On May 18, 2025, the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) held its monthly Life Skills and Motivational Seminar (LSMS) at Sky 1 Tower in Binondo, themed “Lead from Within: Becoming the Leader You Trust.”
The gathering buzzed with the energy of young scholars eager to learn and grow. Mr. Richard Alviar, CFBCI Director and Education Committee Chairman, opened the session with heartfelt remarks, sparking a meaningful discussion about the 2025 National Elections. Scholars shared how they made informed voting choices, underscoring that leadership begins with listening, thinking critically, and standing by one’s values even when no one is watching.
The program began with a solemn prayer, the National Anthem, and warm introductions from hosts Ysabelle Garcia and Gian Kelsy Cuenca. Mr. Samuel Lee Uy, CFBCI President, led the “Serendipity” session, urging scholars to reflect on what kind of leaders they admire and aim to become. His message: leadership isn’t always loud; it’s often quiet and consistent, rooted in values. This seamlessly led into the keynote by Ms. Patricia Anne P. Deinla, a CFBCI alumna from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (Magna Cum Laude) and Vice President of the CFBCI Alumni Scholars Association, who spoke not as a distant role model, but as a peer with lived experience and wisdom.
Ms. Deinla’s talk, “Lead from Within,” focused on self-trust and the inner work of leadership. She asked powerful reflective questions and introduced a simple formula of “Goals + Followers + Influence” framed by the idea that leadership starts within. Drawing from her own story, she tackled self-doubt and emphasized that courage means moving forward with fear, not without it. Through activities like mapping a ‘Leadership Compass’ and writing to their future selves, scholars explored their own aspirations and personal leadership journeys in depth.
The day balanced insight with fun as they played a game called “Copy Paste” which brought laughter and prizes, sponsored by Ms. Linda Lao, CFBCI Vice Chairman. Ms. Deinla’s message lingered: leadership is a daily practice, not a spotlight. Scholars closed the session by sharing reflections, a prayer led by Ms. Shielou D. Manalo, and a shared meal that captured CFBCI’s spirit of community. Through stories, reflection, and connection, the seminar didn’t just teach leadership — it lived it.
菲華工商總會訊：本會為培養「點亮未來」助學方案受助生德智兼備，吸收新知識，開闊學員們的心靈，每月定期邀請學友會成員，以其專業舉辦主題講座。五月十八日（星期日）上午，假本會八樓禮堂舉辦五月份修養講座。共有一百零七名受助生與學友會成員出席。本會理事長黃書瑋，文教委員會主任曾煥眉，副主任留牡丹、以及理事委員張其安等人到場聆聽指導，展現對學員們的高度重視。
當天的主講人是二零二三年以第二榮譽畢業於菲律濱理工大學（PUP），主修廣播系學士學位的受助生Patricia Anne P. Deinla。目前在羅里藝示科技大學（EARIST）學生事務與服務處領導力發展組組長，也是學友會副主席。本次講座主題為「領導始於內心：成為自我信賴的領袖」（Lead from Within: Becoming the Leader You Trust），與學員們分享領導與自我成長的寶貴經驗。
當日活動首先由本會董事曾煥眉發表簡短開場白，他親切問候在場學員，並以近期全國大選話題開啟對話，鼓勵學員們分享參與選舉與資訊查證的心得，現場氣氛熱絡，展現學員們良好的公民意識與批判思維，也呼應本次講座「領導從傾聽與價值堅守開始」的精神。
接著，由描東岸國立大學（Batangas State University）大一生 Carl Joshua B. Baja 領誦祈禱，並全場齊唱國歌，凝聚學員對國家的熱愛與使命感。主持人 Ysabelle Garcia 與 Gian Kelsy Cuenca 熱情致詞，正式揭開當天活動序幕。
本會理事長黃書瑋親自主持了「Serendipity」互動環節，與學員們探討心目中理想領袖特質，並提醒大家，領導力不在於聲音宏亮或頭銜崇高，而是來自於日常堅守價值、默默影響他人的力量。
隨後進入主題演講，主講人 Patricia Anne P. Deinla的開場白不是演講，而是一面鏡子。她以老朋友的口吻，親切地問學員們：「你引以為豪的三件事是什麼？你曾帶領過哪些事情？你相信自己是領導者嗎？」等問題，讓學員深入反思，因為任何人在領導他人之前，都必須先學會自我認識與信任。
Deinla 介紹了一個簡單的領導力公式「目標＋追隨者＋影響力」，卻強調最重要的是影響自己的內心。她講到了許多年輕領導者無聲的敵人就是自我懷疑。她勉勵學員將「自信」視為誠實面對自我、勇敢承認失敗與成長的過程，更分享「勇氣不是沒有恐懼，而是即使心懷恐懼，仍選擇前行」的生命態度。她講述的每一個故事都是一面鏡子，折射出許多人所面臨的、卻鮮為人知的無聲鬥爭。
講座不僅內容豐富，更穿插互動環節，學員們繪製個人領導羅盤，確定自己的優勢、價值觀，書寫給未來自己的信，寫下承諾與夢想，場面熱烈溫馨而感人。隨後趣味遊戲「即刻模仿」（Copy Paste）更將現場氣氛推向高潮，學員們爭相模仿影像動作，笑聲不斷。
最後Deinla作出總結：自我信賴的領袖具備對自己能力和決策的堅定信心，並能激勵他人追隨。他們通常展現出自信、決斷力和對目標的清晰願景，同時也具備同理心和良好溝通能力，能夠有效激勵團隊並共同達成目標。將自信轉化為行動，激勵團隊，實現卓越的成就。
透過此次講座，本會再次點亮受助生心中領導的火炬，期許每位學員都能成為自信、誠實、有承擔的青年領袖，肩負未來社會的希望與責任。
圖片說明：
上圖：（左至右）主講人Patricia Anne P. Deinla；講座簡報主頁；理事長黃書瑋。
中圖：學員們參與互動環節活動。
下圖：頒贈感謝狀予主講。（左起）本會西文秘書梅西卡，學員會成員Jereza Faye Salidaga，留牡丹，黃書瑋，Patricia Anne P. Deinla，曾煥眉，學員會成員Sharina Bautista，張其安。