Manila, Philippines – “We are young / So let’s set the world on fire / We can burn brighter / Than the sun” – American band Fun was spot on in describing the youth’s passion to burn bright. As they strive to stand out, the young are unafraid to try different things – from edgy clothes and flashy hairstyles, to extreme sports and adventures.
Five young ladies and gentlemen, however, showed how standing out can take a more meaningful level. Hailed as the faces of the Nokia Asha 501 Power Standouts campaign, they were honoured for pursuing their passions, and in so doing, changing other people’s lives.
For instance, Emmanuel Bagual, stepped up to advocate children’s welfare, and founded the MY Rights (Mind Your Rights) youth program. MY Rights soon earned him a nomination for Nobel Peace Prize for children’s rights.
For her part, Lian Melegrito steered the University of the Philippines Pep Squad to championships, by leading them in long days of rigorous training. It was then a sweet victory not just for herself or for her team, but the entire UP community as well.
He makes people smile, laugh or cry, and sometimes, even breaks their hearts – theater actor Fredison Lo entertains the audience through his performances and makes sure he does not leave the stage without touching their hearts. For Fredison, theater is a venue for educating and inspiring people, and transporting them to the places in their dreams.
Meanwhile, scholar Charls Katipunan holds the mantra “Believe that you can and you will” in his heart, as he tries to overcome life’s hurdles. Amid a sea of books and schoolwork, he gets by with the unwavering support of his family and the fervent hope to finish his studies and uplift his loved ones from poverty.
Finally, being able to do what she loves and inspire others at the same time makes Michele Gumabao thankful for her volleyball career. Bagging the finals MVP trophy in the UAAP Women’s Volleyball is simply a cherry on top. With every spike and serve of the volleyball, Michele inspires others to relentlessly pursue their interests.
Emmanuel, Lian, Fredison, Charls and Michele all make good use of their passion and strengths to stand out among the rest, embodying the vigor that the youth has always shown when they commit to a vision.
As they go about chasing their dreams, the youth can find their perfect partner in the Nokia Asha 501 which bears the hallmark of Nokia’s smartphone innovation. Looking sleek but fun in its colorful, vibrant shells, the dual-SIM Nokia Asha 501 snugly fits in the palm of one’s hand. In addition, it comes with the proprietary Fastlane feature that allows users to view their activities in just one swipe.