What to expect at TEDxPUP’s first show set this Feb. 13

Just in time for Valentine’s season, the TEDxPUP will stage its first-ever talks on February 13 at The Astbury, 2 Orion, Makati City. 

The event will bring together a roster of speakers from different fields who will share their stories and insights, exploring the theme “Love at First Idea.”

TEDxPUP is an independently organized event by the students of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines - Manila (PUP), inspired by the globally recognized TED Talks program, where influential speakers and experts in their fields share innovative and inspiring ideas.

Below are the speakers for this inaugural event:

• Riyan Portuguez (mental health advocate): A PUP alumna and now a registered psychologist and psychometrician known as “Your Millennial Psychologist,” she advocates for mental health, collaborating with UNICEF and TikTok, and leads national discussions on workplace mental health as chair of the PAP Industrial–Organizational Psychology Division.

• Eva Le Queen (drag superstar): A finalist of Drag Race Philippines Season 1, she is the CEO of Drag Playhouse PH, advocating for the professionalization of drag in the country.

• Kristine Jane Atienza (public health): A Registered Nutritionist-Dietitian and the first Filipina Analog Astronaut who also helped shape national law on maternal and infant health (RA 11037) and researches space nutrition, designing food systems for extreme environments on Earth and in space.

• Asi Guiang (technology and cloud computing): A Filipino tech leader, Amazon Web Services (AWS) Community Builder, and cloud solutions practitioner. He founded the Philippines’ first AWS student-led user group and became the first AWS Cloud Club Captain, growing a nationwide student community to over 30 chapters and 10,000 members. Asi mentors students, builds learning programs, organizes tech events, collaborates to expand cloud education, and has authored books on technology, leadership, and community building.

• Chanelle Peru (community advocacy): A student leader, aspiring lawyer, and entrepreneur, founder of the Harvard Undergraduates in Asia Program (HUAP) in the Philippines. A Legal Management major and Economics minor at DLSU, she combines legal expertise with creative skills through internships and marketing work. As the President of Abot-Kamay Philippines, she promotes youth-led volunteerism and women’s empowerment, embodying a new generation of multi-hyphenate professionals.

• Nabbe Francisco (digital marketing): A Magna Cum Laude graduate at PUP who founded Uno Graphiko, a digital marketing agency. He also leads the Filipino Graphic Designers Facebook group, the country’s largest creative hub with over 180,000 members. 

• PJ Hernandez (education, cultural heritage, and youth development): An award-winning educator, cultural worker, and youth advocate, founder of The Traveling Salakot, a heritage movement promoting Philippine history. He works in heritage conservation with organizations like ICOMOS and the Knights of Rizal, co-authors educational materials, and develops cultural modules for the NCCA. PJ has received recognition as a UNESCO Outstanding Young Professional, a Teacher Month Honoree (2023), and the 2025 Global Award for Innovative Cases in World Heritage Education.

• Nicole Redding Wilhelm (real estate, entrepreneur, personal development): An entrepreneur, real estate expert, author, and speaker, known for her work in property ownership and personal development. Author of Own Your Space: How to Stop Renting and Start Owning Your Purpose, Power, and Property, she draws from her journey from homelessness to real estate success. She also co-leads a top real estate team and runs a personal development brand that helps others achieve financial and personal growth.

• Haven Mosquito (psychology, student leadership): A psychology senior at PUP, he is a competitive debater, adjudicator, and active student leader with experience in national and international debate tournaments and a focus on psychology and people-centered leadership.

As the event draws closer, anticipation continues to build among audiences eager to witness TEDxPUP’s debut.

“Very excited to hear the speakers’ take on how they perceive love at first idea lalo na the variety of professionals,” one anonymous user shared on Reddit.

For more information about TEDxPUP, read it here.  Article: Kier James Hernandez 

Graphics: Jan Mike Cabangin