“When you come to a fork in the road—take it.” —Yogi BerraThere will always be many forks on the road of life. If you happen to stumble into the wrong direction, fear not, for life will present another path for you to head back toward the right course, but it is up to us to make that crucial decision to move forward.
Mistakes can still be corrected if one is willing to accept the initial consequences, heal from them, and move toward a new beginning. Surely, all the humbling pain is worth enduring if the correction leads back to the best outcome.
No doubt we have all experienced a hard stop in life because of the pandemic. We faced unfamiliar circumstances that changed the course of our lives, forcing us to dramatically shift to a new way of living.
Grabbing opportunities
Those who could not adjust well spiraled down into black holes, refusing to assess their other choices, while some were lucky to pivot and reinvent themselves. They grabbed the opportunity to grow and learn new skills and take on a more fulfilling life.
The latter is exactly what Kevin Yang and Sheila Lirio Marcelo did. Even before the pandemic, both already had an impressive history between them.
Kevin, a mobile app and cryptocurrency blockchain developer from Stanford University, helped build and scale McDelivery to over 10 million users.
Sheila is the founder of Care.com, a venture partner at New Enterprise Associates, and is one of the most successful Filipinas in Silicon Valley.
In December 2021, together with their outstanding team, they were able to start Metacrafters.io, a collaborative Web3 developer curriculum that lives within a multiplayer, learn-to-earn game. The platform provides high-quality education to users all across the world.
At the super futuristic launch at Green Sun, Metacrafters.io announced their pilot program with Yield Guild Games (YGG), a gaming guild that coordinates players around the world to earn crypto-based rewards in play-to-earn games. The pilot program will also give close to a thousand scholars access to its platform along with curriculum design from top Silicon Valley Web3 developers. Scholars are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as spots in the pilot program are limited.
Metacrafters is a multichain learn-to-earn game that teaches users to write smart contracts and build on-chain. It invites crafters to a world of wonder, growth and possibility where developers can access a world-class Web3 education with immediate earning and employment opportunities in the metaverse. It bridges education and an immersive gaming experience that brings the history and lore of blockchain to life.
With a learn-to-earn model, developers and engineers are offered grant-funded financial incentives to complete courses as they upskill from Web2 to Web3.
Glimpse of the future
After completing the course, gamers then receive Proof ofLearn, their “Digital Diploma,” to show their skills to other companies.
For example, if I pass the advanced blockchain program, I get my Proof of Learn from Metacrafters.io.
Lost between the crypto-this and Web3-that, I was mainly just there to support my most stylish BFF Cindy Yang, mother of Kevin.
I was so impressed with the incredibly awesome setup done by director Javi Martinez and the Yapparazzi Events Team. I saw a glimpse of the future at that launch.
I guess my metallic dress by fave designer Cherry Veric impressed Sheila that she even called me to the stage with actress Arci Muñoz. I was also happy to meet Gabby Dizon of YGG, one of the key players of the company. Gabby told me he used to work for INQ7, the now-dissolved digital platform of the Inquirer and GMA 7. What a small world!
The next day, I met more of the brightest stars of the future at an intimate brunch hosted by dynamic couple Ricco and Tina Ocampo. Sheila further explained the mechanics of the program there. She also shared her desire to give back by sponsoring top engineering scholars and future gamers who will change the world and uplift their families. They aim to help Filipinos become No. 1 creators in crypto.
“Why can’t Filipinos have a world-class education and earn while doing it. Filipinos shouldn’t have to choose between going to school versus earning an income with the new business model we are pioneering,” said Sheila.
Reconnecting
Sheila so inspired me to reconnect with my Red Charity Gala family so that we can start giving back again, especially after our lengthy exchange of ideas over some premium wine!
In our future galas, I will surely be serving Whispering Angel, a French wine that was recently launched in the country. Whispering Angel is known as one of the most versatile wines for pairings, as this delicate rosé wine has notes of red berry fruit with a floral nose. It’s dry, with great concentration and a smooth, round finish, making it easy to drink by beginners and wine experts alike.
Starting today, you can enjoy Whispering Angel at Mistral in Raffles Makati. Have some while you delve more into the world of cryptocurrency, and you’re sure to have a brain blast!
Income for small communities
As we approach the second half of 2022, I was thinking about my life goals. I have been desperately trying to clean up and renovate my house so I am so delighted to shop at The Fine Life Market (3 Brixton St. Kapitolyo, Pasig, 1603; email tflminquire@gmail.com; @thefinelifemarket on Instagram; The Fine Life Market on Facebook; thefinelifemarket.com), the new store of visual artist Martie Datu.
From her online business of candles and soaps, Martie opened her shop in Kapitolyo selling products that also provide income for small communities in Bicol, Romblon, Iloilo and La Union.
From her online shop atthefinelifemarket.com, Martie opened a one-stop shop of purposeful, beautiful and sustainable products for home and personal care, kitchen and Filipino home furnishings, and slow-living lifestyle products.
Building and growing a slow-living community that actively participates in a push for a more sustainable future. INQFollow @seaprincess888 on Instagram.