New Lifers Innovate at Tao Ke Business Summit 2026
Grades 10 and 11 students of MGC New Life Christian Academy (MGCNLCA) showcased their entrepreneurial skills by presenting sustainable business concepts at the Tao Ke Business Summit, held at Jubilee Christian Academy (JCA) last January 9.
First established by JCA in 2021, the conference is held annually to unite aspiring entrepreneurs, providing them with opportunities to create solutions to environmental, economic, and social challenges.
Guided by the theme, “The Future is U: Unleash Vision and Potential,” the event allowed participants to hear from distinguished speakers who shared about building a brand that matters. The speakers included Jayson Logan Lo, creator of the YOUnique DISC Styles; Raizelle So Villacin, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy & Creative Officer of SVEN; and Dr. Ahmed Meandahawi, adjunct professor in the Financial Management Department of Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business and De La Salle University-Manila.
Sixteen groups of students from across the Philippines developed business pitches centered on unique value propositions and honed their innovation and collaboration skills through a three-minute presentation of their business pitch to a panel of three judges.
From MGCNLCA’s delegation of three groups, the team Quintessence, composed of Grade 11’s Drew Kenzo Chua, Rafael Joaquin Hilario, Sydney Paige Pesengco, Samuel Wang, and Carlisle Alfred Yu, was recognized with the Unique Value Proposition Award for their pitch BioBricks, which converts rice waste into fuel bricks.
Meanwhile, the team GNARLY, made up of the Grade 10 team of Sofia Eunice Ang, Jheanne Aubrey Chan, Alyssa Ying Xuan Lim, Anne Charlotte Paw, and Brielle Marquisha Pua, was recognized for their pitch GaiaWrap, a seaweed-based biodegradable alternative to plastic wraps that is entirely compostable.
The last participating team, Moo-Ving Forward, consisted of members Yejoon Cho, Soleil Dionisio, Ralph Jacob Fontarum, Christian Lucas Garcia, and Jairus Jacob Lee from Grade 11, who presented a packaging concept that utilizes cinnamon as a sustainable raw material.
“At first, I just wanted to step out of my comfort zone, but as the competition approached, I was motivated to create a solution [that addresses] a real problem in the Philippines,” Pesengco shared. “I learned that ideas are only the start, [as] real impact comes from making [those ideas] achievable, communicating clearly with your team, and grounding solutions in the community’s real needs.”
“Through this event, we hope our students will gain confidence in presenting and defending their products, connect and exchange ideas with other business-minded peers, measure themselves against students from other schools, and strengthen bonds within their own teams as they tackle challenges together under time constraints,” reflected Accounting Business and Management Strand Coordinator Daniel Dionisio Jr., who accompanied the students to the summit.
