MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay once famously gave unsolicited advice to then presidential candidate, now President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.
It would be good, Binay said, if Aquino underwent training at John Robert Powers to work on his personality and leadership skills.
Binay, himself, had earlier taken an intensive course at John Robert Powers.
“For two months, he spent his weekends attending customized classes on the basics such as poise, bearing and projection,” JRP international director, Marivic Padilla-Catala, relates. “He picked up pointers on public speaking. He even learned how to walk.” Of course, you’d think, with his many years in public service, he had already mastered all of these. But his one-on-one sessions at John Robert Powers gave him new-found confidence.
While John Robert Powers places emphasis on image enhancement, communication and visual poise, “all our courses are anchored on personal growth,” says JRP curriculum director Ricardo Santos. “At the core of all these is our personality development program. We help our students gain confidence and boost their self-esteem.”
“This is what sets us apart,” Padilla remarks. “You can take workshops here and there, on how to walk or how to speak well, but it won’t be effective if you don’t have self-confidence.”
JRP follows a core curriculum developed by its founder, John Robert Powers who believed in every person’s “inner beauty.” The pioneering modeling agency, which he founded in the US in the 1920s, eventually evolved into a personality development school. The long list of prominent personalities who received the unique John Robert Powers training include Jackie Kennedy, Princess Grace of Monaco and Betty Ford. More recently, the names of popular celebrities Katie Holmes and Ashton Kutcher have been added to the list.
“We have the heritage,” Santos says. “We have a whole system. We have the best tools, the best learning materials, the best techniques, the best people.” They also have an international network, with JRP Philippines serving as the model for the region. At the end of the course, you get a certificate from a recognized institution. It would be difficult for others to match these credentials. There are those that may claim to offer similar courses, but there is no substitute for the original.
At JRP, it’s a total package that aims to produce well-rounded individuals. The courses are progressive in nature, building on one level to the next. The curriculum is unique as well as flexible and adaptable to all age groups and motivations. “Our programs are tailored to fit and meet the student’s needs,” Padilla says.
“Consultations are conducted at the start to guarantee that the sessions given are relevant to their requirements.”
Students are asked to accomplish a pre- and post-self-assessment form where they indicate their level of agreement to statements such as: “I know what I want in life”; “I can easily talk with other people even if I don’t know them well”; “I know what clothes look best on me”; “I know how to listen; I am happy the way I am right now.” “It is an effective tool for self-discovery,” Santos says. “It also helps them gauge how much they have improved by the end of the course.”
“Before, it was a struggle for me just to go out and socialize, to make friends, to maintain relationships, even speaking before people,” Vincent Revo Dunca, a JRP graduate, relates. “JRP helped to remove all the confusion. I learned techniques I can use, but not only that. They really build your character, your core. I took what I learned from the class and took it to the world. And when I did that, I noticed people responding differently.”
A strong motivation is the desire for change. “There is the recognition that there is something lacking. There is something they want to work on,” Santos remarks. “At the end of the day, the change will come from them. They make the decision to change.”
Students start with the basics. They are taught how to walk in a room with floor to ceiling mirrors. But it’s more than just a model’s walk. It is called the Powers Glide. This is unique to JRP. There are classes in good grooming, wardrobe, skin care, makeup and hairstyle.
There are also classes in social graces as well as communication skills. For those on the celebrity track, students learn hosting, runway modeling and acting, while those on the executive track learn negotiation and presentation skills, problem solving and decision-making.
During the summer school break, many teens and pre-teens come to enroll. It’s an option. Your child can take up swimming or acting lessons or ballet. Or they can enroll at JRP. Verniece Enciso, 16 years old, relates her experience: “I came every day for summer class. I really enjoyed it. I met a lot of people, learned new skills, new techniques. And I can see I am really going to use it in the future.
“Of course, one of the most memorable was when I joined the summer showcase. It was my first time to do a runway. It was really challenging and I was nervous but in the end, I enjoyed it.”
“It’s an investment,” Padilla says. “It’s a skill that you bring with you for the rest of your life. Basically, what we teach are survival skills. In life, you have your ups and downs. How do you deal with rejection? How do you develop a good attitude? These are disciplines that we instill in our students that become habits. It’s a continuing program that does not stop just because summer is over. They can come back. It has lifetime benefits. They become part of the JRP family.”
* * *
Enrollment is ongoing. John Robert Powers schools are located at the fourth floor, Casmer Bldg., 195 Salcedo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City, tel. no. 892-9511; ground floor, Cinderella Bldg., 825 EDSA, QC, tel. no. 927-0465; second floor, JJACCIS Bldg., 1208 Acacia Ave., Madrigal Business Park, Alabang, Muntinlupa City, tel. no. 659-0052. For information, visit www.johnrobertpowers.com.