Lasallian Leader with Resilience, Purpose and Impact

The Foundation of a Lasallian Scholar

Working for his family business, Crocodile Garments PH, during the early years of schooling made James realize that he needed to be knowledgeable in business. His career trajectory began with a deliberate choice in his studies early on in De La Salle University. He sought out its academic stature and value-driven culture. “I vividly recall writing in my undergraduate application that I aspired to be trained by the country’s finest faculty,” he shared, finding the anchor for his ambition at DLSU.

As an undergraduate, he attended his classes and applied his learning in co-founding DLSU MooMedia and learned life skills by working closely with the University Registrar, the Office of Sports Development, and to Br. Armin Luistro FSC, during the foundational years of De La Salle Philippines. These formative experiences taught him that academic work must have an applied value: “They shaped my worldview as everything had to be led with purpose.”

Graduate Studies and Resilient Leadership

The scholarly groundwork laid during his undergraduate years truly flourished in graduate school. As a St. La Salle Scholar, James pursued an MS in Entrepreneurship while starting out teaching for the night classes at De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde which he thought of as a way of giving back to the Lasallian community. He thought that the program would further sharpen his entrepreneurship and business development skills. Concurrently, he was elected and served as the Graduate Student Council President (2018–2019), where he championed initiatives that unified the student body. “We organized inter-school competitions, quiz bees, and community masses. We were very happy that our events were always jam-packed,” he recalled, demonstrating an early ability to blend academic life with community building.

This period was also marked by a significant achievement in applying his graduate training. James represented DLSU at the prestigious Bangkok Business Challenge, where his team developed an educational technology venture. This experience reinforced his core belief in practicing stewardship of God given talents and resources.

His journey is made even more remarkable by his display of sheer resilience. James successfully completed his term and maintained his scholarship despite having bilateral infraspinatus atrophy, a condition that limits his upper body movement. “Being a Person With Disability was not a hindrance to my education, thanks to a generous scholarship and an inclusive campus environment,” he noted. “My experiences here inspire me to make inclusion and equal opportunity the core values of my entrepreneurial pursuits.”

At the heart of Klimatech’s mission is a bold commitment to sustainability innovations. Among its pioneering ventures is the Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT), a scalable renewable energy solution. This is a clear demonstration of how scholarly pursuit, where identifying gaps and designing evidence-based solutions, translates into impactful solutions that address urgent global challenges. This innovation showcases the potential of homegrown technologies to make a meaningful contribution across Asia and beyond.

In the face of constant change and volatile markets, James’s Lasallian values serve as his anchor. “The values of faith, zeal for service, and communion in mission helped me navigate volatile markets, geoeconomic shifts, and disruptive technologies while staying grounded in ethical leadership,” he explained. This grounding has allowed him to build resilient teams and foster genuinely inclusive growth, proving that ethical leadership is key to sustained organizational success.

“I was given a scholarship from De La Salle University, so I pay it forward. Seeing my name on the La Salle Building’s perpetual wall as an Archer Quiver Diamond is a humbling reminder that quiet contributions can leave lasting legacies,” he shared. For James, true legacy is measured by the support he provides to the next generation of scholars and leaders.

To current students and young alumni, he offers a direct and heartfelt challenge:

“Don’t chase titles, only chase impact. Build your skills, yes, but also build your character. Seek mentors, serve others, and let your Lasallian education guide you toward work that matters and a legacy that inspires.”

For James, being a Lasallian means leading with courage, serving with compassion, and striving always, not for personal glory, but for God and country.