The Voice Master

The Voice Master               “Believe in yourself and you can do everything.” This is the motto that guided Pocholo Gonzales in every step of his life, a simple sentence that put him where he is right now. Indeed, he was able to do everything and anything in the world of voice acting.                    Pocholo Gonzales, known as The Voice Master is the CEO of the number one voice artist provider of the Philippines  Creativoices. This man ensures the strengthening and bright future of the voice acting industry. Born with a vision in this form of art, he uses his experiences to fortify and produce the highest quality of voice talents in the Philippines.             At an early age he was already sure of what he wanted to be in life, to be known as the “hope of the voice industry.” He wanted to leave the imprints of his voice in this form of art. Though he knows that many people do not succeed in the voice acting industry, it didn’t make him falter in achieving his dreams. He auditioned for a slot in a radio show called RadyoRadyo anchored by Joey Galvez and May Catherine Vall. At the age of seventeen he was able to out stand 2000 others who auditioned by being chosen as the new radio talent of DZMM.             With the lack of financial advantage, Pocholo’s only asset in achieving his dreams is his voice. Before, the technology at hand was not that advance but still he was able to utilize every resource he have. This of course was challenging considering the hard competition in the industry. But since voice acting is his first love, the CEO braved the odds and turned his talent into a more serious business. Having the inborn skills and talents, he started a company that is dedicated on voice acting. But even before his company started he was already a well-known voice artist in the industry.             They started their company in the year 2005 with its first name Univoicesal Productions inspired by the international company Universal Studios. Since it was short-lived, they changed its name to Creativoices Productions. Being a newborn in the industry, they started as a small company doing their recordings at home until they had their own studio. Now, Creativoices has 200 voice talents in the record.             With a mission on the voice acting industry at hand, he equipped himself with a proper education taking up Bachelor Degree in Speech Communications and Masters Degree in Broadcast Communication at the University of the Philippines, Diliman. He polished his skills by attending           Voice Acting Lessons in Hollywood, mastering the art of voice acting in its various forms such as radio drama, dubbing, and voice-over for commercial.             Having the adequate knowledge and skills in this field, he branded himself as The Voice Master that will take this art form into the limelight. Now, Creativoices is progressing in a high speed having the highest quality of voice acting in the country. The CEO doesn’t stop in studying, researching and discovering new trends for the advancement and improvement of this prestigious art form. He also provides workshops so as to hone new talents who will continue to advocate his mission in the coming generations. He shares his talents to other people, especially to the youth and to those who share with him the same passion for voice acting which gives life even to the simplest conversation.             Today, he is a well-known voice artist of the country. He has been the voices that gave life to prominent animé characters and famous commercials. He is always featured in some magazines, newspapers, TV shows, etc. Recently, his voice was featured in the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival official entry – Dayo.             He plays a very vital role in keeping the voice acting industry alive and progressing; with this, there is really no doubt that he is the reigning master in the world of voice acting.     Pocholo as a Student Parents always pressure their kids to study well in school. That is why some students strive hard to get high grades. Grades are the most important thing in our academic world. Yes, grades determine a child’s knowledge on a particular field or subject but grades do not determine a person’s whole being. Grades are just determinants of how well a person did in their subject. It dictates one’s ranking in a classroom. According to Pocholo Gonzales, grades do not really matter in the real world. Grades just help in motivating students to do well in school. What’s important is how smart you can get when you encountered difficulties. The true lessons that can be applied when one graduated is not taught inside the classroom, it is taught as you go along with life. Addition does not help us double our courage to face the problems in life, acceleration does not speed up our life, and chemistry does not really help people be bonded.              Pocholo showed little interest in any of his subjects back then; but he excelled in a lot of extra curricular activities. His interest focused mainly on voice acting. It is his first love. It was during his childhood years that he discovered his talent. Since then, he had nurtured and enhanced his abilities. Knowing the abilities that he has, he never failed to share it to others. He was often invited and requested in a lot of speaking engagements. During college, even though there were lots of other students in his course, BA Speech Communication, he was the favorite because he has the ability to speak in front of the audience without boring them. He has a certain appeal to the audience when he speaks. Having enrolled in a speech major, he outstand his fellow course mates during his time. They may all have the abilities to speak well but none were as good as Pocholo when it comes to voice acting. Everyone may be good speakers, but he is the only one in their batch who knows how to voice act. Passion and talent helped bring him on top of everyone. He is undeniably a unique talent among the others.             He may be involved in a lot of extra curricular activities but he was able to balance it with his academic. He sustained his good grades throughout college. He knows how to balnce his priorities. He was even chosen as the most outstanding youth and student leader by the Office of the Student Assistant. It just proves that he still knows how to handle his responsibilities.             Pocholo can be as talented as he wants it to be, but his passion does not only go for his voice but also to the youth. He was involved in many youth-oriented programs today, and plans to continue it. He believes that he can help the youth change by setting an example. He was a volunteer member of the U.P. Ugnayan ng Pahinungod, founder of the Speech Communication Society and a member of the U.P. Peer Counselors Society in U.P. Diliman and a lot of other organizations that are inclined to the welfare of the youth. If one will observe, almost all his achievements, works, affiliations, and recognitions were rooted from being a youth advocate.             He truly has already soared high. After a lot of hard work, he was now the head of a company that helps promote voice acting to the whole country, Creativoices that is. His company does not only help aspiring voice talents find their paths but also help develop the art of voice acting in the country. Voice acting is a craft that is usually taken for granted by a lot of people. Usually, a lot of people are attracted to visuals and colors. What a lot of people do not know, voice-overs, D.J. mixing, dubs, sound effects and etc. give more life to our televisions, radios and other forms of broadcast media. It gives color to plain dull graphics. The art of voice acting gives reality to the said occasions.             Pocholo as a Citizen of the World Pocholo Gonzales is now making history in the world of voice acting. A lot were already hiring him to voice act for their commercials, shows and other projects that requires voice acting. His name is almost already connected to the word voice acting. Often, he is the number one choice to guest a show whenever voice acting and pod casting were the featured topic. He had proven so much to everyone that he was already titled as “The Voice Master” and the “Father of Pod Casting.” Pocholo Gonzales is a witty and a naturally funny man. He has the ability to break the ice in every boring crowd. He steps on the stage with a heightened energy and thus pass this energy to his audience. He makes sure that he knows who his audience are. He very well knows what can make them react. He believes that the commonality in the field of experience creates connection easier. Once he speaks, everyone listens. Pocholo comes to an event equipped with knowledge and humor. He’s not afraid to deliver jokes. Pocholo’s attitude when he speaks perfectly stands for the quotation, ‘learning while enjoying’ or ‘enjoy as you learn’. He knows what he is talking about and he can relay every vital information in a manner that never bores his audience. This man can hold his audience’s attention from the start until the end of the lecture. He brings with him the spontaneity and conversational tone that makes a heavy lecture a light one. No dead air, no dragging moments. When Pocholo does lectures, he speaks to each one and not to everyone as a whole. He does not mass communicate but instead communicates to the masses individually. He inculcates his message to each and everyone in a way that would make a mark. He sure makes a ‘recall’ in the minds of his audience. Pocholo’s skill in voice acting makes him a very effective speaker, no wonder he had been invited to speak in a long list of lectures concerning voice acting, computer literacy, and youth. Pocholo’s natural skill in public speaking ventures not only the local speaking engagements but also the international ones. He had also been invited to participate in a number of lectures outside the country. Way before, during his college days, Pocholo was a regular in every event at the University of the Philippines- Diliman. Back then he was popular for having the natural ability to host events without boring the crowd. Back then, as he says, he spents much more time for extracurricular activities than for his academics but the good thing is that never failed badly. He maintained his grades high while still enjoying his social life. He hosted concerts of budding bands. He hosted and gave life to different contests in their campus. He was also often invited to attend talks. However, Pocholo’s very first lecture attended as a speaker, as a guest speaker actually, was ‘Voice Acting on Radio Production Seminar/Workshop’ at Colegio de San Juan de Letran. He had been such a wonderful speaker that day, so knowledgeable and so enthusiastic. No wonder after that talk, the long list of lecture that he had and will be attending started. He had been invited to participate on lectures regarding job opportunities, employment, and business since he had put up his company Creativoices all by himself. He was chosen as the speaker of lectures like CAREER AVENUE SEMINAR-WORKSHOP which was held in Calapan just recently. He had also sponsored GO NEGOSYO: BABAE, YAMAN KA NG BAYAN!, a forum which focused on teaching and empowering aspiring women to start their own business to make a better living. He was also one of the exhibitors in OFW JOB MATCHING EXPO which was produced by TESDA last February, 2009. He was also an exhibitor in E-SEVICES GLOBAL SOURCING CONFERENCES AND EXHIBITION, held at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia on February 10, 2009. Pocholo was also the celebrity panelist in the 3rd YECS Entrepreneurship Training, TeenNegosyo 2008 EDITION 3, an event that educated young minds on businesses that they can get into at their age. The event was organized by DepEd, DTI and PCE at the Teacher’s Camp in Baguio City last July 2008. The organizers have chosen the perfect panelist since Pocholo Gonzales has always been an advocate in pursuing a good future for the youth. He was also the organizer and host of Career Avenue 2005 Conference and Expo held last April 2005. There is still a long list of events and programs that he had attended so as to share his knowledge on how it is to be a good entrepreneur to other people. With what he has achieved as a businessman or entrepreneur, he sure is one great inspiration to those who are just starting. Pocholo has not only been gifted with a critical mind for business but also a mind that is fond of exploring new technologies that he can utilize for his advantage. He is also known to be a man that is so knowledgeable on information technology. He had actually been invited as the speaker in iBLOG 2: 2ND Philippine Blogging Summit held at the University of the Philippines- Diliman. He also participated in “Putting Your Business Online” seminar last May, 2006.  He had been part of many other events on information technology and until now he is using whatever new technology is available in the internet to further improve his business. Pocholo also takes part in lectures and events concerning youth. Since then and up until this day, he has been a very serious advocate for youth. He believes that they should be nurtured and taught the right and essential things that they will be needing in the future. He facilitated and spoke for the 1st Sangguniang Kabataan City Congress “A Unified and Strengthened SK Official toward Building an Empowered Team of Youth Leaders” held at the Courtyard in Boracay, Aklan last April, 2005. He also participated in the Youth Leadership Development Seminar/Workshop last March, 2005. Pocholo also organized and spoke at the YOUTH POWER 2005 Conference and EXPO held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. He was also the facilitator and the guest speaker in the Sangguniang Kabataan Bulacan Congress with the theme “Building Stronger Youth of Bulacan Through Values and Skills Development”. Pocholo was also a one of the organizers of 1st Philippine Youth Consultative Meeting on the World Summit on the Information Society, an event that has the theme of “Realizing the Potential of Youth to Create Digital Opportunities”.