Education & Leadership

Sixteen years at the intersection
of education and action.

From getting boats to children who swam to school, to building innovation labs inside universities, to helping Filipino teachers become fluent in AI — education has always been the thread.

The Framework

The HOPE Framework.

H

Harnessing Your Potential

Start with what you already have. Every movement begins not with resources, but with the recognition of untapped capacity — in yourself and in your community.

O

Opening Your Wallet

Generosity precedes growth. Whether it's money, time, access, or knowledge — the willingness to give without a guaranteed return is what unlocks collective momentum.

P

Perspiring — Taking Action

Ideas without execution are just good intentions. The HOPE framework demands the hard work of showing up, doing the unglamorous things, and staying in the work long after the inspiration fades.

E

Empowering Others

The measure of real leadership is not what you built — it's who you built it with. Empowerment means growing the capacity of others so the work continues when you step back.

Coming Soon

Start with HOPE

The HOPE framework in full — built from 16 years of social entrepreneurship, community building, and leadership across the Philippines and Southeast Asia. For anyone who wants to turn compassion into action and ideas into movements.

startwithhopebook.com →
Start with HOPE book cover by Jay Jaboneta

The Journey

16 years in Philippine education.

2024 – Present

AI Education for Educators & SMEs

Founded Kenzo AI Consulting — building AI fluency programs for Philippine K-12 schools and SMEs. Aligned with DepEd Order 003. Serving schools in Davao City, Metro Manila, and beyond. The next frontier of education: not just teaching with AI, but teaching people how to think alongside it.

2019 – 2022

NEXUS Innovation Labs — De La Salle Lipa

Managed and led NEXUS Innovation Labs — developing programs that connected students to real-world entrepreneurship and social innovation. Built with a team, designed to outlast the builder.

2015 – 2019

HIFI — De La Salle College of Saint Benilde

Supported the Hub of Innovation For Inclusion — one of the Philippines' first social innovation labs inside a higher education institution. Focused on social innovation pathway and resource generation for student-led social enterprises.

2010 – Present

Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation

Co-founded a national movement that has brought school boats, classrooms, bridges, and livelihood programs to 200+ island communities across the Philippines. At its core, Yellow Boat is an education access movement — removing the physical barriers between children and school.

Bring Jay to your school or event.

For speaking engagements, AI workshops, or leadership programs — let's build something that lasts.

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