Building a Nation Through Business: Highlights from JCI Manila’s Business Beyond Limits

Dan Michael Gallego
April 4, 2025
 

When you think of entrepreneurship and the digital marketing world, one name probably pops up for many millennials—Dir. Sean Si. For years, this man has been making waves, from his obsession with SEO to becoming known as “Mr. CEO at 22” and the mastermind behind SEO Hacker. Dir. Sean’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming an icon of digital marketing has inspired countless young entrepreneurs, and today, he’s taking his passion for business and knowledge-sharing to new heights with JCI Manila.

From publishing blogs on SEO to creating YouTube videos and even writing a book on digital marketing, Dir. Sean’s energy and thirst for learning has always been contagious. He quickly became the go-to person for all things online business. Now, he’s not only a digital marketing guru but also a proud member of JCI Manila, where he serves as the Director for Local Organization Management and Business Development in 2025. It’s not just a title for him—it’s a platform to spread his entrepreneurial spirit to the next generation of leaders.

Kicking off the JCI Week with a bang, the Local Organization Management and Business Development spearheaded JCI Manila’s Business Beyond Limits, an event designed to challenge the status quo and push entrepreneurs to think bigger, dream bolder, and act smarter. On April 4, 2025, over 400 attendees—entrepreneurs, corporate professionals, and future business leaders—gathered at the SMX Convention Center in Taguig for what was the most impactful entrepreneurship event organized by JCI Manila yet. The diverse crowd, united by their ambition, was treated to a series of powerful talks from some of the brightest minds in business today.

The event got off to a strong start with Anthony Pangilinan, a management consultant, and professional coach, who inspired everyone to rethink how they empower their teams and organizations. His talk wasn’t just about management; it was about creating a culture of success that gets everyone on board and ready to conquer challenges.

Then, motivational speaker Jayson Lo took the stage with a talk titled “Understanding Others by Understanding You.” He introduced us to four personality types—The Dominant Eagle, The Influential Rooster, The Steady Carabao, and The Corrective Tarsier. With humor and a bit of self-reflection, Jayson had the audience asking, “Which one am I?” His session was a fun deep dive into understanding ourselves and others to work better together. He reminded everyone, “Understanding others starts with understanding yourself.”

Then came Chinkee Tan, the ever-energetic wealth coach and motivational speaker, didn’t just take the stage—he owned it. With his signature blend of humor, real talk, and tough love, Chinkee had the audience laughing, nodding, and taking mental notes like their financial futures depended on it (which, to be fair, they probably did). He dropped some serious wisdom, reminding everyone that “it’s not how much you earn, it’s how much you save and grow.” His message was clear: financial discipline is key, and the habit of paying yourself first is non-negotiable if you want to build wealth.

More than just numbers and spreadsheets, Chinkee challenged mindsets. “Money should be a tool, not a master,” he declared, pointing out how easily we let our income dictate our happiness. He encouraged the crowd to reframe their view of money—not as the goal, but as a means to achieve a purpose. His talk hit hardest when he said, “Delayed gratification is the secret sauce of the wealthy.” In a world of instant everything, this hit home. Instead of chasing every shiny new thing, Chinkee urged everyone to think long-term, track expenses, invest in income-generating opportunities, and focus on growth.

And the best part? He didn’t leave them hanging. He plugged his own YouTube channel, where anyone can binge on bite-sized financial wisdom for free—because if there’s one thing Chinkee Tan believes in, it’s that everyone deserves to be money-wise and future-ready.

Next up was our very own Dir. Sean Si, who gave us a peek behind the curtain at his own entrepreneurial journey. Drawing from over a decade of building teams and scaling businesses, he dropped lessons you don’t learn in school: “Be very clear on who you want to let in your house when hiring,” he shared. “Make sure the job description, expectations, and what winning looks like is laid out clearly in an easy-to-understand fashion.”

On onboarding, he didn’t mince words: “Give your new hires the maximum amount of push and sprint during their onboarding week—their first two weeks with you. This will dictate the pace of their career.” But what truly hit home was his advice on culture: “Be very intentional about your culture. Culture wins industries.” He emphasized that the unity of a team—having one vision and moving in one direction together—is what separates the good from the great.

The event also featured Steve Sy, the e-commerce genius and CEO of Great Deals E-commerce Corporation. Steve shared his insider knowledge of the fast-moving world of digital commerce, offering insights on how to stay ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving industry. Francis Kong, one of the Philippines’ most influential motivational speakers, added a bit of wisdom and life lessons, mixing stories with practical advice that had everyone thinking about how they can apply these lessons to both their business and personal lives.

Finally, Carlo Ople wrapped things up with his session on digital marketing, where he talked about the importance of purpose, growth, work-life balance, and recognition in keeping employees motivated and engaged – reminding all of us that in this fast-paced world, what keeps people going is knowing they’re valued, growing, and aligned with a mission bigger than themselves.

He left the audience with a powerful message from his late grandfather, Blas Ople: “The world is moving, you can’t just stay there.” It was a reminder to everyone that in the business world, if you don’t keep up, you’ll be left behind.

And behind this spectacular event was an equally stellar team who made it all happen. Chairman Anthony Laborte ensured the program ran seamlessly from start to finish, keeping the momentum alive and the crowd engaged. Supporting him were the Business/LOM Commissioners: Richmond Fang, Patrick Tiu, Jerome Chua, Janryck Martin Lim, and Mark Peñafiel, who each brought energy, creativity, and dedication to the table. The Commissioners: Mike Gallego and Dave Mariano provided valuable support and execution expertise, while Committee Members: Euson Go and Joseph Daniel Mercado rounded out the powerhouse team that worked tirelessly behind the scenes

Business Beyond Limits wasn’t just another business event—it was a game-changer. It was a vibrant, high-energy experience that pushed attendees to think bigger, act bolder, and keep growing. JCI Manila continues to prove its commitment to fostering entrepreneurial growth and empowering young leaders. With events like Business Beyond Limits, JCI Manila is paving the way for the future of Philippine entrepreneurship, shaping leaders who are ready to make a lasting impact on the business landscape.

The success of Business Beyond Limits would not have been possible without the invaluable support of its generous sponsors. Their commitment to empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders reflects the very spirit of the event. PHINMA Properties, Philippine Wine Merchants, Bank of Makati, PowerHouse Tools, Melvin Lim, Flooring Solutions Philippines: Epoxy, Polyurethane and MMA, GRUPP Inc., and FoodTray2Go played key roles in bringing this vision to life. Additional partners including Pacific Union Insurance, Stelsen Integrated Systems Inc., Arca Galleon Agriventures, Inc., Triple Tech Pumps, Ford Tractor Philippines, SEO Hacker, and Sigil Digital Marketing also contributed significantly to ensuring a seamless and impactful program. Their support is a testament to how shared values and strong partnerships can truly elevate an initiative that aims to go beyond limits.