Earlier this year, I had the privilege of representing Equitech Collective at the Asian Development Bank’s INSPIRE Health Forum—its first flagship health event in Manila. Walking into that space, surrounded by ministers, CEOs, and global health experts, I remember thinking: “How did I end up in this room?” But quickly, that feeling shifted. It wasn’t just about being in the room—it was about being part of the conversation.

Every session—from universal health coverage and mental health to climate resilience and digital innovation—touched on work we’re already doing at Equitech. The questions asked weren’t abstract; they were grounded in people, in places, in everyday systems that serve—or fail—our communities.

One of the most grounding moments? A conversation with a retired leader from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, now running a grassroots mental health network for adolescent girls. She smiled and said:

"Ahh, mga kabataan, mga technology. Kayo ang future. Sana magkawork tayo."
“You young people with your technology. You’re the future. I hope we can work together.”

Her words stayed with me.

So did these lessons:

• Mental health is infrastructure, not an afterthought.
• Innovation isn’t the bottleneck. Trust and delivery are.
• Preparedness isn’t a side project. It’s a mindset.
• Community health workers are the health system—especially in places often left behind.

At Equitech, we’ve never just been about building digital tools. We’re building trust. We’re amplifying frontline workers. We’re co-designing with communities. We’re working toward a system that feels human—because that’s what care should be.

We may not always have the biggest mic. But we’re here, we’re learning, and we’re building with purpose.