Human Nature: A Social Enterprise

If I need to explain what social enterprise is to anybody, well, maybe specifically to a fellow Filipino, I would just cite Human Nature and he/she will surely understand what a social enterprise is. I am still currently writing a feature on social entrepreneurship which I hope to serve as an introduction on the field for readers. So for now, let me just share with you this interview I conducted in 2010 for my Master of Development Communication class in UPOU. I am certain you will have a good grasp of what a social enterprise is after seeing the video or reading the transcript below.

1. Interviewer: What is a social enterprise?

Ang social enterprise ay isang venture na hindi lang profit ang tinitignan. It is a business venture but at the same time may tinatawag tayo na social advocacy or social dimension.

2. Interviewer: What is Human Nature?

It started November 28, 2008. Ang nagtayo ng Gandang Kalikasan which is the manufacturer/supplier of Human Nature Products is yung dalawang anak ni Tony Meloto. Si Anna at saka si Camille together with the husband of Anna, si Dylan Wilk. So silang tatlo yung nag-start. They contacted their friends if they will be able to formulate the products.

Human Nature, A Social Enterprise from Human Heart Nature website: www.humanheartnature.com

3. Interviewer: What are the products of Human Nature?

Ang products ng Human Nature from babies to senior citizens. So it’s not really a beauty product per se kaya nga personal care na tinatawag.

Human Nature Products

4. Interviewer: What makes Human Nature a social enterprise?

Di ba ang Human Nature ay pro-Philippines, pro-poor, pro-environment? So that’s the philosophy behind it. Lahat ng ginagawa, whether it’s the product or the process, kinuha sya dun sa philosophy na yun.

Human Nature: Mission, Vision, and Values

Interviewer: Yun ba ang hinahanap ng mga tao ngayon?

For the consumer, I think it’s a plus factor that it’s Philippine made. Kasi the brands like Avon, NUskin, Revlon, etc., lahat iyon abroad. These are imported brands. Na meron lang Philippine arm, which markets these products. Pero yung pinagmumulan ng formulation, yung pinagmumulan ng packaging, everything, abroad yun. Dito, Pilipino talaga yung gumagawa.

5. Interviewer: What is the impact of Human Nature to society?

May tatlong catch words yun eh. Doing good, doing well, and doing right.

Interviewer: Ano-ano po yung ibig sabihin ng mga ito?

Okay, yung doing good, kasi meron agad ito immediate impact sa society. Di ba. Parang kapag sumali ka dito o kaya naging parte ka ng Human Nature, meron kang direct impact on society in two ways: one is you promote Philippine made products which already gives employment or livelihood to the farmers, unlike before na kapag puro palay ang tinatanim ng mga farmers tapos six months silang naghihintay, nababaon sila sa utang pero pag ngayon, im talking of farmers who are GK residents and also farmerswho are members of local farming cooperatives in the provinces, so we are talking here of not individuals, we are talking of families. Kasi for example, sa Bacolod lang, yung nagtatanim ng Tanglad, yung lemon grass, 42 families yun.

Interviewer: Dati ang tinatanim nila is palay?

Palay, sugarcane so kumbaga, sa ngayon, (they plant) high valued crops. We call it high valued crops, yung mga sunflower, aloe vera, citronella, tapos mabilis ang harvest. Hindi sila maghihintay ng anim na buwan para nila anihin yung tinatanim nila. So you’re giving them an alternative rather than sticking to one produce which is rice, you are gving them an alternative so nag-co-crop rotation sila. So at the same time, ang important, hindi na sila nababaon sa utang, kasi meron na silang regular na kinikita. Tapos meron na silang pambili ng ipupunla para sa susunod . So regular yun.

6. Interviewer: Human Nature and Gawad Kalinga

Ang Gandang Kalikasan is a partner or a sister/affiliated enterprise ng Gawad kalinga. Kasi may tie-up din ang Gawad kalinga with NGOs in the provinces. One example is the Philippine Federation for the Environmental Concerns. And then yung tinatawag na Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation. Ito yung mga NGOs na nagpoprovide ng hydropower tsaka solar energy sa mga farms tapos naka-tieup din sa mga regular coops ng farmers. Tinutulungan sila magkaroon ng equipment before, yung initial equipment before dalhin sa planta yung raw materials. At saka what’s important is they are given fair trade prices for their produce so hindi sila binabarat. Hindi sila nalulugi, in fact kumikita sila kasi maganda talaga yung produkto, it’s at the market rate.

Human Nature Social Enterprise Gifts from Partner Social Enterprises

Interview: Plus may training pa kayong binibigay.

May training for organic farming. Kaya sabay-sabay yon. Yun nga yung mga Gawad kalinga residents na pumunta na rin into organic farming, hindi nagtapos ang pagtulong kapag natayo na ang bahay nila. Kasi maraming mga tao lalo na if they come from depressed areas tapos irerelocate nila into a site na may bahay or magtatayo ng bahay, they always say paano yung kabuhayan nila. Di naming maiiwan basta-basta. But if you are giving them an alternative means of livelihood wherein the whole family can participate, kasi ang pagtatanim pati bata (pwede). It is also a good way of family bonding.

7. Interviewer: Human Nature and GK Villages

Tapos ang isa pang paraan kasi merong immersion program of the Human Nature dealers with the GK villages. So we do it once a month. We started last January dito sa Quezon City branch nung January 24 and then on February 27, we will have the second batch of dealers who will be joining. Hindi lang limited to dealers ito kasi the dealers can bring two other people who are not dealers. Kaya nga meron isang dealer dala niya buong family niya eh. Mga anak niya kasama. Family activity. As in elementary yung mga anak.

On February 16, we are going to have a similar interaction program with entrepreneurial students of UST, graduating batch. Sila yung nag-request if we can have an orientation with them. Then isasama din naming sila dun sa one of the GK Villages to encounter similar experiences as the Human Nature dealers.

Tapos yung iba, ang naging offshoot non natuwa sila, nainspire sila dun sa initial interaction, merong isang dealer na preschool teacher pala siya. Sabi niya gusto ko na ito maging regular basis for me. I will do once a week to that GK village kasi may preschool doon na mga bata, yung Sibol. So parang nag-vovolunteer teacher siya. Kasi dinodocument din eh. So yung mga leaders, they will see the pictures of the actual pagwowork nila dun. Tapos yung lunch is niluto ng mga nakatira sa GK residences. So sila yung nagpoprovide ng lunch tsaka yung merienda para sa mga participants.

8. Interviewer: Why Human “Heart” Nature?

Kasi ang tao, mahal niya ang kalikasan. Instead na Human loves Nature, Human heart nature.

Essentials of Homeschooling for Christians

Since we are talking about freelance work and home businesses in this blog, I think homeschooling is not a far off topic to be featured here as well. In fact, I believe one of the reasons why most mothers want to try freelance work or come up with homebased businesses is so that they could give more time attending to their children, and maybe homeschool them as well.

Below is an invitation to a seminar on homeschooling given to me by a friend. Read on and find out if it is for you.


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"Hey moms and dads!

Ever wanted to homeschool your kids, but feel a bit overwhelmed about the whole thing? Are you searching for effective ways on how to teach your kids at home? Want to figure out how to homeschool without losing your cool?

Then worry no more. Victory Christian International School has just the right seminar for all our homeschooling parents out there. “Essentials of Homeschooling for Christians” will be happening on Monday, November 18, 2013 at the Tanghalang Pasigueño, Pasig City. Our guest speaker will be Ms. Esther Wilkenson, a mother of three homeschooled children and a National Consultant for Bob Jones University Press (BJU Press), the curriculum followed by our HomeStudy^TM Program. Ms. Esther earned her BS degree in Elementary Education and her MA degree in Biblical Counseling. We are delighted to have her share her insights with us.

This is a unique opportunity not only for homeschooling parents, but also for those who are currently planning to educate their children at home. This seminar will let you know which teaching techniques work best in guiding your child in his studies. It will teach you everything you need to know about homeschooling:


Your best homeschool year ever!
Come discover practical skills and helpful tools to keep you and your kids on track.

The importance of Christian curriculum in homeschooling
Find out the significance of instilling a Biblical world view in a way that encourages learning.

How the brain reads and learns
Reading is the foundational skill of learning—yet so many children struggle to read well with understanding. Knowing how the brain learns can help you overcome many challenges related to attention, comprehension, and retention. 

Tickets are available for only Php 400.00. For inquiries, you may call Ms. Germaine at 775-5705 or (0917) 813-2862.

We’re excited to see you there!"

Click this link for more details: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=746581922021889&set=a.217739488239471.70673.140658475947573&type=1&theater

Online Lead Generation Strategies Seminar by informatics Philippines

Everyone knows how important social media presence is in ensuring freelance or business success nowadays. Hence, I am recommending the Online Lead Generation Strategies Seminar by informatics Philippines to those who want to learn more on getting more clients via online sites.

Click this link for more details: 

http://ellegoesintobusiness.blogspot.com/p/seminars-for-freelancers.html

KEY TO STICKING TO BUSINESS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: NOTE TO SELF

When I decided to quit my job and go into business, I really was not sure if I was ready. But I knew I had to do it because I was no longer happy at work and I did not want my attitude to affect the quality of my outputs. Of course, I was worried over how long will I be able to endure months without a sure source of income. After all, just like majority of minimum income earning Filipino families, I too share in paying for our monthly bills. Yet, I still decided to take a leap of faith, very much like as if I'm opening myself to the possibility of a romantic relationship. I knew that starting a business comes with many challenges, but I did not expect that it will take this long for me to get used to how business really works. Nor was I prepared to see my stash of money quickly evaporating and the calendar shedding pages in a rush before I could even sell an item from my online store. Honestly, sometimes, I thought of giving up, but then, I would look at this little note I wrote just a few months ago and I am reminded why I decided to venture into this unknown world.

Yes, the business that I have put up is a sort of a social enterprise and perhaps, this is also one of the major reasons why I am having difficulties with this quest. I hope to combine earning plus being able to inspire people, in this case, by putting up a business that creates products that inspire children, most especially those in small private schools and public schools, to dream and strive for their dream jobs. I design, create and market the products. And then, I also search for articles on the web to post on my business fan page to inspire readers. I do everything on my own, and that is also another reason why business is still slow. Add to this is the fact that I accept editing and writing jobs because I still need to earn for my family and to have funds to keep my business afloat. I think I really am spreading myself thin.

In times of despair and wanting to give up, I look back at my little note to self. And then the passion flares again!* (Yep! This line is from the song "Sometimes when we touch!") I realize that a little note could contain my business mission statement, and seeing it every day would be my key to sticking to my business goals and objectives.

Now, with my business mission statement written down clearly, I am also becoming more open to other possibilities. Like perhaps, I am just an instrument of this business idea which is really intended for someone else or for a bigger group. Perhaps, I can convince an NGO or other social entrepreneurs to join me or I could endorse my idea to them. And then I could go back finding a job where I could read and write and edit and promote stuff - four things that I also truly love aside from forming business ideas. And through that job, I could still inspire children because I was able to fulfill another dream of mine - earn a decent living through writing.

I also read this quote every day, something I found posted in Bo Sanchez's fan page which said:

"Never give up on the dreams that God has placed in your heart. But you can experiment in various ways in fulfilling them - until you find the right one." - Bo Sanchez

It may take me years to realize my dreams (business and personal dreams at that), and similar to planting a tree, it is normal to wait and have faith that soon I will see my labors bear fruit. 



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*This strategy of writing down one's purpose for doing something is something that I have incorporated in the wall charts which I offer in my business. I practice what I preach! See the wall charts here (click the link):

SOS Dream Job Charts

What is a businessperson?

Hi, Everyone!

It has been almost a year since I last posted anything here because, yes, I have been busy with my actual business and other freelancing gigs! Yey!

But I have not forgotten my promise. I will still share with you my travails in this very exciting journey. In fact, as one big revelation, I could say that being a businessperson is but a concept in one's mind. One can be employed and still be a businessperson. By this, I mean, when you are rendering services or producing something for a company as its employee, and you know your worth or the worth of your services and can successfully reach your financial goals, then, by all means, you already are a businessperson. And this is what I hope to imbibe in my consciousness. I could get back to working in an office and be wiser with my money and investments outside the office and still say that I am working for myself and not wasting my time. Good positive thinking, huh? :)

Now, to thank you for sticking around with me and this blog, I am happy to announce that I have just put up a new page in this site which I named:

Seminars for Freelancers

Go click the link and see where to go to learn about freelancing in the coming months :)

Carpe diem!