Ideas worth spreading

CEBU, Philippines – A conference in the spirit of the mission "ideas worth spreading" was held recently at CAP Center Cebu, on August 1. It was called TEDx Southwestern University, organized under TED permit and made possible by the independent coordination and planning of volunteers and organizers from Southwestern University.

TED is a non-profit organization devoted to spreading ideas usually in the form of short, powerful talks, running18 minutes or less. Its beginning dates back to 1984, as a conference for techonology, entertainment, and design to converge. Today a TED conference covers almost all topics - from science to business to global issues - in more than 100 languages. TEDx events are held to help share ideas in communities around the world.

Guided by TED's mission, TEDx was born, in support to independent organizers who want to organize TED-like events in their community. The TEDx Program is designed to help communities, organizations and individuals to spark conversations and connection through local TED-like experiences. TEDx events are planned and coordinated independently, on a community-by-community basis, under a free license from TED.

TEDx Southwestern University gathered six local speakers who presented their ideas on diverse topics along the theme "The Pale Blue Dot," which is based on a speech by the renowned cosmologist Carl Sagan who had emphasized the value of the human home, Earth. The speakers were Matthew Reyes Basabe, Rex RietaVillavelez, Jossy Onwude, Karl Archuleta, Justine Balane, and Salvador Odilao Jr.

The attendees, numbering about a hundred as restricted in respect to the level of license permitted by TED, were screened beforehand based on their application forms which were distributed at TEDx Booths. The event was by-invitation-only and exclusive to Southwesterners. Invited guests include the university administrators, deans, faculties, and student leaders from different departments.

TEDx Southwestern University was organized with the aim of encouraging more intellectual events, not only in Southwestern University but in other universities as well. The organizers of the event invite other universities to join the TEDx community and to propagate the spirit of "ideas worth spreading."