The crisp October air set a tone of excitement as scholars gathered at Sky 1 Tower in Binondo, Manila, for the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) Life Skills and Motivational Seminar (LSMS) on 19 October 2025. With the theme “Overthinker Yern? The Psychology of Visualizing Failure to Achieve Success,” the seminar explored how managing one’s thoughts can transform fear into preparation and growth. CFBCI Director and Education Committee Chairman Richard Alviar opened the day with a reminder on discipline and punctuality, underscoring that these values are foundations of character both within and beyond the organization.

The program formally began with an Opening Prayer by Mariel Necerio Calahati and the Philippine National Anthem, followed by dynamic hosting from Aries Espino and Kelsy Cuenca, who energized the room with interactive activities. A historic addition to this year’s LSMS was CFBCI’s first-ever Mandarin Class, conducted by the HSK Learning Center, which introduced scholars to basic greetings, cultural insights, and the heritage behind Chinese language and traditions.

The seminar’s main highlight was the motivational talk by CFBCI Batch 2024 alumnus Paul Ediver Villa. He guided scholars through positive and negative visualization, showing how both can support success when balanced with preparation. Villa explained “defensive pessimism” as a strategic mindset that turns overthinking into constructive planning, helping individuals anticipate challenges and strengthen emotional resilience. He also cautioned against blind optimism, noting that hope must be paired with deliberate action.

Mr. Villa detailed five benefits of defensive pessimism: emotional desensitization to failure, better strategic planning, a stronger sense of control, more intentional behavior, and increased gratitude, along with important reminders to avoid negative self-talk, stay grounded in reality, focus on controllable factors, and prevent over-analysis. Scholars later shared their reflections, expressing gratitude and renewed motivation after the talk.

In celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the event concluded with a lively traditional Dice Game, where scholars enjoyed friendly competition and won prizes ranging from cash to mooncakes. A closing prayer by Dan Lloyd Reyes Manalo and a communal lunch brought the seminar to a warm close, leaving participants with not only valuable insights but also a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.

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、全面發展，於二〇二五年十月十九日（星期日）上午，在本會八樓禮堂舉辦十月份修養講座。本次活動共有一百十一名受助生及學友會成員參加；本會理事長黃書瑋，執行副理事長曾國強，文教委員會主任曾煥眉董事，副主任留牡丹及理事張其安等領導親臨指導。
活動於上午七時四十分準時開始，受助生們與本會領導齊聚一堂。會前，本會文教委員會主任曾煥眉勉勵受助生們以紀律、自律與守時為立身之本，強調「準時不僅是時間觀念，更是對學習、對他人、對自我成長的尊重與重視」。

隨後，由描東岸省立大學主校區學生Mariel Necerio Calahati帶領開幕祈禱，全體與會者共同以感恩的心迎接學習，接著肅立奏唱菲律濱國歌，場面莊嚴且充滿團結力量。主持人Aries Espino與Kelsy Cuenca以活潑生動的方式帶領受助生們進行破冰與活力舞蹈，整個禮堂笑聲與掌聲不斷，完美展現本會「寓教於樂」的精神。主持人並特別致謝在場的本會領導同仁，感謝他們對受助生們的關懷與支持。

本次修養講座首次邀請HSK中文學習中心的劉斌老師和李潤月老師教華語日常問候語，同時講解漢字演變及中華傳統節慶等。受助生們興致勃勃，不僅學會基本語言交流，也透過課程了解多元文化與歷史底蘊，培養國際視野與跨文化理解能力。

十月講座是由二零二四年度「點亮未來」助學方案畢業於菲律濱理工大學心理學系榮獲優等成績畢業生、學友會成員 Paul Ediver Villa 主講，他以「過度思考者的心智力量：從想像失敗走向成功（Overthinker Yern? The Psychology of Visualizing Failure to Achieve Success）」為主題，與學員個探討如何將恐懼與疑慮轉化為準備與成長的動力。

Paul以幽默且真誠的風格，引導受助生們反思自己的願景板與目標，並介紹正向視覺化與反向視覺化的心理技巧。他提出「防衛性悲觀主義」的概念，強調過度思考若能善加引導，可以轉化為策略性思維與心理韌性。他提醒大家：「沒有行動的樂觀，只是幻想」。並詳細分享了防衛性悲觀主義的五大好處：首先，它能降低對失敗的敏感度，讓人情緒更加堅韌；其次，能幫助策略規劃，及早辨識下一步行動；第三，增強掌控感，尤其在不確定的情況下更顯重要；第四，能引導行為與決策，讓選擇更有意圖性；最後，它能提升 當下感與感恩心，因為覺察帶來珍惜與欣賞。

除了好處之外，Paul 也提醒大家在運用防衛性悲觀主義時需注意幾點：首先，要聚焦現實與可能性，以風險管理者的角度思考；其次，避免負面自我對話，因為這是一種掌控策略，而非自我批評；第三，專注於可控範圍，培養斯多葛式心態；最後，避免過度分析，否則反而會失去準備的效果。

整場講座深入淺出，現場受助生專注聆聽並踴躍提問，展現高度共鳴。Paul透過實例與互動，引導學生理解防衛性悲觀主義不只是消極心態，而是一種能讓人更有效率、更理性面對挑戰的心理智慧工具。講座不僅提供實用心理技巧，也鼓勵學生將思考轉化為行動，提升心理韌性與自我掌控感。講座結束後，新進受助生們分享心得，表達感謝與學習啟發。

隨後，以傳統「博狀元擲骰子遊戲」慶祝中秋佳節，現場骰子聲與歡呼聲此起彼落，獎品有現金、食品、物品、毛絨玩具及月餅等，氣氛熱烈而溫馨，象徵團圓與吉祥。

活動最後，由描東岸省立大學Alangilan校區石油工程學學生Dan Lloyd Reyes Manalo帶領閉幕祈禱，感謝當日的學習、友誼與成長。全體受助生們與來賓共進午餐，透過交流與歡笑，為充實的一天畫下完美句點。

在此特別感謝以下領導、同仁贊助受助生博狀元活動：理事長黃書瑋，副理事長陳華民，董事曾煥眉、杜祖蔭、鄭奕偉，常務理事洪海濱、莊南文、顏漢龍、留牡丹、楊佳玲，理事張其安、許純維、楊錦程、葉俊龍、佘玲玲。

菲華工商總將持續秉持全人教育理念，以德育、智育與文化教育三軌並進，培養兼具品格、能力與胸懷的青年領袖，真正實踐「點亮未來，成就無限」的使命。

圖片說明：
上左圖：頒贈感謝獎予HSK中文學習中心老師。（左起）張其安，曾國強，黃書瑋，李潤月，劉斌，曾煥眉，留牡丹。
上右圖：頒贈感謝獎予十月修養講座主講人Paul Ediver Villa。
中圖一：受助生們在講座中與主講人互動。
下圖：受助生們歡慶中秋佳節，以傳統擲骰子「博餅」遊戲贏得獎金、獎品。