MANILA, Philippines - How do you raise youngsters into happy well-adjusted adults in a highly competitive and stressful world?
This is the question that guided former Hong Kong-based human resource consultant Pia Acevedo and television personality Pia Magalona in forming One Core, a personality development enterprise that promises a preventive rather than a curative approach in dealing with life problems.
Twelve years ago, Acevedo worked as a relationship expert specializing in conflict management in corporations. During her sessions with clients, she discovered that most of them were unhappy in their jobs because they have either made wrong career decisions or were unsure of their direction in life, problems that could have been remedied when they were younger.
“Their problems were so complex already because they have made wrong decisions already. So I said why not go back to (the problems of) young people?” Acevedo said.
Acevedo saw the same dilemma among students when she returned to the country to work as director of the Ateneo de Manila Office of Student Activities.
“I saw that most graduates don’t know what to do. Some kids tell me they are living their parents’ life,” she said.
Acevedo then was a consultant in The Love Institute, a relationship management enterprise.
The idea to create One Core came when Acevedo met Magalona in a taping of the magazine show The Sweet Life, where they were invited to talk about raising daughters.
Acevedo recalled being impressed with Pia’s relationship with her daughter, Saab.
“She and Saab were so calm at the set, doing their own make up, unlike the other guests who were fussing,” she said. “All her kids are so down-to-earth.”
Pia, on the other hand, was amazed upon learning from Acevedo that she has actually been using scientifically proven methods in raising her eight children.
“Talking to Pia (Acevedo), I discovered that the methods I’ve been using to raise my family have names. Having children at a young age, I did it like hit or miss, but eventually, I came up with a system so I won’t lose my mind,” she laughed.
Sometime after their initial meeting, Acevedo and Magalona decided to create programs that will prepare students for real life.
“I got dissatisfied with the consultancy job because the problems are already there. You are just troubleshooting the problems. And these were people who used to be very idealistic. After college, there is very little help. There are no more organizations to support you,” Acevedo said.
In June 2009, Acevedo and Magalona founded One Core to complement the relationship management services provided by The Love Institute.
It currently has around six programs. It’s pilot program, Discover Your Core, was designed to help graduating students find their career focus. Born to be a Hero, conceptualized after the onslaught of typhoon Ondoy in September last year, was designed to strengthen leadership skills and to train clients to respond to physical or emotional crisis. It’s Torch program was created for young adults aged 14 to 18 to help them achieve greater self-awareness and develop character.
“The goal of the programs is to make people like being around you,” Acevedo said.
One Core also has unconventional, but equally interesting programs. Emancipate is a course created to guide homosexuals in finding the right partner they can spend the rest of their life with. Acevedo, however, stressed that the program promotes monogamy.
One of the best selling program, according to Magalona, is the Anchor program, which teaches the use of sexuality and sensuality to succeed in life endeavors.
The programs typically run five to six weeks, with two to three hours devoted to each session scheduled once a week.
Plenary sessions are held with a maximum number of only seven clients per session.
After each session, clients are encouraged to see their individual coaches who will give them homework. A follow up consultation will be scheduled after a week.
One Core also observes strict confidentiality in dealing with their clients
especially because most of them are prominent personalities.
The annual membership fee for students is P1500; professional clients are charged P2500. Classes per session and one on one counseling are charged P500 for student members and P900 for non-members. Professional members are charged P750 per session while non-members are charged P1,200.
Acevedo and Magalona’s partnership is a marriage of the heart and mind. Before starting One Core, they conducted trial sessions with friends, analyzing and feeling their way into programs that will work.
“Pia (Acevedo) is the structural part of One Core. I’m the inspirational part,” Magalona said. “My job is to affirm that the methods work based on my experiences.”
Last year, Magalona lost her husband, actor and rapper Francis Magalona, to leukemia. Raising eight children all by herself now, she discovered that parents have to open up their communication lines with their children.
“I tell my kids to find out what you’re passionate about. And I tell them: gawin natin ang magagawa natin para masuportahan,” she said. “I also want them to have stronger ties with their families. The parents should make sure that their kids are getting enough attention. I grew up na when I need something, I call my dad’s secretary,” she said.
Acevedo says young people should be taught to open up to their parents about their aspirations.
“It has been a dream to go this route because when you equip the youth with skills and teach them how to talk to their parents, they can communicate,” she said.
Despite having structured programs, One Core still tailors the programs to their clients’ needs.
Acevedo shares that there have been cases needing negotiations with parents to resolve the child’s inner conflict. This happens a lot especially to children trained to handle the family business in the future but are hesitant to do so.
“It becomes a burden for them. So we determine the parameters. We tell the parent not to talk to their child first or the child not to talk to their parent first. The next conversation you will have will be in this room. We first target what should be repaired first,” she said.
Acevedo and Magalona are confident that their fledgling enterprise will succeed in a society that does not rely heavily on professional therapists.
Acevedo believes professional coaching can actually strengthen family ties.
“This not just a business. It’s a passion. A lot of young adults don’t want to be like their parents. We want them to make better decisions,” she said” There is a clear sense of urgency. A lot of families are not happy. These families are raising unhappy children.”
One Core has tied up with major universities in Metro Manila such as
Xavier School, St. Paul College. Miriam College, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, University of the Philippines, and University of Santo Tomas.
It has also tied up with the Department of Education to conduct trainings in 600 other private and public schools nationwide.
Interested parties may visit its main office at Unit 302 3/F MQI Center #42 E. Abada corner R. Alvero St. Loyola Heights Quezon City, call 436 41 43, or visit its website at www.theonecore.com.