Photographer: John Gamalo

John Gamalo is a 3rd-year college student from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Manila pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcasting. While juggling corporate work and academics, he has maintained a current GPA of 1.19. John is currently working in a global financial firm as System Support Analyst I. He is currently the Chairperson of Sandigan ng Mag-aaral para sa Sambayanan-Polytechnic University of the Philippines-College of Communication (SAMASA-PUP-COC), a progressive student political alliance within the Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Manila, and has helped them grow from publishing targeted materials of political presentations and statement releases to ensure strategies, campaigns and public relations of the student political party through their official Facebook page.

As part of leading SAMASA PUP-COC, John has worked hard to drive a culture of launching consolidation events regarding mass orientation and online educational discussion festivals within the PUP-College of Communication (COC) to promote active democratic citizenship, the press freedom, and other civic engagements of the academe.