The GT Storytellers Leaders’ Caravan kicked off with an inspiring start as A-People gathered closely to hear the personal transformation story of their peers. The inaugural event showcased remarkable stories from John Davis Mangubat of AboitizPower, Hazele Manalo of LIMA Water, and Joshua Dela Cruz of Aboitiz Construction.
As the GT Storytellers shared their experiences, they ignited a collective spark within the audience, encouraging them to become agents of change and fueling the cultural transformation as we continue to build the Philippines’ First Techglomerate.
Discover more about the inspiring story of John Davis Mangubat below and be inspired by his remarkable journey of growth, perseverance, and personal transformation.
Every transformation story is a narrative of a before and after. In almost all of these transformation stories, the protagonist usually ends up wiser, braver, and stronger than in the beginning. In the story, he/she may have overcome multiple struggles and challenges or solved a seemingly unsolvable mystery or crime. But the defining factor of his/her story is always that one brief moment in his/her life where he/she recognized the necessity for change.
And like every transformation story, I realized that mine is no different. It may have taken some time for me to learn and realize the need to grow beyond my comfort zone and acknowledge the need for transformation, but eventually, I have realized my own transformation journey. I mean, it’s not always easy to realize that things have to change, especially if your main struggle is trying to put warm food in your belly or waking up every morning knowing you have another day to endure and survive. But trust me, that brief moment comes to you eventually.
Mine was waking up one rainy morning, with some leaks of raindrops from our roof, and realizing that, “We never really had the chance to have the house repaired.”
We were poor. My mom and dad were simple, hardworking vendors who supported us with the little money they earned from selling various items in our old tricycle, which would often need repair because they had to use it the whole day to make the most out of a day’s sale. We were a family of four, and at one point, all of us were in college. I am the eldest and naturally burdened with the responsibility of helping my parents. I needed to juggle multiple jobs in college to survive, sending some money for my sibling’s tuition fee to the point that I was left with only 2,000 PhP to survive an entire month.
So, you can imagine how painful it was for me that I made it through college as an electrical engineer, but I couldn’t even afford a simple house repair to provide comfort for my parents. And so I started asking myself, “Is this all there is for me?”
And that is where my transformation story began. I looked for opportunities where I could grow and realize my full potential, which was initially not easy. I am gay. I spent ten years in college. I did not finish college with honors. I am clearly not the best candidate for any corporate position.
But I have a dream. I have experienced life’s worst, and I have the spirit to persevere through anything. And just like every protagonist in all great stories, I am determined to win in life. And for some reasons, AP believed in me. Karren, Cathy, and Sandro put their trust in me.
And so I am here today, sharing my transformation story, so that everyone out there who has ever felt defeated or disadvantaged in life, who has fallen down multiple times, who failed in their past endeavors, will continue to believe that, in their own timing, in their own story, they will find that moment to transform, shine, and win in life.
You will find your transformation story. Trust me. But first, you have to believe that you need to change and that you can change. Because at the end of the day, the only enemy of your success is your own mindset.
Scroll on below to watch the highlights of the GT Storytellers Leaders Caravan launch.
Got a GT story you want to share? Click on the link or scan the QR Code below to submit your story!
