In the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC

Truly, everything starts with a dream and one works hard for it until it becomes a reality.
I was born the youngest of seven children on August 11, 1979 of then Region VI Assemblyman Niel D. Tupas and Mrs. Myrna Causing-Tupas in Iloilo City. My parents are natives of the Municipality of Barotac Viejo. It is a peaceful, quiet small town in the northern area of the Province of Iloilo.
I lived in Iloilo Province and Iloilo City until I was three years old. My parents then decided to send me to Metro Manila schools and universities starting at Kindergarden until college.
My dream way back when I was two years old was to become a commercial airline pilot. I eventually let go of that dream due to the costs of pilot school and the need for a 20-20 vision. Never had I though that the dream of becoming a pilot was because I wanted to lead groups of people and let them trust their lives to me. Also, maybe it was because I wanted to bring people to different places and probably because I also enjoying travelling.
Fastforward 27 years after that little boy’s dream, I am now the youngest City Official of a highly urbanized city, Iloilo City and also a media personality with TV and Radio programs as well as a newspaper column. I have also finished a masters degree and in less than a year will hopefully earn my doctorate degree. I might not have become a commercial airline pilot but have become a pilot of communities, sectors and peoples. A young voice dedicated to excellent genuine public service and I am hoping to serve as a glimmer of hope and inspiration to many young people and the young at heart.
My work not only as public servant, media personality and entrepreneur but also as a national officer of a youth political party has brought me to differnet parts of the globe such as Asia, America and Europe. It has made me mingle with different cultures and nationalities. It has broadened my mind and perspectives in life.
Recently, I was chosen as one of the 75 participants/delegatees among over 800 applicants from 55 countries to become part of the United Nations by invitation only Global Intergenerational Leadership Forum. The topic focused on Human Rights and The Millenium Development Goals. I surely learned a lot from the forum and it has given me skills that could help me perform my duties well…More than the learnings, I also gained an “international family” that make one a global citizen.
In my free time, I also took the opportunity to meet up with old friends from high school, college, Manila and Iloilo who are residing and working in the US of A. It was a great reunion of sorts and truly Filipinos wherever they are bring the warmth and hospitality we are known for.
Up to this day, I feel like I am still dreaming of what has transpired and of who I became…Who would believe that a small town boy could become a global man.