If there were ever a personification of “larger than life”, Tim Yap would be it
Known as the Philippines’ foremost “eventologist”, Tim Yap is a walking confetti canon of creativity and unrelenting energy, lighting up any room he walks in.
Many could call him a host, a journalist, an entrepreneur or a cultural alchemist, but none of these labels capture the magic that is Yap. Instead, he coined his own title: “eventologist”, a perfect moniker for someone who converts gatherings into seismic shifts in society.
Before he was the life of every event and the force behind Yaparazzi Events + PR, the Gen.T Leader of Tomorrow began with dreams as grand as his personality.
Read more: Tim Yap takes us on a tour of his whimsical ‘moon house’
In the latest episode of Gen.T’s Crazy Smart Asia podcast, Yap shares how he began as a journalist chronicling Manila’s movers and shakers to becoming the city’s ultimate connector, with his knack for hosting parties like no other.
Click the player below to listen to the conversation with Yap.
Curtain call
At a young age, Yap found his first love under the bright lights of the theatre. “I wanted to be in the theatre,” he says, recalling feeling a sense of belonging in the art of self-expression on a stage.
Back then, he was a student at a private Catholic school that prohibited extracurricular show business engagements. On top of that, he was growing up in a strict household. However, Yap’s passion was palpable and he was undeterred.
He found ways to nurture his passion, sneaking out of school and commuting to auditions and workshops, immersing himself in the art of performance. “My parents only found out when they saw me in the newspaper,” he quips.
His parents’ initial concerns—rooted in the stereotype that the arts weren’t profitable—eventually gave way to pride as they saw his commitment bear fruit. They saw an unwavering dedication in young Yap, who would scavenge for dead flower props in trash bins just to deliver a spectacular show, or accept roles like a dancing salt shaker in a stage play of Beauty and the Beast.
Yap’s first on-stage role, which his parents witnessed, was as a young Jewish boy. He went on to perform as part of the ensemble and as a host in West Side Story, and many other productions followed. But there was a moment of heartbreak: a role he desperately wanted, as a boy singing about his absent father, went to someone else. At 19, Yap decided it was time to move on from theatre and explore other dreams.
This turning point didn’t dim his love for the craft. Yap credits his strict upbringing for instilling a sense of discipline and determination that shaped his approach to life and work. “Structure provided direction,” he says.
While he closed the curtains on theatre early, the lessons he learned there continue to inspire him to chase dreams with passion and tenacity. “It was formative for me,” he reflects. “I realised I’m the kind of person who will go the extra mile to get the job done.”
Read more: These cultural leaders and nightlife pioneers are behind some of the biggest celebrations in Asia
