Angelo Valencia

⚒️ What do you do?

Currently, Board Director of a publicly listed company Nickel Asia Corporation, one of Asia Best Managed Companies 2023, also for public regulated companies - GR Bank, Inc, - Central Luzon Philippines biggest Rural Community Bank & Country Bankers Insurance Group. In these companies, I sit as an Independent Director. 

I also serve as Food Security, Education, and Environmental Stewardship Adviser, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Senior Fellow at the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), a Lecturer at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Command Staff Graduate Course, and a Senior Advisor to the NOLCOM Heroes Foundation, Philippine Marine Corps, the Philippine Air Force, and AFP Leadership Development Center and a Senior Partner at the Sed Lex Corporate Legal Advisory Group and Managing Director of Community Sustainability Ventures, Inc. 

🏆 What is your proudest achievement?
Approximately 12 years ago, I narrowly escaped death while diving 156 feet beneath the Sulu Sea. This event had a profound impact redirecting the course of one’s life and career.

Community building became my primary focus to synergize corporate work with community empowerment.

One of the endeavors was called Klasrums ng Pag Asa (Classrooms of Hope), involving the construction of classrooms in the Cordilleras, Palawan, Maguindanao, Basilan, Tawi Tawi and Sulu regions of the Philippines.

We also partner with corporations to encourage their own initiatives.  

⌛ There are now 25 hours in a day! How do you spend your extra hour?
I would spend it at The Nest or at the Tibby's AgroForest Farm in Angeles, Pampanga, Philippines, where we can unwind, put my feet up, and enjoy a moment of relaxation to recharge our batteries for the journey ahead.

I find great pleasure in using this time to plan and foster meaningful connections with family and within communities and the corporate sector at our Carbon Capture Based Camp amidst Green, Renewables and Nature. 

🚀 If you weren't a lawyer, what would you do?
Probably doing exactly what I’m doing right now, but without the title of an attorney. More of a Teacher, Mentor and Social Entrepreneur. While I was trained as a Lawyer, I am also not only Operations Honed but a Community Builder by Heart, Farmer by Nature. What matters most to the community and country, is to bring people and the community from where they are to where they should be in a sustainable manner. 

😋 Your favourite food haunt (bonus points if it's off the beaten track!)
Recently while I was in Singapore, I craved for pansit (a local stir-fried noodle dish with vegetables) and adobo (the national dish of the Philippines), and ended up in Kabayan Restaurant at the Lucky Plaza, Orchard Singapore. Panalo!  

Other than that at 1798 Lifestyle Studio, Pampanga, Philippines.  

*Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.