Maria in Vancouver
Vancouver’s Top Pinoy Influencers
Photo courtesy of William Orsua
To be an influencer means you have to genuinely love and appreciate people before you can even think of leading them. Influencers are leaders with a vision. They are more than trendsetters — they live their lives according to their own rules. They set their rules. They set their goals. They walk their talk.
Influencers wake up every day to inspire and slay. They are credible storytellers; they share their stories with authenticity. They know how to communicate directly to their followers by being honest and real. Above all, influencers are hard workers. They also work smart and are consummate professionals.
Here in Vancouver, let’s get to know the three top Pinoy influencers who aspire to inspire; they do what they like and they like what they do. These three Pinoy influencers don’t have dreams — they have goals. They stay focused and they surround themselves with the right people.
WILLIAM ORSUA, Top Photographer Extraordinaire and CEO of Soul Mates Productions
Photo courtesy of William Orsua
At only 45 years old, William Orsua became Vancouver’s top Filipino-Canadian photographer through hard work, perseverance, and determination. He was born and raised in Quiapo, Manila. His parents are both Kapampangan and he has four siblings. He and his equally talented and creative wife, Vanessa, relocated to Canada in 2008, with their three children Jacob, Mateo, and Sophia. William juggles multiple roles in life: as a health care worker, as a passionate photographer, and as a business owner of Soul Mate Productions.
How did you start your business, William? “I started my business as a hobby (or I’d rather call it ‘my passion’) — Photography. I have been running my business officially for about nine years now. I started doing it on the side, doing model shoots, family portraits, and then got into weddings, and now we also do commercial shoots. We now offer videography services and also organize events.”
Photo courtesy of William Orsua
Please share your three important habits on how to be a successful entrepreneur. “The important habits of a successful entrepreneur for me are: first, relentlessness / work-it, work-it! The eagerness to keep pounding and keep trying until you start seeing success and growth. Do things in good faith and just focus on the things you want to do and achieve. Be determined and motivated. Second, skill building and networking — always try to be better at your craft and set higher goals so that you can be noticed. Never be satisfied with the ordinary, always try to improve yourself and give your clients a better experience. It is also important to have a good network and grow with others. This industry is big, and don’t underestimate the power of growing with the people you get a chance to work with. There is also so much to learn from others. Lastly, stay inspired and rejuvenate. It is very important to always stay inspired and love what you do. When you love what you do and you enjoy it, there is no room for negativity. You won’t get tired because you fuel yourself with your love for your own craft. Do things that inspire you and surround yourself with people that help you grow and in turn, help others grow as well. Have your family involved, especially your wife or partner. When you have their support, it is easier to do things. Always remember and take time to rejuvenate and reflect. Rest and have holidays too. Look after your health and have a clear and healthy mind.”
Photo courtesy of William Orsua. One of his amazing masterpieces
Please describe your typical day. “My typical day? Ohhh, this one is pretty crazy! Twenty-four hours a day is not enough for me — I work like crazy! As always, I have so many things to do, and 24 hours a day is not enough. Depending on the day, if I have a photo shoot, I usually wake up at around 8 a.m. — I say a little prayer and thank God for the day. Then I have to do chores, help my wife with whatever she needs for the kids, then after breakfast, I drop the kids to school.
“If I have a photoshoot, I prepare my gears and run to my photoshoot either outdoors or in my studio. After that, I head to my office and do editing, marketing, invoicing, writing contracts, answering emails, and paying bills. In the afternoon, I usually pick up my kids from school. Then, I help my wife with whatever she needs for home and for her own business, too (she is a pastry chef). Afterward, I do more editing (there is a lot of editing involved in our work). I run errands after that; then, I come home for dinner. After dinner, I help with chores at home and check the kids. I check my gears and have them ready if I have a shoot for tomorrow. By the time I’m done, it is already 11 p.m. or 12 midnight. I usually sleep around 12-1:30 a.m. I usually just have about four to six hours of sleep.”
Photo courtesy of William Orsua
What’s your favourite aspect of being an entrepreneur? “My favourite aspect about being an entrepreneur is having full control of my own business and how I want to run it. I manage my own time, I set my own rules in my own way. The possibilities are endless when you run your own business. How much I want to earn and how much I want to grow all depends on myself and the work I put in. I am also happier because I do what I love and I am passionate about my own business. Meeting many people and touching their lives through my photos is a highly rewarding feeling that no money can buy.”
Please share the challenges that come with being an entrepreneur. “There are always challenges that spice up the journey of running a business but as the main provider of my family, the biggest challenge is financial security, making sure that my business is running well and that I earn enough money for my family. Another challenge is making sure I am on top of my game and I don’t get burnt out from too much work — making sure that I am able to balance my life by efficiently juggling my hospital work, running my business, and taking care of my family and myself. My wife is my number one supporter and critic; I cannot do anything without her and I will have no success without her.
Photo courtesy of William Orsua, with his wife Vanessa and their three children — Sophia, Mateo, and Jacob.
“In terms of on-the-job challenges as a photographer, the most common challenge that I have is managing time during the photoshoot (especially at weddings). Time is always never enough and no matter what happens, you have to always deliver and get all your must-have shots done. Other challenges include dealing with difficult clients, harsh weather, back-to-back shoots, and other deliverables.”
How do you stay on top of industry trends? “To keep me on top of the industry trends, I read and observe a lot using social media and groups. I join groups with fellow photographers where we share updates, trends, gears, and many more. You always have to educate yourself and try to learn new skills. Social media platforms, algorithms, and trends change a lot and you have to adapt easily or else, you’ll be left behind.”
Photo courtesy of William Orsua
You are considered as one of Vancouver’s top Pinoy influencers, how do you stay relevant so that you encourage more followers on social media? “As a social media influencer, I travel a lot and share a lot of photos and videos that excite my clients, viewers, and followers. I also support the community a lot by supporting other entrepreneurs and local talents that need my support. I am always posting but everything I do has a purpose why I do that. Not everyone would appreciate that, but postings are targeted and are meant to attract my desired or preferred clients. I have to focus on that and I always just concentrate on the good things around me.”
“I also invest a lot in education. Recently, I spent a lot on a business coach. Also, as my business continues to grow, I also grow my team by hiring a social media manager and videographer. In this way, I can concentrate on what I am good at and focus on the most valuable part of my business. By doing this, I get to share my blessings by giving jobs to others.”
Which social media are you active on? “I am active on Facebook and Instagram. I am also trying to use LinkedIn more. I make videos that I post on my YouTube, stories, and reels as well. We have a growing channel on YouTube that has about 14 million views and we now have close to 40,000 subscribers. Please check out our channel ‘William Orsua‘ on YouTube. It is a combination of family adventures, my kids’ video, my travels and adventures, and some photography behind-the-scenes and tutorials. I would appreciate it if you can support us by subscribing to our channel. We have a goal to hit 100,000 subscribers this year!”
Photo courtesy of William Orsua, with Catriona Gray, Miss Universe 2018.
Please share some valuable tips with the young generation who may want to grow up just like you. “The best way to grow and have a thriving business is to find what you are good at, follow your passion, be good at it, and learn to take risks. It is never going to be easy, that is why you have to have a lot of determination and surround yourself with good people that can inspire you. Be relentless, stay focused and never stop working on your goals. When you achieve them, make new ones. Always do things in GOOD FAITH and focus on the positive side of life. Never mind the negativity around you that you don’t have control over, be happy, and support others. Above all enjoy the process and the journey. ‘SUCCESS’ is not a destination; it is a journey. Be thankful for what you have and share the blessings. Always give, give, give, and somehow, somewhere, sometime, you will have great returns.”
APRIL MORAN, Bayong Canada CEO
Photo courtesy of William Orsua
38-year-old April Moran hails from Bicol and migrated to Canada in 2014. She is a hands-on mom to four lovely kids. She worked as a medical office assistant, but she realized that her paycheck is not enough for paying the bills and putting food on their table. At one point, her family of five couldn’t even afford to buy a sack of rice. Such is her hardship that she came up with a business in mind: selling BAYONG (native hand-woven bags from the Philippines’s wet markets sold as fashionable items to Canada).
April persevered to get her business up and running by going to great lengths such as meeting people at the Skytrain and travelling from one station to the next and selling her hand-woven bags to strangers. At that time, she couldn’t afford a stall or rent a store for her bags. She sold hand-woven bags throughout the harshest and coldest weather and through rainy days out on the streets, at the Skytrain station, going from one house to the next house, and meeting buyers at coffee shops. When she was done selling her hand-woven bags, she would pick up her children from school. She was not dissuaded by such hard work. Instead, she remained positive and determined especially when she was able to put more food on their table. She was extremely happy and grateful that her children are no longer starving.
Photo courtesy of April Moran
Imagine, in just a short span of time and through hard work, she grew her business from selling 10 bags to 59 bags a month, then to thousands of bags a month! Her perseverance really paid off! But for this fearless mompreneur, the real blessing for her is that she was also able to help hundreds of families back home by supporting the local weavers and their creations. April’s business helps sustain the local weavers’ livelihood and helps put food on the local weavers’ table as well, especially the elderly weavers.
Photo courtesy of April Moran
What makes you a successful entrepreneur? “I believe what sets me apart as a successful entrepreneur is the fact that my business has an important story to tell to the world. My message is loud and clear: I support local products back home in the Philippines. I promote these beautiful hand-woven bags because I want to share Filipino weavers’ talent and creativity on the global stage. I don’t just want to run a successful business. I’m driven by my desire to tell every Filipino weaver’s story on the global stage. I want the world to see just how gifted our local weavers are. My BAYONG business has a beautiful story to tell and my business continues to change the lives of our local weavers back home. My business credo is this: Every bag has a purpose and a story; every bag is one of a kind.”
Photo courtesy of William Orsua
Please share your secret to your success. “I believe perseverance and resilience are the keys to success! I don’t even feel that I’m tired of what I’m doing because I know that there are families back home that need my support and help.”
What are your challenges as an entrepreneur? “I juggle so many roles: a businesswoman, a mom, and a charity worker. I find there’s not enough time in a day to do all my roles in life, but my motto is never to complain. Instead, I choose to be grateful.”
Photo courtesy of April Moran
What’s your typical day like? “A typical day for me is attending to my hand-woven bag business, taking care of my kids, being active in the Filipino community doing charity works, and doing the daily household chores — there’s no rest for the wicked!”
Photo courtesy of William Orsua
What was the biggest attention that your business received from social media? “The day that my hand-woven bags were featured on a billboard at Times Square in New York City during New York Fashion Week in February. You can’t get any bigger than that!”
How do you stay on top of your industry? “Maintain your connections and your rapport with the community. We need to maintain our healthy relationships with our business partners and the people surrounding you.”
You are considered as one of Vancouver’s top Pinoy influencers, how do you stay relevant so that you encourage more followers on social media? “I stay true to myself. I stay true to my goals. I don’t live to impress others. I live according to my values and that is to help others succeed. I tell it as it is.”
Which social media are you active on? “Facebook, TikTok, Instagram.”
Photo courtesy of William Orsua
Please share some valuable tips with the young generation who may want to grow up just like you. “To the younger generation out there, just be yourself. Be true to yourself, to your dreams, and to your goals. Who would have thought that the ‘pamalengke bag’ (market hand-woven bag) can be featured on a billboard in New York? Know that in life, the possibilities are endless. I reached my goal because I am who I am. I stuck with my visions. I believe in my products and I stayed focused on my goals. Love yourself and trust God. Remember that you have a big, big God!”
Photo courtesy of William Orsua
Describe April Moran in one word. “Fearless.”
RACHEL NAVALES, Pinay Car Loan CEO
Photo courtesy of William Orsua
The beautiful and spunky 42-year-old Rachel Navales is originally from Zamboanga City. She moved to St. John’s Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada when she was young. Today, she is a hands-on single mother of three beautiful teenagers. Just like her fellow top Pinoy influencers, William and April, Rachel is driven by helping her fellow Filipinos in Vancouver. She is passionate about helping fellow Filipinos who are currently in a very bad situation because of a bad car loan or any debts. That’s how she started her own business, Pinay Car Loan.
Photo courtesy of William Orsua
Rachel’s other passion in life is music. She is currently signed with a big record label and is in the process of creating her own album. Again, just like her fellow influencers, she juggles multiple roles in life: a businesswoman, a single parent, and a recording artist. Rachel is not only beautiful, but she also has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Nursing. Take note: Rachel earned her degree while raising her kids. Wow.
Photo courtesy of Rachel Navales with two of her happy clients
How did you end up in the highly competitive world of automobile sales? “I used to be a professional singer on several cruise ships, but that particular job didn’t pay all my bills. That’s when I decided to get into the car sales industry. It was by fluke actually. I applied as an HR assistant because of my degree in Psychology but the General Manager instead hired me as a car saleslady because of my outgoing personality. On my first day at my job, I was able to sell four cars in one day! My colleagues were shocked as they had never seen anything like that ever in the automotive industry! I realized that I was good at my job because I genuinely enjoyed my job. I love selling! That’s how I started in the automobile industry.”
Photo courtesy of William Orsua
What motivated you to transform from being an employee to being your own boss babe? “I’ve been hearing a lot of heartbreaking stories about my fellow Filipinos and how hard it was for them to buy their own cars because of bad credit so I decided that I should start my own company so I can help as many people as I can in achieving their dreams of owning their own cars. For me, it was no longer about selling cars, it was the passion for helping others achieve their dreams that motivated me to start my own company.”
Did you ever have a mentor? “Fortunately for me, I had a wonderful mentor! I owe a debt of gratitude to Miko Bacomo. He is now the top business manager all over Canada in our automotive industry. Miko taught me everything and guided me in my career throughout the years. Miko and his wife have always been there for me!”
Aside from your passion for selling cars and helping others buy their dream cars, what drove you to the car sales industry? “One day, I prayed to God to give me a sign if this industry is meant for me. I asked myself, ‘Why am I doing this? Is it just for the money? Or is it because I want to genuinely help others how to improve their credit rating?’ It was both. I’m driven to give my clients what they deserve — the right car loan and the proper and honest guidance into building up their credit. Filipinos come to Canada to better their lives; we are not here to be buried with debts! I’d rather not sell if it’s not the right time for my client to buy a car. I don’t want my clients to get into a bad car loan and into debt. I can’t stress enough the importance of being honest in my business.”
Please share your secrets to a successful business. “Don’t take ‘no’ for an answer. Learn from the best. Stay hungry and ambitious. Never stand still; evolve with the times. Nurture long-term business relationships. Inspire those around you. Trust your gut instinct, not just your spreadsheet.”
Photo courtesy of William Orsua. Rachel with her daughter, Sydney.
Please describe your typical day. “My typical day starts with a prayer of gratitude and manifestations. Then, I make sure that my kids are always clean, fed, and properly nourished before they head to work and/or school. I also make sure that my house is tidy and that my dog is taken care of! I tend to work smart by always planning a day ahead. I don’t check my emails right away because I want to start my day in a positive way. During the day or before my day ends, I read some books because I always believe that learning is a lifelong habit. I end my day by setting my goals because sticking to your goals makes you more productive, which inevitably leads to success.”
What’s the best part of being an entrepreneur? “The best part about being an entrepreneur is having the opportunity to take an idea and inspire other people around me to contribute to that idea, make it better, and put it into action. When it comes down to it, success is sweeter when you are the one taking the risks. But the real best part is when I am able to help other people and when I see them happy — it’s so satisfying to the soul!”
Photo courtesy of Rachel Navales
Please share the challenges that come with being an entrepreneur. “The only challenge that I have right now is that there is no time for my love life/sex life! Lol! No, seriously, I find that there’s always not enough time to do all the things I want to do in life. I need more time to help more people. This industry is also highly stressful so I need to be on top of my physical well-being and make sure that I take care of my mental health as well. Being an entrepreneur requires a lot of hard work and energy, and even if you are pretty capable of burning the candle on both ends, you should make sure to take care of your body and your overall health. This means opting for better food choices, exercising regularly, and getting enough rest, so that you are able to face a new set of challenges the next day. Body and mind go together, and if one is suffering, the other will too.”
Photo courtesy of Rachel Navales
You are considered as one of Vancouver’s top Pinoy influencers, how do you stay relevant so that you encourage more followers on social media? “I stay true to myself. I stay positive at all times with my social media posts. I remain humble at all times. People don’t want to follow negative people. They don’t like drama and reading about bad things. They want to be inspired! I also believe that when you stay positive, the universe is always going to give you lots of blessings in your life. I don’t pay any marketing people to handle my social media. I’m on top of my own brand. No one knows me better than I do. It’s just me and my passion and my love for my clients; everything is so fluid and organic and that’s how I stay on top of it. On social media, I’m known for my tagline: ‘It’s sold, it’s sold & it’s sold!‘”
Photo courtesy of William Orsua. With her son, Joshua.
Please share some valuable tips with the young generation who may want to grow up just like you. “One of the main tips to be a successful entrepreneur is to learn from other entrepreneurs who are at the same stage of business as you are in. Try to avoid competition and, instead, learn to share and exchange information and knowledge with other entrepreneurs. This will make networking mutually beneficial, perhaps leading to potential opportunities in the future. I surround myself with great and positive influences. We are not just talking about surrounding yourself with capable co-workers but also with great people outside of your work as well. Family and friends play a huge role in your life as your support system, as well as offer constructive criticism and motivate you. That being said, you should also get rid of those people in your life who are destructive. I choose to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Set personal goals, and be guided by principles and triumphant entrepreneurial stories. Read books and apply the lessons you learn to yourself. Maintain a healthy routine. Set reminders for yourself. Always remember that you can do whatever you want when you’re focused on your goals. Engage in motivational activities. Get a good night’s sleep and always apply gratitude whether it’s big or small blessings. And lastly, having a mentor is a must!”
Photo courtesy of William Orsua
Incidentally, these three top Pinoy Influencers are producing a fashion show to showcase the masterpieces of Philippines fashion ambassador, Renee Magtibay Salud, on September 12 at 6 p.m. at the Heritage Hall in Main St, Vancouver. Soul Mate Productions is proudly producing this show along with its partners Bayong Canada who will be showcasing their new Filipino-made bags on the runway. The amazing and talented Pinay Car Loan is also a proud partner/producer of this event. What are you waiting for? Get in on the hip and fashionable crowd! It’s not too late to buy your tickets. For tickets, please message or call William at (604) 365-0077, April at (778) 684-4626, or Rachel at (778) 228-0290.
Hurry and buy your tickets now! Seats are LIMITED only.
A grateful creature with a passion for writing.
#MariainVancouver
