RJ Ledesma's jampacked — and worthwhile — journey to 50

Sought-after event host and thriving entrepreneur RJ Ledesma marked his 50th birthday on June 10 at Chef Jessie's in Rockwell Club, Makati City, celebrating a life rich with passion, versatility, and continuous growth.

Known for his '80s soda commercial fame as "Joey," Ledesma has since built a multifaceted career as an award-winning events host, TV host, writer, motivational speaker, media personality, magazine editor, and serial entrepreneur.

In the media landscape, Ledesma's achievements are equally notable. Kicking off his writing career with The Manila Times Lifestyle in the early 2000s via the humor relationships column "Playing with My Tools," he moved on to write "Pogi from a Parallel Universe" for the "Philippine Star" and has since penned five best-selling books. His editorial prowess was showcased during his tenure as editor-in-chief of "UNO Magazine," and he now leads "The Business Manual," an online subscription-based business platform under One Mega Group. His role as the host of "Bright Ideas" on One News TV Philippines brings attention to startups and innovative business concepts.

With Sam YG and Rovilson Fernandez

RJ Ladesma

With Ton Conception, Mon Lopez and Cesar Wee

RJ with his children Fortune Jr., R3 and Renzo; wife Vanessa; and mom Fortune

With Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya and wife Akiko Endo

Additionally, he engages with audiences through "The RJ Ledesma Podcast," which airs live every Tuesday and Thursday on Facebook, Kumu, and YouTube, with episodes also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Ledesma's entrepreneurial spirit shines through his ventures. He co-founded Mercato Centrale, a thriving food market that has become a staple for food enthusiasts. EnterPH, another brainchild of Ledesma, assists businesses in penetrating the Philippine market, while Easy Franchise simplifies the franchising process for aspiring entrepreneurs. Beyond these, Ledesma serves as the president of his family's real estate company and holds the esteemed position of Honorary Consul of Monaco to the Philippines.

Ledesma's educational background is a testament to his intellectual rigor. He was the first Asian to deliver a graduation speech at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he earned a Master of Science in Real Estate Development. This accomplishment underscores his expertise and dedication to continuous learning and development.

Ledesma's milestone birthday was attended by prominent personalities from the business and media sectors, all of whom were happy to look back and toast Ledesma's jampacked and truly worthwhile journey to a quarter of a century.