Tommy Ng: Bringing corporate singles together

Tommy Ng worked in various banks when he noticed that across the industry, 60 percent of employees are single. Tommy decided to resign and form his own business. He called the human resources officers he knew and told them that he was organizing an overnight outing for their unmarried employees. More than 100 participants sponsored by their companies joined the event. Since then, weekly get-togethers in a friend’s office have united the members. Entertainment with aspiring musicians, updated Facebook entries showing topics like “Pursue Love” featured in their gatherings: discussion, wannabe speakers practicing their talk in front of an audience and typhoon relief volunteers raise the interest of these happily single participants. Ng, 29, is regarded as the bond that keeps them moving forward. 

My first step was to look for financial partners and accounts. I called on friends who owned companies and let them know that I was organizing a conference to give their unmarried employee time to relax and enjoy meeting with other singles in the corporate world.

My work is about character development. I realized that the culture of a company forces employees to just go along with what is happening in their group. We need integrity to instill honesty and give people proper values sometimes by uncovering their fears.

The name of the company is Workplace of Winners. It is the informal name of the group.

We have employees… There are 20 members who cooperate to help each other. We have conducted two team buildings and hold values-formation workshops regularly.

What we do for others: We provide an avenue for them to learn and meet others. 

What they do for us: It provides a way to establish a network and improve in the area of public speaking.

A proud moment was when I was hired as a management trainee. Compared to my peers who were honor students and high achievers, I was an average student. After graduation I applied to a bank through Jobstreet.com. Five executives of the bank interviewed me. A year later, another offer came, which promoted me to a higher ranking, so I moved.

My next step is to organize a job fair. This October we are putting a job fair in CCF in St Francis Square, Ortigas.

Advice is easy to follow from motivational speakers. “It will be difficult at the start,” Mark Villareal told me. He conducts team building and selling skills. My current mentor tells me that I have already reached managerial rank, so at least, until that level, I have credibility.

One of my goals this year is to establish a coffee-shop business as part of my learning to share.

What makes me happy are people with changed lives and coming to know the Lord. They tell me how they now make decisions and priorities, plus the discipline that they are incorporating. A friend who used to take drugs had kept it a secret before and he whispered to me that after attending the conference, he was determined to stop. ?

One fear of mine is presenting in front of people.

What helped me to conquer fear is to practice and take the opportunity to speak in public.

Best quality about me: I have the patience to get to know people. In the events, I approach them with the intention of wanting to know how they feel and what they want to do.

A quality that I have been working to address is more discipline in exercise. Running with friends around UP and ULTRA — I want to do it more regularly. ?

The thing I’m hoping to buy next: I am not much into buying and very much involved in giving with The Orange Project Foundation, Inc. We cater to nine- to 13-year-olds from Angono, Rizal. We give monthly support and join their outreach. There are 200 children who live with their parents in the squatters and we provide stationary supplies and sometimes food.

A memorable place I have travelled to in the past year was our trip to Angono. The water was waist-deep. It was black water. Most of the people in the evacuation center were told that it would take about three to five months before the flood subsided. We used a banca to see the area. The people are restless, hungry, impatient. Last Saturday when we distributed lugaw, the people who formed a line were upset because the food was delayed. The lines became unruly, very crowded. The basketball court was holding about 300 people. People are anxious. ?

The best gift I have given recently is the time I work with Orange Project. We talk to babies and try to comfort the children.

And the best one I’ve received recently: My iPad 2. A family friend just gave it to me and I was surprised.

Beside my bed is my dad’s bed. My dad likes sleeping with open windows and I keep him company. I like being beside him.

In school, I learned to relate to people. I am friends with the studious and the crazy. I have extreme friends from Xavier and La Salle.

After being in business, I realized: Always try something new. ?

My talents include trying to get to know everyone. Give opportunities for others to show what they can do. If someone has the talent to play music, give him or her a chance to.

Good advice I have received is to learn and explore while you are still young.