one-woman team that has started a company in exchange for finishing her degree. She is currently the CEO and backbone of BackScoop, a daily newsletter that makes it easy to stay informed with everything SEA businesses and startups. Let us all welcome, Amanda Cua!

Amanda starts by giving us a walkthrough of her decision to instead fortify her own startup. She mentions that her fool-proof plan met the pandemic, and that’s when she needed to finally choose a path to take—whether she’d go to college or do something bigger elsewhere. Honing her skills was the bigger picture for her because these could end up being a career path. Starting out in marketing, she saw this as an opportunity to build more skills that can help her through college and eventually a more stable career. 

Taking a couple of gap years in college, Amanda was not let down by anything. Eventually, after years of perseverance and determination, she was able to establish BackScoop. She also shares how hard she had to work just to attract subscribers, doing things like designing publication materials, interacting with the audience, and managing the business as a whole. Amanda justifies this by describing any other startup, where you’d need to work twice as hard just to get your name on the board. However, she also bumps the idea of not overworking, since it can be more detrimental than helpful in the business. Quoting her, “As much as the growth of the numbers of your business is important, I think you have to manage yourself as well…”

When asked about some of the misconceptions about startups, Amanda points out that businesses aren’t made overnight, emphasizing the thought process that comes along with improving the business. How is BackScoop different from other newsletter companies? As a startup, she also lays out some of the more common challenges that she faces with BackScoop. With this, Amanda ends by sharing some tips for people who are unsure about taking life paths that are unconventional. 

Subscribe to BackScoop today: https://www.backscoop.com.

EP #19: Cinemalaya Awardee Myra Aquino On Using Films to Strengthen Fortitude

Our guest for this episode is a writer-director who grew up in Guam and the Philippines. She is a 2020 graduate from the UCLA MFA Directing program and she was recently selected to participate in the 2021 Women in Film x Black List Feature Residency for her feature screenplay LAMB, and her thesis film BEAUTY QUEEN won the 2020 First Place Gold Circle Award from the Caucus Foundation and Best Short Film from the 2021 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival. 

Myra has also received an MD and Masters in Public Health from the University of Miami. With her eclectic background, Myra is passionate about exploring the impacts of multiculturalism and globalization on Southeast Asian, Pacific Islander, and other underrepresented communities. She’s currently writing a coming-of-age feature set in 1990s Guam, and a high school feature set in the post-9/11 Philippines.

In this feature, Myra shares her crisis in picking a career while she was in college, where she tried to become interested in various fields. She mentions her lack of maturity at the time, which caused her to choose medicine over her passion for filmmaking. What happened to her medical journey? How did she realize that film was her top arsenal? She also tells the story of how writing became her therapy when she was young, emphasizing that it can also be confusing and chaotic at the same time. 

Writing for her is a collaborative space, and it makes the process much more complex than it already is. Myra looks back on the people that influenced her writing. Did she have a role model? What novels did she love to read as a kid? Myra also reminisces about the films that piqued her interest in filmmaking. As early as high school, she started to build her passion for films.

In relation to Mental Health Awareness Month, Myra shares her thoughts on how filmmakers manage their mental health using their projects. What is her opinion on religion as a coping mechanism for mental health? 

Myra tells us some of the misconceptions she had after moving to the US, and how she was able to make realizations about them. Did she experience culture-rooted issues? What is the toughest challenge did she face in her career as a filmmaker? How did filmmaking help her overcome the anxiety of being in a white-dominated territory?

Tune in as Myra answers all these questions and shares more of her experiences in the filmmaking industry. Who knows? Maybe you’ll pick up a thing or two about picking the right career path for you.

EP #20: Caitlin Jo, Natalya Patolot and Leah Cioco On The Ghost That Solved Her Own Murder Mystery

Welcome to the first installment of IndieGhost, our new monthly segment where we talk about Filipino true crime and mysteries that will surely wake up your inner Sherlock Holmes. 

In this episode, Caitlin, Talya, and Leah talk about the ghost that solved her own murder. 

Teresita Basa, an Edgewater Hospital employee, was discovered dead in her apartment in February 1977, with a knife protruding from her chest. After months of inquiry, officers discovered little to no leads, and the case was closed. All of that changed when Teresita's spirit came from the dead in the summer of 1977 to identify her killer. Tune in as we unravel this story and discuss its shocking revelations, one piece of evidence at a time.

EP #21: OK Club, On How Music Brought Them Together

Heads up to all the OPM fans! We have a treat just for you in today’s episode. We invited OK Club, a six-piece indie-pop band that’s starting to be known for their indie and alt-rock-jazz-anime OST combinations.

Tune in as the band shares their humble beginnings and retrace how OK Club was formed. What were their roots in music? When did they first share their love for playing music? Where was their first usual spot for making songs? The band reminisces about their college days and how being together boosted their passion for music and finally pursuing becoming recording artists.

Aside from this, they also reveal to us their thoughts on becoming full-time musicians in light of the current situation. Talking about the future, OK Club shares how they foresee themselves in the next years and how they plan to pursue their goals. What were their favorites about being part of a band? Were there any setbacks that challenged them?

All these and more as we unfold this episode filled with laughter and passion for music. 

EP #22: Pugfish On the Role of Music in Everyday Life

Another week, another episode featuring an OPM band! Formed in 2015, Pugfish is a musical collective based in Manila, Philippines. Inspired by artists such as Crying, Wild Party, and Japanese Breakfast, Pugfish's sound attempts to combine unique structures and fun textures that fall under an alternative pop outfit. There's really no one genre that fully captures the electrifying feel of the group's sound.

Today, some of the members of Pugfish join us to talk more about their music, inspirations, and generally what they’re like as a band. Composed of college students, the band produces music as if they have been in the industry for decades. The members share how they started out in music, what were their eureka moments in being musicians, and what inspires them to continue being artists. Were their parents supportive of their passion for music? 

Their dedication and passion for their work reflect in their songs. Focusing on their purpose and staying true to each other is what gets them through any challenges. They mention having genuine intentions in producing their songs, which removes their fear of sounding similar to other artists. What is their process in creating their music? How often do they meet up and practice? 

Listen now as we get to know Pugfish more as they share their stories and impart advice to aspiring music artists out there. 

EP #23: The Great Dane On Movin' and Groovin' to the Beat of Life

Music and bands for weeks! We are back at it again here at IndieCo podcasts with another rising OPM band joining us to talk more about their music. The Great Dane is a band whose main influences come from funk and soul to rock n’ roll. This four-man band is sure to rock your world wherever and whenever you need some cheering up. 

How did they meet? How did they decide to start a band together? The members retell the story of their group and the inspiration behind their band name. They also share the story of having to attend army training in Singapore and how it solidified their bond as friends and bandmates. Each member then shares how they got into music, and what was the spark plug that made them fall in love with the rhythm. 

What if they were not invested in music? What would they do with their time? The members share their side hobbies outside of being musicians. When asked about their favorite release, their upcoming songs are their top choice. What’s their proudest moment in producing their music? Do they plan to sign with a record label in the future? 

Join in as the band answers these hot takes as we get to know more about them behind the scenes. 

EP #24: Seizure Salad, On Expressing Feelings Through Music

Feeling sappy and senti? In the mood for some Green Day? Look no further as we are joined by indie pop-punk band Seizure Salad, known for their music that runs from the gamut from moody and ambient musings to all-out punk-fueled rampages. Their songs deal with some of the aches and pains of the human experience, helping listeners get through loneliness, helplessness, and regret. They provide a cathartic experience to their listeners that helps make life just a little more bearable.

In today’s episode, we are joined by all the members of the band as they recount the history of Seizure Salad and how each member eventually got connected to start sharing a passion for playing and making music. What does Seizure Salad even mean? Who were their inspirations for their music? Did they have the same genre of music before the band? What were some of the most memorable moments that they shared together?

Talking about their music, who are their dream collaborations? What is their purpose for making their art? You’ll find it surprising how a seemingly dull music genre has a lot of passion and emotion behind it. They mentioned that their music enables them to express and feel their emotions and share this with others who might be going through the same phase. Especially with the pandemic, their music became their coping mechanism to make things work as a band and still hold on to their dreams. 

Listen now as the band sits down with us to have a short chat about how they are behind the scenes. 

EP #25: Ceej Frankera, On Pursuing One's Passion for Music

Let’s take a break from bands, and welcome a soloist for today’s episode. Meet Ceej Frankera, an LA/Manila-based independent singer-songwriter whose songs have garnered more than 228k streams. She is a modern-day torch singer—her lyrics explore themes like love, self-care, and figuring out her world through music. She's proud to be genuinely indie—all production and music videos were funded and made possible by herself and other independent producers, music managers, and collaborators. No labels; just the love and support of her family, friends, and fans.

In this episode, Ceej shares her perspective as an independent artist in the industry. Is it better than being in a band? What advantages does being a soloist provide? She also touches up on her humble beginnings in music. What made her interested in writing songs? Was she ever part of a band? Who were her idols in the industry? Who are her dream collaborations with?

When asked about her songs, she mentions some of her favorites because of their value to her and relevance to the public. She shares the story of the perfect timing of her releases since the message in her songs is timely with today’s situation. There were also a couple of memorable moments in her career that Ceej fondly remembers. Lastly, she leaves behind tips for aspiring soloists who are too scared to take the first step.

EP #26: Martti Franca, On The Business of Music

For this week, we invited Manila-based independent singer-songwriter, Martti Franca, to share his passion for music and some of the things he advocates for as an artist. Martti creates deeply intimate indie-folk pop music rooted in personal experience and reflection in both sound and writing. Although he is more recognized for his heartbreak hits such as Spaces and Things She’ll Never Know, he strongly advocates mental health awareness in songs such as Twenty-Five and San Francisco. He also advocates for the financial independence of independent musicians by giving talks on building revenue streams in the music industry.

In this episode, we explore Martti’s career in the music business, how he helps other musicians produce their own sound, and some insider info on the politics of music. Martti looks back on his history with the craft. Was he always inclined towards music? Who inspired him to be more involved in producing music? For him, making an impact in the industry is one of the best feelings, since it is a reflection of how much he has succeeded in touching other people’s lives with his music. Were his parents supportive of his endeavor to pursue being an artist? 

If he weren’t a musician, what is Martti’s plan B for a career? He shares his passion also for marketing and business in general. Having a background in the field, Martti shares how musicians can utilize social media platforms such as Youtube and Tiktok to promote and grow their music. What are some inspirations behind his songs? Martti exposes the deeper meaning behind some of his songs, describing his music as a journey that aims to make feel people loved and wanted. What were some of his favorite memories of performing his songs? Martti finally gives some advice to rising artists out there who struggle with finding themselves and get pressured by the mainstream music industry.

EP #27: Philippe Angelo Hiñosa, On Love and Faith

Faith, trust, and pixie dust. That’s one of the more popular lines from the movie Peter Pan. But for our guest this week, faith and trust were enough for him to reach his dreams. Meet Phillippe Angelo Hiñosa, 22, a Sociology student at the University of the Philippines Visayas. He writes about family, education, politics, and society based on his personal life. He is also a published contributor to Young Blood, an anthology-centric volume of books started by the Philippine Daily Inquirer to inspire young writers to share their stories and jumpstart their careers.

In this episode, Philippe opens up about his journey to being a contributor to young blood, as well as how it became his redemption story after several rejections. What was his reaction after being published? He shares an unfiltered story of how personal his essay was, and what encouraged him to become a writer in the first place. What was his first love? What moment made him pursue journalism? Philippe bares that he didn’t see himself as a writer before, but only someone who simply writes. Quoting him, “a writer is someone who can naturally tap to his core, and pull out a memory and translate these memories to words…” Freedom in writing journals, that’s what sparked Philippe in finding his purpose as a writer. 

Philippe highlights that his experiences of being part of the LGBTQIA+ as a way for him to maximize his platform, with the ultimate goal of inspiring others to be true to themselves in spite of adversities in society. How did he use his relationship as an inspiration for his Young Blood article? What challenges did he face following the release of his article? How did he handle them? For Philippe, coming out is not a race, but an opportunity to know more about yourself and that it takes time to fully prepare for it. On being a writer, he also shares some tips for budding writers who also dream of having their work published in works such as Young Blood. 

Tune in as Philippe shares not only about writing but also some valuable lessons about the LGBTQIA+ community that will surely amp up your spirits and get you fighting for that equal rights. Listen now!

EP #28: Jarod Anjelo Lustre, On Doing Everything Right

For this week, we have invited yet another writer to share with us their experiences speaking up against social issues that continue to burden Filipinos. Meet Jarod Anjelo Lustre, a Manila-based writer who has been exposed to his family's struggles at an early age, which influenced him to advocate for awareness of the injustices faced by Filipinos. He believes that art as an expression of passion and strife can inspire people to stand up for themselves and others

In this episode, Jarod shares his Young Blood story and what inspired him to write articles that are up for publication. What was his spark plug in writing his essay? He mentions that writing became his outlet to vent out his emotions and feelings towards the situation he observes with his family. Was he always interested in writing as a kid? Jarod shares his love for children’s books in his youth, highlighting that his parents would always be supportive of his eagerness to read. On the other hand, his writing started with poems and stand-up skits, which then, later on, honed him into the writer he is today.

What are his thoughts on the politics that are present today? Does he support the government’s responses to the pandemic? He also shares his struggles in relation to constructing his article, since he had a big family, and not everyone has the same experience and opinion as others. Ending the interview, Jarod offers advice to writers who also aim to be published. He emphasizes that allowing oneself to be vulnerable will bring out the best in a writer, which makes it sound more genuine for the readers to interact.

EP #29: Mong Palatino, On Love and Activism

Another writer graces us with their presence to share their experiences and expertise on topics they’re passionate about. Mong Palatino is a Filipino blogger, activist, environmentalist, and former legislator. He is the Philippines’ first elected youth representative from 2009 to 2013. His book, 'Blogging the City: Spaces of Dissent' was published in 2021. In this episode, Mong unfolds his Young Blood story and how he juggles his priorities on being an activist and a loving father. 

Mong looks back on how he fell in love with writing, citing that he had one goal in sight—write about the truth and advocate freedom of expression. Over the years, he realized that writing takes time and dedication, as well as a passion for reading because this is how a writer hones themselves. Who were his idols as a writer? He shares the people he looked up to, and those that inspired him to pursue political writing.

How did his writing hone his relationship with his family? Does he still embody the lessons that he learned from his work? Mong emphasizes the role of nationalism in strengthening his relationship with his wife, pointing out that they share the same vision of helping society. He also shares the dynamics of their family, saying that their children still have the freedom to choose their own path in life, and they as parents have the job to guide them. 

Having the current political climate, would Mong still choose to be an activist if he were still in college today? What advice can he give to youth activists to better themselves as the voice of the people? All these and more as Mong inspires us to be part of the movement towards a better future. This is an episode you would not want to miss. What are you waiting for? Join us now!

EP #30: Gian Dizon, On Indie Vague, A Bold, Brash, and Brave Collection for Women Empowerment

For this week, we touch back on the topic of women empowerment, but this time through the eyes of the fashion industry. Our guest for today is a Grade 11 ABM student at De La Salle Lipa and is part of the graduating trainees of Tier One Entertainment’s Amplfy Academy. He is also currently the Executive Assistant of DougBrockTV's Douglas Brocklehurst, an e Associate Head for Publicity at TMP Music Distribution Network, and the General Operations Head of Kusho World the first Filipino, anime-inspired NFT.   Let us all welcome, Gian Francis “Kiyan” Mari Dizon.

Kiyan is also the Founder, Owner, and Marketing Director Of Vague. He's worked with brands and projects such as Revel, Kenny's Coffee Bean, 4L.LTD, Implicit and Urban Gathering. He started his first business venture at the age of 12 which eventually went bankrupt and along with that his first director positioned the project. 

In this episode, Kiyan shares the inspiration behind the clothing line collab with Indie Co. What relevance did he see in the concept? He mentions that it is his way of giving back since a lot of women helped him in his career. Furthermore, he also lays down the process of choosing the designs to be used in the collaboration. He mentions that the goal is to deliver the feeling of positivity whenever someone wears it. What are Kiyan’s visions for the project? How does he see this project growing in the future?

Listen to the episode as Kyan shares more about women empowerment and how Indie Vague plays a role in spreading awareness and creating conversations about the place of women in society.