From potential to reality: Cebu leads movement through skateboarding, music and connection
CEBU, Philippines — From the thunder of skateboard wheels against concrete ramps to the roar of concertgoers singing in unison late into the night, Talisay City became a living showcase of Filipino talent, youth culture and digital empowerment as Converge ICT Solutions brought its XPONENTIAL Tour: Live to the Power of X to Cebu on May 31.
More than a one-day event, the XPONENTIAL Tour transformed the city into a community-driven stage where skateboarding, music, technology and creativity collided. It was a celebration of momentum in motion—a reflection of how local talent can grow, connect and thrive when given the right opportunities and infrastructure.
As the first stop of Converge's nationwide XPONENTIALS campaign, Cebu was a natural choice. The province has long been recognized as a hub of creativity, entrepreneurship and digital innovation. Home to a growing community of creators, gamers, freelancers, remote workers, entrepreneurs and artists, Cebu represents the intersection of deep-rooted culture and modern digital lifestyles.
"Cebu is really a great blend of deep culture and digital lifestyle," said Orange Ramirez, VP and Head of Brand and Marketing of Converge ICT Solutions.
"We have a lot of digital creators, we have gamers, we have workers. That's a lot of native talent that we just really need to support and give the connection that they all deserve. Kaya, why not?," she added.
That belief served as the foundation of the XPONENTIALS movement—a platform designed to amplify Filipino potential and transform local stories into real-world cultural activations.
At the heart of the campaign is the idea that X represents possibilities—the opportunities that emerge when talent, passion and connectivity come together.
Through XPONENTIALS, Converge seeks to empower individuals and communities to live to the power of their own "X," turning potential into reality and opening doors to new experiences, careers and connections.
Cebu as the starting point of momentum
The day began with a launch press conference at Talisay City Skate Park, where Converge executives formally introduced Cebu as the first-ever stop of the XPONENTIAL Tour.
Joining Ramirez were Sandra Tubale-Dingal, AVP and Head of Consumer Segment Marketing; Geovani Jayme, Regional General Manager for Visayas; and Burt Dimaunahan, General Manager of JFiber.
During the presentation, Tubale-Dingal highlighted the Philippine creative economy's contribution of P1.94 trillion and noted Cebu's substantial 7.3% contribution to that figure, underscoring the province's role as one of the country's leading centers of innovation and creativity.
"We're not here today to reinvent anything," Tubale-Dingal said. "We're here today to support you… because more than ever, this is the moment you need an infrastructure that can keep up with your needs."
For Converge, Cebu already embodies the values behind XPONENTIALS as digital adoption in the island continues to accelerate, driven by demand for reliable, high-performance connectivity.
"The digital ecosystem in Cebu is no joke. It's really huge," Tubale-Dingal said, describing Cebuanos as "multi-role consumers"—people who can be remote workers during the day, content creators in the evening, gamers at night, and online shoppers throughout the week.
Meanwhile, Jayme emphasized Converge's long-standing commitment to expanding connectivity to underserved communities, particularly schools in remote areas.
"With the vision of our Converge ICT Solutions Inc. CEO and Co-founder, Dennis Anthony Uy, to serve the underserved, we have several partnerships with LGUs, especially schools that are far-flung," Jayme said. "We have provided internet connection to ensure that students from those areas stay connected and they don't get left behind.”
The message was clear—connectivity is no longer simply about internet speed. It is about creating opportunities, empowering communities and ensuring that talent can flourish regardless of geography.
Bringing Filipino talent from story to streets
Following the press conference, the XPONENTIALS campaign moved into action with the Skate Xperience competition at Talisay City Skate Park, bringing together skateboarders and surfskaters from Cebu and neighboring provinces. The event featured five divisions and drew both onsite spectators and online viewers through Converge Super FiberX connectivity.
Leading the event was Olympic skateboarder Margielyn Didal, who embodied XPONENTIALS’ mission of turning potential into reality.
“Partnerships like this help athletes extend their impact beyond competitions by giving them a platform to share stories, inspire younger generations and connect with communities nationwide,” she said.
Didal shared how digital access played a key role in her growth, allowing her to learn new techniques, study professionals and connect with the wider skateboarding community through online resources.
“Skateboarding connects people from different places and backgrounds,” Didal said. “We may speak different languages, but we share the same passion, and through skateboarding we understand each other.”
Encouraging aspiring athletes, she added “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and pursue opportunities. Keep learning, keep practicing and continue believing in your passion because growth takes time.”
Cebu's best skaters take the spotlight
After hours of intense competition under the afternoon heat, Cebu's top skaters emerged victorious.
John Michael Abarca claimed the Men's Open Street Skateboarding championship, with Motic Panugalinog finishing second and Trunks Manalo securing third place.
In the Women's Open Street division, Sarah Laurente captured the title, followed by Queenxy Deiparine in second place and Kate Benolirao in third.
Mark Joseph Langbid delivered a strong performance to win the Class B Men's Open Street Skateboarding championship, while Harck Garcia and John Daniel Lacaron rounded out the podium.
Meanwhile, in the surfskate categories, Arnie John Sasil carved his way to the Men's Open Surfskate title ahead of John Louie Candare and Odilio Hermosa. In the Women's Open Surfskate division, Eunice Manugas emerged victorious, followed by Salome Casas and Maeghan Villanueva.
The soundtrack of momentum
As sunset painted the Cebu sky in shades of orange and gold, the spotlight shifted from skateboarding to music as the Music Xperience transformed Aulga Sports Gym into a celebration of local artistry.
Cebuano favorites Midnasty and Cookie$ delivered the soundtrack for the city's XPONENTIAL moment. Midnasty sent the crowd into a frenzy with fan favorites including "Pakilig," "Ilongga," "Bisag Asa," and "Cegurado," as concertgoers sang every lyric back to the stage. The energy surged even higher when Cookie$ took the stage, performing crowd favorites such as "Bisdako," "Sabak Daddy," and "Beplop."
Phones lit up the venue, friends danced shoulder-to-shoulder while bursts of water splashed through the air, drawing cheers and laughter from concertgoers. Voices echoed across the gym as the audience celebrated not only the music but also the community that had gathered around it.
During the concert, the day's skateboarding champions were formally recognized and awarded their trophies and cash prizes, bringing together the worlds of sport and music in one unforgettable experience.
The force powering every connection
By the end of the day, the XPONENTIAL Tour had become more than an event. It became a demonstration of what happens when infrastructure, opportunity and talent intersect.
From livestreams that extended the skateboarding competition beyond the venue, to creators building careers online, to young athletes learning through digital platforms, the event illustrated how connectivity can accelerate growth and expand possibilities.
For Converge, this is the true meaning of being connection-powered. Not simply delivering faster internet, but enabling people, passions and communities to scale beyond physical boundaries.
As the final song faded and the last skateboard rolled to a stop, Cebu's first XPONENTIAL Tour left behind a powerful reminder that potential exists everywhere. With the right support, the right platform and the right connections, that potential can become something much greater.
In Cebu, that transformation is already underway—and it is moving at an XPONENTIAL pace.
Editors Note: This press release for Converge is not covered by Philstar.com's editorial guidelines.
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