Global Filipino Leaders Gather at UC Berkeley for #PHTimeIsNow2024 Building Bridges and Connecting Communities through Science, Art, and Innovation
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BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA (October 24, 2024) – The #PHTimeIsNow2024 summit, celebrating Filipino culture, innovation, and community, took place at the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) and the Banatao Institute, University of California, Berkeley, marking the event's fifth year and its first appearance on the West Coast.
Emceed by Emmy-nominated journalist and host of NBC News Bay Area Ginger Conejero Saab, the summit convened global Filipino trailblazers and future leaders to share their stories under the theme “Building Bridges, Connecting Communities.” Marilen Cawad of Head of Content Design at JP Morgan Chase in New York, and former newscaster on GMA-7 hosted the afternoon panels.
With support from Khan Academy Philippines and the Philippine Living Heritage Initiative (PLHI), the event drew a diverse group of changemakers and provided a space to uplift and inspire attendees to continue their #GlobalFilipinoJourney by learning from the successes and challenges of each speaker.
Founder Carissa Villacorta shared her gratitude with attendees, reflecting on the power of connection: “Uplifting one another is key - if you can find a way to help, do so with your whole heart and in ways that can advance each other’s #GlobalFilipinoJourney.”
A Venue of Legacy and Inspiration
Held at CITRIS and the Banatao Institute, an iconic space named in honor of tech pioneer couple Dado and Maria Banatao, the venue provided an inspiring backdrop for a day dedicated to advancing unity, heritage, and the Filipino spirit of innovation.
Engaging Discussions and Presentations from Industry Leaders
Throughout the day, the summit’s rich lineup of speakers and sessions reflected the diversity of Filipino talent.
The delegates were welcomed with a message from Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer of San Francisco, which highlighted the Filipino American community’s contributions to the U.S. and Philippines alliance, and the opening remarks of Alexandre Bayen, the Associate Provost for the Berkeley Space Center, the Director of CITRIS and the Banatao Institute, and the Liao-Cho Professor of Engineering at UC Berkeley.
Building Strong Foundations for the Next Generation: Myrish Antonio, COO of Khan Academy Philippines, introduced the non-profit’s mission to transform Philippine education through accessible, high-quality learning platforms. Her talk emphasized the potential for Filipino youth to develop strong foundational skills, crucial for a globally competitive workforce.
Cultivating Cultural Pride in the Diaspora: In a panel discussion on Filipino heritage, PLHI’s Co-Founder and CEO, Myrish Cadapan Antonio, and its Program and Operations Fellow, Nicah Santos, shared strategies for engaging younger generations of the Filipino diaspora and fostering cultural pride amid globalization.
Empowering Women through AI: In a fireside chat, Sheila Lirio Marcelo, Co-Founder of Ohai.ai, discussed AI’s transformative role in supporting women at home and in the workforce, exploring how technology can reduce mental load and empower women across socioeconomic backgrounds.
Filipino Creativity and Tradition: Lenora Cabili, founder of Filip + Inna, presented about preserving Filipino culture through fashion. By collaborating with artisans, her brand showcases indigenous craftsmanship, reinforcing Filipino identity on a global scale.
A Legacy of Innovation: Rey Banatao, Director at Google’s X, The Moonshot Factory, offered a personal account of his family’s journey, including his father Dado’s groundbreaking work in Silicon Valley. The Banatao story, celebrated through the lens of family and education, underscores the role of gaining and sharing knowledge in lifting communities.
Financial Empowerment for Filipinos Abroad: The leadership team from Pomelo–Alora Calcagno (Vice President of Operations), Sofie Jimenez (Director of Business Development and Partnerships), and Ladd Martin (Chief Marketing Officer)–shared insights into their fintech innovations, emphasizing how Pomelo supports overseas Filipinos and their families back in the Philippines with credit-building tools and accessible financial solutions.
The Filipino Food Movement: Esteemed author, restaurateur, and James Beard Finalist, Nicole Ponseca, shared the evolution of Filipino cuisine on the global stage, reflecting on the importance of food as a medium for cultural pride and understanding.
Resilience and Reinvention: Belle Baldoza, TikTok’s Global Communications Director, and Leo Albea, One Down Media’s Founder, shared personal stories of overcoming challenges, adapting to cultural shifts, and finding success, underscoring resilience as a shared trait in the Filipino experience.
Legacy of Advocacy and Community Building: In an inspiring panel, Filipino advocates–Juslyn Manalo (Mayor of Daly City), Sonia Delen (Founding Board Member of The Filipino Food Movement), Genevieve Jopanda (President-Elect at FYLPRO), Charity Nicolas (Board Member of Filipinx Americans in STEAM), Angelica Cortez (Founder and Executive Director of LEAD Filipino), Ann Reginio (Founder of Bayani ng Kabataan), and Anna Ladao (a community leader from Nevada) discussed their work across civic engagement, education, and community service, inspiring participants to lead positive change in their communities.
The summit’s afternoon concluded with a powerful conversation on education and innovation, featuring the Executive Director of CITRIS and the Banatao Institute Camille Crittenden and members of the Banatao family: Maria, wife and partner to Dado, and two of their children, Tala and Rey.
Aaron Orcino, Design Program Manager at Meta, remarked about the event, “It was so impressive to see such high-caliber Filipinos–people who are really making a difference. For everybody to come together and so generously give to the community was something that really astounded me. More than that, everybody was so open to making connections, so the walls really came down and you could really feel that everyone was really trying to help each other.”
Partners Who Made It Possible
#PHTimeIsNow2024 was made possible with the support of co-presenters, Khan Academy Philippines and PLHI, as well as community partners that included Pomelo, CITRIS and the Banatao Institute, PhilDev Foundation, The Filipino Food Movement, ARK Solves, FYLPRO, Good News Pilipinas, Kollective Hustle, LEAD Filipino, The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation, The San Francisco Filipino American Chamber of Commerce, and The University of the Philippines Alumni Association of San Francisco Foundation, Inc.
For more information about #PHTimeIsNow, please visit www.phtimeisnow.com or follow @phtimeisnow on social.
