QCU Mounts Its First-Ever TEDxQuezonCityU, Redefining Success Through Ideas That Inspire
Quezon City University (QCU) marked a historic milestone as it successfully mounted its first-ever TEDxQuezonCityUon December 6, 2025, at the QCU Auditorium, Bautista Building, San Bartolome Campus.
Anchored on the theme “Redefining Success,” the landmark event gathered nearly 100 participants, including students, faculty members, alumni, and distinguished guests, all eager to engage with meaningful ideas and transformative personal narratives that challenge conventional notions of achievement.
The inaugural TEDx event was led by Mr. Dexter P. Baño Jr., TEDx License Holder and QCU alumnus, whose vision brought TED’s global culture of idea-sharing to the University for the very first time. Serving as co-sponsor and student organization mobilizer, the Quezon City University Young Entrepreneurs’ Society (QCU YES) played a vital role in ensuring strong student engagement and campus-wide participation.
Globally recognized as one of the most prestigious platforms for thought leadership and storytelling, TED and TEDxhave elevated voices such as Bill Gates, Brené Brown, Elon Musk, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. By hosting its inaugural TEDx event, QCU now joins a global network of institutions committed to nurturing innovation, intellectual curiosity, and courageous conversations.
The event featured an inspiring lineup of speakers whose stories and advocacies resonated deeply with the QCU community:
Obet Cabrillas
A dynamic mentor and speaker, Cabrillas shared his remarkable journey from former street fighter to missionary, educator, and life coach. An MPA graduate of UP Diliman and a Certified Transformative Coach, he delivered a powerful message on healing, purpose, and the courage to rise above one’s past.
Rene “Butch” Meily
President of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) and a respected leader in the Philippine startup ecosystem, Meily spoke on resilience, collaboration, and innovation. Drawing from his extensive local and international experience, he challenged students to become solution-driven leaders for national development.
William Kevin Abran
A Space Science Correspondent and applied physics student from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Abran captivated the audience with his pioneering contributions to Philippine space research, including his Asian Try Zero-G experiment aboard the International Space Station. His talk underscored the power of curiosity, science, and ambition among Filipino youth.
Robyn Mijares
Founder of Grow School Philippines and Youth Uprising, and the first Filipino recipient of the UNDRR WIN DRR Rising Star Award, Mijares emphasized youth-led agricultural sustainability and disaster resilience. His message empowered students to take active roles in building resilient and sustainable communities.
More than a single-day event, TEDxQuezonCityU stands as a powerful symbol of QCU’s commitment to innovation, empowerment, resilience, and transformative leadership. As the University continues to advance its mission of academic excellence and social relevance, this inaugural TEDx event marks the beginning of greater platforms for ideas that inspire change and shape the future of the QCU community.
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