Creating Manila’s AI Community: Leonard Ang is Empowering the Next Generation of Builders 🚀
Saanvi
Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:25:19 GMT
<p>Manila’s Build Club chapter has launched with energy and purpose, thanks to City Lead Leonard Ang. From the very first event, Leonard has focused on creating an accessible, community-driven space where AI enthusiasts from all backgrounds can connect, learn, and experiment.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qaDO!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ffcab0d-08fa-48d1-8e5c-acfdbd3a05f3_2874x1616.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qaDO!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ffcab0d-08fa-48d1-8e5c-acfdbd3a05f3_2874x1616.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qaDO!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ffcab0d-08fa-48d1-8e5c-acfdbd3a05f3_2874x1616.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qaDO!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ffcab0d-08fa-48d1-8e5c-acfdbd3a05f3_2874x1616.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qaDO!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ffcab0d-08fa-48d1-8e5c-acfdbd3a05f3_2874x1616.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qaDO!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ffcab0d-08fa-48d1-8e5c-acfdbd3a05f3_2874x1616.png" width="1456" height="819" 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0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{"url":"https://buildclub.substack.com/subscribe?","text":"Subscribe","language":"en"}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading Build Club Wrapped! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email…" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><h3>From Vision to Community 🤖</h3><p>Leonard decided to become a City Lead to make AI more approachable and inclusive.</p><blockquote><p>“…I wanted to bring people together around AI in a way that felt less transactional and more community-driven. Students, builders, and early founders were eager to learn but didn’t know where to start. Taking on this role gave me the chance to create that entry point for them.”</p></blockquote><p>Balancing logistics, venues, and community growth has been challenging, but seeing people exchange ideas, start projects, and feel part of something bigger has made the journey immensely rewarding.</p><h3>Building Community That Thrives 🌐</h3><p>Leonard’s proudest moment came at the very first event:</p><blockquote><p>“I honestly didn’t know if anyone would come, but the room filled up, and people didn’t want to leave even after we wrapped up. Seeing attendees share ideas and get excited together made me feel the most fulfilled.”</p></blockquote><p>To cater to a diverse audience—students, engineers, and startup founders—the team experimented with layered event formats. Talks and workshops start with beginner-friendly insights before diving into deeper technical discussions, while Build Sessions allow open conversations so everyone can engage and learn from each other.</p><h3>Creating Events with Value and Vibes ✨</h3><p>Leonard believes the key to successful community events is a combination of value and vibes. He and the team focus on creating experiences that are engaging and memorable, not just talks.</p><blockquote><p>“Before hosting, I ask myself—why would someone spend their Friday evening with us instead of anywhere else? The event has to deliver real value while offering something different. The vibes matter—if people feel the event is genuine, engaging, and worth their time, they’ll keep coming back.”</p></blockquote><p>To foster authentic connections, the team experiments with creative ways to break the ice, like human bingo, and designs sessions that encourage open conversation and participation.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SPTB!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3c996816-f033-407f-8fb8-a030866f0839_3024x4032.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!SPTB!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3c996816-f033-407f-8fb8-a030866f0839_3024x4032.jpeg 424w, 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20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><h3>Partnerships That Matter 🤝</h3><p>When approaching sponsors, Leonard focused on alignment over transactions:</p><blockquote><p>“Instead of sending a generic pitch deck, I explained what we were building, who the community served, and why their support mattered. Once we had photos, turnout numbers, and stories from Build Club, it became easier to show credibility. Sponsors want to see that the community is real and growing.”</p></blockquote><h3>What’s Next 🚀</h3><p>Manila’s Build Club is already planning its next Build Session, aiming for bigger experiments, deeper collaborations, and opportunities for students to interact with global leaders, giving the community more ways to learn, experiment, and grow together. </p><h3>Advice from Leonard 💬</h3><ul><li><p>“Treat it less like organizing events and more like building a community from the ground up. Start by listening—figure out what people in your city actually want when learning about AI, then build around that.”</p></li><li><p>“Be prepared to hustle at the start. Invite people personally, convince them to show up, and set the tone. Once the community feels like a space they belong in, it grows on its own.”</p></li><li><p>“Being a City Lead isn’t about you—it’s about the people you bring together. Focus on making the community valuable and authentic, and everything else—growth, partnerships, sponsors—follows naturally.”</p></li></ul><p>With Leonard Ang leading the charge, Manila’s Build Club is creating an AI community where curiosity, collaboration, and experimentation come first — and the best is just beginning.</p><p>👉 Connect with <a href="http://linkedin.com/in/leonardandrewang?originalSubdomain=ph">Leonard</a> on LinkedIn and keep an eye out for more Manila events <a href="https://luma.com/buildercommunityanz">here</a>!</p><p></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{"url":"https://buildclub.substack.com/subscribe?","text":"Subscribe","language":"en"}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading Build Club Wrapped! 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