PLDT’s Chief Legal Counsel on Leading 35k-Strong ARMY Community Borahae From Manila
By day, Joan de Venecia-Fabul navigates a world defined by structure, high stakes, and the complex regulatory landscape of the telecommunications industry. As the Chief Legal Counsel for the PLDT Group, she is a fixture in corporate boardrooms. But beyond the legal briefs and polished executive halls, she inhabits a second, equally vibrant world: leading Borahae from Manila (BFM), a 35,000-strong Filipino fan community devoted to the Korean superstar group BTS.
For de Venecia-Fabul, being a 45-year-old fangirl is not a distraction, nor is it a hobby reserved for the youth. In BFM, she is surrounded by a diverse collective of employees, lawyers, doctors, entrepreneurs, and mothers—mostly women who carry significant professional and personal responsibilities and find in BTS a vital source of renewal.
“After all, we still deserve to be happy and joyful, right?” she reflects.
Balancing Two Worlds
The secret to de Venecia-Fabul’s ability to manage these two high-energy roles lies in a single word: trust. Having spent seven years with PLDT and five at the helm of BFM, she notes that the two worlds began to merge during the pandemic, a period that offered her the time to build the community into the force it is today.
She is quick to credit her success to the teams surrounding her. At PLDT, she is supported by a highly competent group of lawyers. At BFM, she works alongside professional women who volunteer to run daily operations. For her, being surrounded by people who give 100% is what allows her to show up fully in every role that matters.
Even in the most serious board meetings, her passion for BTS serves as a favorite icebreaker. It’s a reminder, she says, that “we are human first.”
Leadership Through Fandom
The legal executive has even drawn leadership principles from the K-pop stars. “Trust is built on consistency,” she observes. “Whether it’s a K-pop group or a corporate team, people follow leaders whose actions align with their words.”
This philosophy led her to register BFM with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a nonprofit, using her legal background in advocacy to ensure the community became a force for good. During the pandemic, the group launched the Magic Shop Community Pantry in Quezon City, Marikina, and Makati and has raised over P500,000 to date for UNICEF Philippines’ various initiatives in honor of BTS, who are UNICEF ambassadors. BFM is also very active in advancing BTS goals, whether through streaming parties, fundraisers to purchase albums, or voting calls to action.
To other professionals who feel they must hide their passions, her message is clear: “You don’t have to shrink yourself.” She believes that once respect is earned through consistent work, personal passions don’t weaken a reputation—they deepen it.
Looking Toward the Future
With BTS’ highly anticipated return marked with a tour running until 2027, de Venecia-Fabul is standing confidently in both of her worlds. While she envisions herself stepping back from the daily demands of BFM in the future to focus on her legal duties, she remains committed to supporting her “baby” for years to come.
“BFM has never seen itself as a ‘leader’ of the fanbase,” she explains, noting that there is no hierarchy in fandom. Instead, BFM offers structure—a safe space to celebrate and experience BTS meaningfully as a community.
The Connection Factor
In a digital-first fandom, de Venecia-Fabul emphasizes that a reliable connection is the lifeblood of the experience. Whether streaming a live concert or securing tickets, even a few seconds of lag can be the difference between inclusion and exclusion.
She recalls the milestone of watching BTS return to the stage at Seoul’s historic Gwanghwamun Square after years of waiting, an experience made possible through high-speed connectivity. For Filipino fans looking to mirror that experience, she highlights the convenience of the PLDT Home Fiber Netflix Plan 1599, which bundles internet with a Netflix subscription—allowing fans to relive BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG or explore the group’s journey through BTS: THE RETURN.
For de Venecia-Fabul, the work is serious, but joy is essential. “Do your work well,” she advises, “but take care of your joy. That is what sustains the ‘serious’ work.”
Get the PLDT Home Fiber Netflix Plan 1599 though this link.
Photos courtesy of PLDT
The post PLDT’s Chief Legal Counsel on Leading 35k-Strong ARMY Community Borahae From Manila first appeared on MEGA.
PLDT’s Chief Legal Counsel on Leading 35k-Strong ARMY Community Borahae From Manila
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