For teacher Ayeen, being a mentor to young eager minds is exhilarating, scary and totally life-changing all at once.

For teacher Ayeen, being a mentor to young eager minds is exhilarating, scary and totally life-changing all at once.

Renee Juliene Karunungan, 24, called Ayeen by her friends and family, teaches Literature, Grammar & Composition at Gawad Kalinga’s School for Experiential and Entrepreneurial Development (SEED), which started August at GK Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan.

Staying true to the GK vision-mission, SEED is a two-year program co-developed with TESDA that aims to train and nourish graduates to tackle poverty through agriculture and innovation all while uplifting the poor in the process. 

Even though it's been only two months since SEED started, Ayeen has already learned so much and continues to be inspired her students. And today, she shares her inspiring story:

Becoming a teacher was not a dream I’ve had from childhood. But having come from a family of teachers — my paternal grandmother was a home economics teacher and her siblings were all Filipino and English teachers — I guess it was, somehow, inevitable.

Growing up with my grandmother, I’ve seen how her students still remember and admire her. Some of them still even send her postcards from around the world. It warms me up inside whenever I walk with her and someone comes up to her and says, “Hi ma’am! Do you remember me? I was your student!” or, “Hi ma’am! You were my child’s teacher!” to which, my grandmother, at 91, merely smiles, trying hard to remember them from the hundreds of faces she’s taught throughout the years. And even if sometimes she fails to remember, she always proudly tells me, “That’s my student!”

I have always had a great love for teachers. I remember my teachers who have made an impression on me, not just because they taught their subjects well, but more because they taught me things beyond their subjects — they taught me about life. 

Whoever I am today is partly a product of how my teachers have molded me. And now, being a teacher myself, I have come to realize how difficult a job it is, how big the responsibility I have. And honestly, it does scare me.

Being a teacher at SEED, I have in my hands the young and idealistic, the dreamers and doers, like fresh clay that can still easily be shaped. But with each and every student waiting to become a masterpiece, I also have to be very careful, to ensure that there would be no cracks, that their foundations be strong.

The best education for the least: SEED's pioneer batch consists of 47 eager and determined students from various public schools

Having come from poor families, my students inspire me. I have never seen so much determination and hard work. They have had to fight for their education; they have had to overcome obstacles at a very young age. And I see it in their eyes, their thirst and hunger for knowledge.

They were once taught to stop dreaming because from where they come from, dreams don’t come true but because of SEED, they have learned not only to dream again, but to dream bigger dreams; to dream not only for themselves, but to dream for their community, for their country.

And as their teacher, here is what I want them to know:

Dear students,

Remember the first day of class when some of you told me that you were scared of English? That you felt you weren’t good enough? What did I tell you? That we will learn together, that I will be there every step of the way until you are able to walk on you own, but only if you promised you will also do your best.

Two months have passed and I am so proud of your improvements. You might still confuse your verb tenses and subject-verb agreements but I smile whenever your eyes light up and I see that suddenly what I have been teaching has become clear. Little moments like these make me proud and happy.

You all challenge me to do my best and I want you to know that I will never give up on anyone of you. Remember, I share in your problems as well as in your achievements, and I’m quite sure your other teachers do, too. You are worth our time, worth everything we give.

Trust me, trust us. We are on your way to the fulfillment of your dreams. And I promise you, we promise you, that we will get there, we will get there.

Love,

Ms. A

I am a teacher and I am proud to be one because of my students. Teacher’s Day is not only a celebration for teachers, it is too, a celebration of our students. For what are we without them? Maligayang araw ng mga guro!

Family photo: Ayeen [middle] stands for a group photo with her students.

Happy Teacher's Day to you as well, Ayeen! We celebrate you and all our other hardworking teachers today and every day of our lives – with the ideas we believe in, the words we speak and the goodness we give to the world. Thank you for guiding is in every step of the way!

Learn more about School for Experiential and Entrepreneurial Development (SEED) at Gawad Kalinga's official site.

Last October 2-4, 2014, the Philippines' most influential and inspired change-makers converged at GK's 2nd Social Business Summit

Last October 2-4, 2014, the Philippines' most influential and inspired change-makers converged at GK's 2nd Social Business Summit

Mitzi, Ate Remi, Ate Lisa, and Ate Pilita - four individuals threaded together to make a DIY dream come true. Know their love story.

Mitzi, Ate Remi, Ate Lisa, and Ate Pilita - four individuals threaded together to make a DIY dream come true. Know their love story.

Mori Notes is an artisan community of designers, crafters, and advocates from all walks of life founded by Mitzi Uy. This small group of passionate seamstresses creates innovative journals, wallets, and organizers from recycled materials to fulfill their vision of a brighter future and ignite your passion for fun and functional crafts.

Get to know how this passion project turned into a growing social enterprise, lovingly sewn by four individuals. 

Meet Mitzi, Ate Remi, Ate Lisa, and Ate Pilita

Mitzi just quit her corporate job and was looking for life’s meaning and purpose.

Ate Remi, hailing from a family of seamstresses, was sewing rags which were then sold for just a peso a piece.

Ate Lisa who lived her whole life sewing for different companies found herself staying at home without any clients.

And Ate Pilita, a stay-at-home mom, was looking for something to help with their household’s growing financial  needs.

This was two years ago. Little did these people know that their seemingly separate paths will later converge into one, step-by-step threading their passions into a bigger purpose. And that's how social enterprise Mori Notes was born.

 [L-R] In photo: Ate Pilita, Ate Lisa, Ate Remi and Mitzi.

 

DIY Dream Come True

After her corporate stint, Mitzi spent her free time writing all her thoughts in her journal. Having a knack for DIYs, she started making her journals from upcycled materials which she then called pursebooks. It was through this little passion project that she formed the concept for Mori Notes.

What started out as small orders from family and friends soon grew into bigger and bigger demands. A definite affirmation that she's doing something right, Mitzi was inspired to do more designs and even create other upcycled products like purses and bags. But despite her rising success, Mitzi felt she could do more, that she could take the goodness she's received and share it with others.

 

Jot Down & Zip Up in Style: Mori Notes's Pursebook (Photo from Mori Notes's official Facebook page; Human Nature doesn't carry this product but we do have Mori Notes's Dual-Zip Purses)

Partners in Passion

Through “Sikap Buhay”, a group who connects entrepreneurs to the community, Mitzi started working with stay-at-home mothers from the nearby barangay, Kaingin Road, Balintawak, Quezon City.  There, she met Ate Remi, Ate Lisa and Ate Pilita who soon become her partners in taking her DIY dreams to an even bigger scale.

With every Mori Notes product sold, the nanays of Kaingin Road not only got to earn more for their families, but also realize their passions and purpose. Needless to say, it changed their lives for the better and just further empowered them to do more good. The nanays are now equipped with better sewing techniques acquired from crafting innovative items like the Dual Zip Purse and the Reversible File Bag, among others. And even until today, Mitzi, Ate Remi, Ate Lisa, and Ate Pilita all work together closely into putting love and hope in every stitch of every product.

 

[L-R] Leading Ladies at Work: Ate Pilita, Ate Lisa, and Ate Remi discuss what material to best use for Mori Notes's next product.

 

Doing More Good

As Mori Notes grows, they are reaching out to more communities in Quezon City and Valenzuela City to take the journey with them, providing an avenue for more mothers to earn more for their family, work at the comforts of their home, and fulfill their life’s purpose.

Ate Remi, Ate Lisa, and Ate Pilita are at the forefront of this effort, going to other barangays to train mothers on sewing and binding. But more than that, they encourage fellow mothers to realize their full potential, to be not just sewers but artisans who contribute to their communities.

[L-R] Sewn with love: Ate Lisa working on a Mori Notes product | Mori Notes Dual-Zip Purses

 

Mitzi, Ate Remi, Ate Lisa, and Ate Pilita –  four individuals who started on the different paths, now all threaded together to sew yet another goodness story through Mori Notes!

 

Learn more about MoriNotes through their official Facebook page.

Read up on what our jet-setting Goodness Ambassador Rachel Grant has been up to!

Read up on what our jet-setting Goodness Ambassador Rachel Grant has been up to!

Rachel Grant – Philippine-born beauty queen, Bond Girl, Human Nature Global Ambassador, and our Furry Kind collaborator – shares her global social enterprise adventures. 

As former Bond girl, I was thrilled when invited to emcee the James Bond-themed Unconditional Love Dinner & Dance benefit for Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation held at a secret oceanfront hideaway in the Hamptons USA. It was a dazzling affair in honor of animal philanthropist Georgina Bloomberg and was also attended by her billionaire father former Mayor Bloomberg of New York. Southampton Animal Shelter is a top no-kill shelter where I’ve volunteered and successfully cleaned up homeless dogs using Furry Kind. Unconditional Love event guests were each introduced to Furry Kind and took home a sample in their “doggy bag”.

Rachel (in a Chalina Couture creation) with Georgina Bloomberg

I was a judge at Yappy Hour cocktail and beach-themed dog costume party at Southampton Historical Museum to benefit Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation. Dog owners were invited to enjoy "barkatinis and yappatizers" and to strut their mutt on the catwalk, with shelter dogs available for adoption. Mayor Mark Epley and I selected the best-dressed dogs. First prize went to a delightfully dressed blind and deaf duo with runners up receiving a bottle of Furry Kind.

The Yappy Hour winners take home bottles of Furry Kind.

Human Nature’s Bug Shield is without a doubt my best travel buddy! My skin was well protected and bite-free on a recent trip to Nicaragua, Central America. I stayed in a beautiful solar-powered tree-house at Morgan’s Rock surrounded by 4,000 acres of protected forest. One morning I rappelled down a 150-foot waterfall wall and zip-lined through 2.5 kilometres of jungle! 

Rachel scales down a 150-ft waterfall in the jungle

Through tree planting, environmental awareness and education, Morgan's Rock has helped prevent poaching, illegal logging and deforestation. Land is also set aside for low-impact agriculture, providing organic produce and educational brunch activities. My farm visit included milking cows, picking fresh eggs and kneading traditional limestone corn tortillas. Reminiscent of "farm to table" good times spent at GK’s Enchanted Farm in Bulacan, it was most encouraging to experience another fine example of sustainable organic living in a different part of our world.

Human Nature's Bug Shield Lotion, Rachel’s best bud in her Nicaraguan adventure | Rachel milking a cow at Morgan’s Rock organic farm

Still trying to fight off pimple problems? Banish potential breakouts like a pro – sans the expensive chemical creams and treatments - using these five quick tips!

Still trying to fight off pimple problems? Banish potential breakouts like a pro – sans the expensive chemical creams and treatments - using these five quick tips!

Still trying to fight off pimple problems? Banish potential breakouts like a pro – sans the expensive chemical creams and treatments – using these five quick tips!

#1 Skinvest in twice-a-day cleansing

Keeping your face clean and fresh will always be the golden rule in preventing pimples popping up. Make sure to stick to your daily natural face care routine – once in the morning and once before you go to bed.

Skinvestment tip: Touching your face can be also be a cause of pimple woes! We know it's easier said than done but resting your head on your hands and rubbing your fingers against your cheeks is a no-no since these can irritate your skin. So next time you catch yourself about to reach out for those blushers, hold it and tuck those hands back in.

#2 Use mineral oil-free makeup

This is a crucial tip especially for pimple-prone skin. What makeup you use is a big factor in keeping those breakouts at bay. Whenever shopping for your warrior paint, look for products that are clinically-tested non-comedogenic and are completely free from mineral oil, like Human Nature's 100% Natural Mineral Makeup line. These products won't clog your pores, letting your skin breathe even with the layer of makeup.

Skinvestment tip: How much makeup you use and how often you use them are important as well! The rule for fresh, clear skin? Less is more. Save the heavy beautification for special occasions.

#3 Don’t skip laundry duty

Kind of unexpected, we know, but changing your pillowcase once a week can do wonders in preventing breakouts. A tried and tested beauty hack, doing this laundry duty removes all that sweat, dirt and makeup accumulated over the week, giving your face a clean and fresh welcome at the end of the day.

Skinvestment tip: Skip the detergents that contain harsh chemicals and fragrances as they can irritate your face. Stick to household helpers with natural ingredients such as the Tough Love line as they get the job done while still being gentle to your skin.

#4 Exercise a healthy hair habit

Hair products with harsh chemicals can also be a huge culprit when it comes to pimple problems. These products  – especially the heavily-fragranced ones – can cause breakouts on your forehead, jaw, neck and back. Stay clear of the potential toxics and practice the healthy hair habit using our genuinely natural Hair Care line.

Skinvestment tip: When in the shower, make sure to completely rinse the shampoo out of your hair before moving on to your face to prevent irritation.

#5 Nix pimples the natural way

Most of the time when we see a pimple pop up, our reflex is to reach out to a chemical quick fix like benzoyl peroxide. But do you know how these products work? The chemicals work into drying out the pimple but in the process, they also dry out the area surrounding the pimple, causing drying and peeling. And in the long run, the added irritation can also cause even more breakouts!

Combat pimples without irritation with Human Nature's 100% Natural Acne Defense Solution Gel. It's lush with tea tree oil which is known to be as effective as benzoyl peroxide in reducing pimples BUT without the irritation and peeling.* It delivers maximum results without the redness, stinging, drying and peeling that usually goes with chemical treatment.

This is because tea tree oil is:

• Antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral: Natural tea tree oil is suitable for acne and other problem skin conditions.

• Anti-irritating: Free from alcohol, tea tree oil provides a gentle, non-drying, effective solution to acne.

*"A comparative study of tea-tree oil versus benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne". Basset IB. Pannowitz DL, Barnetson RS. Med J Aust. 1990 Oct 13:153 (3): 455-8

Indulge your sweet tooth in guiltless satisfaction with this easy recipe for chewy vegan Pili & Pino cookies!

Indulge your sweet tooth in guiltless satisfaction with this easy recipe for chewy vegan Pili & Pino cookies!

Looking to indulge in guiltless satisfaction for your sweet tooth? Follow this easy recipe for chewy vegan Pili & Pino cookies!

What you’ll need:

• 1 cup Pili & Pino Banana and Cacao Granola
• 2 medium bananas, mashed
• 4 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup packed muscovado sugar
• 3 drops vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 pinch sea salt

What to do:

1. Cream banana, olive oil, and sugar.

2. In a separate container, combine the flour and salt. Stir flour mixture into the creamed banana mixture. Finally, stir in the Pili & Pino Granola.

3. Pre-heat toaster oven. Line your pan with greased baking paper or cookie sheets. Drop dough by heaping teaspoonfuls onto the sheets about 2 inches apart.

4. Bake for 6 to 10 minutes or until cookies’ edges are light brown. Cool for 10 minutes before enjoying!

Yield: Approximately 2 dozen

Heap sunshiny goodness into your breakfast bowl with Pili & Pino Granola. This delectable all-Filipino twist on granola is infused with the healthy sweetness of coconut nectar, so munch away!

Available in Mango & Pineapple and Banana & Cacao

After-baking Tip: To keep its good quality for much longer, don't forget to refrigerate your Pili & Pino in an airtight container. 

Get to know GK Liwayway, their hopes and dreams, and the challenges they're trying to overcome day by day.

Get to know GK Liwayway, their hopes and dreams, and the challenges they're trying to overcome day by day.

Note: Some of the interviews conducted in Filipino were translated into English.

“Don’t you get scared?” we ask as the slightly-built man (fittingly called Payat) deftly ties the container to the coconut flower with a slim yet sturdy coconut leaf, his feet dangling a good sixty feet off the ground. “I’ve watched my father do this since I was young,” he briefly responds, and then without hesitation, he steps on a long bamboo shoot acting as a vertigo-inducing pathway, and he nimbly makes his way towards the next coconut tree.

Punctuated with these towering trees and their bamboo bridges, a beautiful blue wraps the skyline that falls on fleeting yet mesmerizing pockets of the Pacific Ocean. This is the warm welcome that greets the residents of Mauban, Quezon every day.  And perched within this quaint town is the small community of Gawad Kalinga (GK) Liwayway.

Getting to Know GK Liwayway

Home to around 40 families, the bright, colorful houses and the quiet lull of the community fit perfectly with the backdrop of pale blue sky and magnificent mountains.  GK Liwayway's pangulo Charitto Buela, or simply called Ate Chatto, helps us in getting to know more about the people.

"We get whatever work we can," she shares, explaining the difficulty of the people to have a permanent job. For the residents of GK Liwayway, the most common livelihood is planting root crops like cassava and sweet potatoes, as well as bananas and pineapples on vacant land in and near the village ("We don't own any of that land," she quickly explains).  The men especially are always on the lookout for construction work and can often be found fishing in the nearby river to catch their daily meals.

Ate Chatto herself and the rest of her family get their income mainly from woodwork projects or commonly called by residents as pukpukin. Usually, she'll work on making miniature nipa huts and selling them to a middle man for fifteen pesos apiece.

As the source of livelihood for the people of GK Liwayway is more or less dependent on factors such as climate, availability of crops, middlemen and short-term contracts, it is difficult for them to be financially secure – to have the peace of mind of knowing where the family's next meal will come from.

When Hope and Uncertainty Mix

GK Liwayway’s bright houses pop out like colorful confetti against the mountainous backdrop.

Stemming from the general lack of employment of the residents, ate Chatto reveals another concern of the community. "At first, the bayanihan while building the houses felt really good," she starts, sharing from her own experience when she became part of the GK community over a year ago. "But of course, there will be misunderstandings among the people. If sisters who have lived together for almost all their lives get into misunderstandings, what more for people who come from different barangays and speak different languages suddenly becoming neighbors?"

Faced with this rampant problem, Ate Chatto admits that even after eight months of being the community leader, she still feels she's standing on shaky ground. "If I'm just a follower, that's okay with me. But when I'm the one asking people to follow me, I think that's the hardest thing that I ever had to do in my life."

But despite the difficulties (and the quick confession that she didn't want the position at first) it's evident that Ate Chatto isn't about to compromise on any of her responsibilities as pangulo. She tells of her visit to the Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan for this year's GK Expo: "The place was beautiful," she says with awe and respect, and it's clear the experience has given her a more distinct dream for GK Liwayway.

"My number one priority for the community is having stable jobs," she firmly declares, targeting the root of restlessness that frequently overshadows the residents. When asked how she plans to achieve that, uncertainty peeked through. "I don't know. To be honest, I don't even know how I am going to get a stable job."

And this is how Frank Regis, fondly called "Tito Frank" by friends and colleagues, found the community back in 2013 when he first laid out his plans for Dr. Gerry's Coco Nectar's plantation. But instead of apprehension, he felt energized and inspired for he saw overflowing opportunity to do good for more.

Find out the next chapter to this budding story of bayanihan and friendship next week as we explore more about Tito Frank's social enterprise and how the simple act of reaching out to make a dream come true together has opened so many doors for GK Liwayway!

This Halloween, whip out those creative jazz hands while making the day wickedly awesome for Mother Earth as well!

This Halloween, whip out those creative jazz hands while making the day wickedly awesome for Mother Earth as well!

This Halloween, you don't need to shell out for a spook-tacular celebration! It's time to whip out those creative jazz hands while making the day wickedly awesome for Mother Earth as well. Here are 3 smart and simple ways to celebrate an eco-friendly Halloween for the whole family.

#1 DIY Sew 'n' Snip

DIY Halloween costumes are the best! You never have to worry about having the same costume as anyone else and you get to add your own signature style as you sew and snip away. (And just think of the huge chunk of time you saved in not needing to scour the malls for a good Halloween costume!)

Here's a simple 5-step tutorial in making your animal-inspired cardboard box mask for those last-minute party plans.

What you'll need:

• Cardboard box big enough to fit your head
• Construction paper (stock up on the pinks)
• Tools: scissors, ruler, pencil, markers and glue

What to do:

1. Cut off the flaps of the cardboard box at one side to and then secure all sides of the box with tape.

2. Cut out two square-shaped slits on the box for your eyes and start outlining your piggy's face from there. Make a thicker, bigger square with a black marker.

3. For your nose, cut out a square pink construction paper and draw two vertical lines for the nostrils. Finish it off with a smile (or a smirk, a frown - it's your choice!) 

4. For your ears, cut two pink triangles and then paste them just at the top corners of the box.  

5. Don your pink ensemble (and maybe even throw in a curly tail) and your costume is complete!

Check this out for more DIY Halloween costume tips!

Beauty Tip: After the trick-or-treatin', take off the makeup easily with just a few, gentle swipes of Cleansing Oil.

#2 Trick-or-Treasure!

Ditch the sugary candies (and the inevitable wrapper remains at the end of the day) by giving out home-baked healthy chewy cookies instead using Pili & Pino Granola! 

You can also add in another Pinoy ode to Halloween by making your own polvoron!

What you’ll need:

• 1 cup sifted all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup full-cream powdered milk
• 1/2 cup coco sugar (it's healthier than white sugar!)
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• Polvoron molder

What to do:

1. Toast flour in a pan until it turns light brown, stirring constantly so the flour browns evenly and then transfer the toasted flour to a medium-sized mixing bowl. 
2. Add the powdered milk and sugar and blend well, then add the softened butter and mix well. 
3. Fill in your polvoron molder with the mixture and release formed pieces in a tray. Chill for 20 minutes or until firm.

Voila! You have a fresh batch of easy-peasy polvoron ready for some trick-or-treating.

#3 Green Decorating

Cast a unique spell on your house this Halloween with three simple word: reduce, reuse, recycle!

Got mason jars and empty Human Nature bottles? Wave your magic wand (i.e. arts materials) and turn them into cute jack-o-lanterns! Got boxes piling up at the basement? With your trusty paint brush and colors, magic them into tombstones!

You can also use your Christmas lights to give your mason jar jack-o-lanterns a ghoul-y glow and your old black stockings to wrap Christmas balls with (you can add in some bat cutouts to vamp it up). 

With just a little bit of imagination and snooping around the house, you'll find you already have all you need for a cool ghoul decoratin'. Check out this quick DIY list to get you inspired.

Cuts Against Cancer in partnership with Human Nature snipped their way to goodness AND a potential Guinness World Record!

Cuts Against Cancer in partnership with Human Nature snipped their way to goodness AND a potential Guinness World Record!

Find out more about social enterprise Dr. Gerry's Coco Nectar and how the simple act of reaching out to make a dream come true together has opened so many doors for GK Liwayway!

Find out more about social enterprise Dr. Gerry's Coco Nectar and how the simple act of reaching out to make a dream come true together has opened so many doors for GK Liwayway!

Get to know GK Liwayway, their hopes and dreams, and the challenges they're trying to overcome day by day here.

Note: Some of the interviews conducted in Filipino were translated into English.

Uncle Frank's Green Honey

"We started developing the coco nectar plantation in Mauban around the third quarter of 2013," starts Tito Frank. The plantation, dubbed as Uncle Frank's Green Honey, is just a minute of leisurely walk away from the community. And as soon as you step in, the quiet lull is replaced with a small hum of activity, your nose taking in the sweet scent of coco nectar permeating the air and your eyes scoping the landscape lush with greenery, bright skies and overall serenity. 

Tito Frank and Tita Riza pose behind their plantation which includes small pockets of space where you can just be by yourself. The place is scattered with prayer benches overlooking the beautiful mountainous view and even has a full-scale labyrinth that you can walk through to clear your head.

"[When putting up the plantation] we decided to locate it beside GK Liwayway to give them livelihood opportunities, health support and supplementary values guidance," further shares Tito Frank.

Both big believers of investing in the wellness of body and mind, Tito Frank and his wife Tita Riza built the plantation on this philosophy and it's something Tito Frank also incorporated into his business model for Dr. Gerry's Coco Nectar. "We do not hire on the basis of educational attainment," explains Tito Frank, "We hire on the basis of character and attitude. Any and every job can be learned, even management, without having to go to school."

Currently, the plant consists of 14 employees involved in the production of coco nectar, two in administration and 11 cocosap gatherers, or more often called by their Tagalog term mangagaret ("Karets for short," injects Tito Frank).  Every day, they climb a collective 850 coconut trees twice a day to gather coconut sap from the trees' inflorescence (flowers). The buckets and buckets of coconut sap are then delivered to the manufacturing plant to be processed into the finished good, coco nectar. 

L-R: Ruel (“Alyas Payat!”), one of the first karets for Dr. Gerry’s Coco Nectar, posing before climbing a coconut tree, cutting the coconut flower to get the sap flowing, and moving on to the next tree through a bamboo bridge. 

Being a karet requires a unique skill set that usually takes one to two years to perfect. The risk definitely outweighs the reward as a karet can earn anywhere from Php12,000 – Php21,000 a month. They're also provided a simple but comfortable lodging within the plantation where their families can stay with them.

Even here, Tito Frank's philosophy is seen in how the karets take care of the coconut trees. They make sure the trees are free from infestation and that they get enough time to produce more sap. It's amazing to witness how the farmers are at one with the trees – they take care of their trees just like how the trees take care of them and their families. This is a big contrast from the usual practices seen in gathering coco lumber wherein people simply cut down the trees and then move on to the next. But with gathering coconut sap, there is sustainability and harmony.

Rising in the Aftermath of Typhoon Glenda

With wind speed that reached a daunting 250 kilometers per hour, Typhoon Glenda wiped through Luzon last July 2014, leaving behind sorrow and wreckage, some beyond repair. Back at Uncle Frank's Green Honey, some people thought the same for the production.

"It was really scary," recalled administrative assistant Jaycel delos Santos, "Almost all of the coconut trees fell and we thought it was all over, that we couldn't recover from the aftermath. But then Tito Frank said to us, 'Come on, let's start producing coco nectar again' and we did and here we are."

In image: one of the plant’s hardworking operators, Cris Fabula. To keep the production going and consequently preserving the good quality of coco nectar, people at the plantation work until as late as 2AM. “But no one forces them. Ultimately, they don’t work for me or the company. They work for themselves,” says Tito Frank, proud of his team’s professionalism.

 Experiencing a stalemate for two whole months, the whole coco nectar team worked on overdrive, trying to meet the growing demands from clients, one of which is Human Nature. To accommodate all 28 branches, Tito Frank and his team had to deliver as many as 1,000 bottles of Dr. Gerry's Coco Nectar every week! "Usually, we'd send one to two boxes to retail stores from time to time. But Human Nature was a whole other level," jokingly exasperates Tito Frank. 

And even though Typhoon Glenda tested their resiliency and their bayanihan during those two months, Tito Frank and his team saw something to celebrate. "Because of its strong winds, Typhoon Glenda wiped away all of the coco lisap," he exclaimed, laughing in mirth and slight disbelief.

Coco lisap has always been the number one enemy in the coconut industry, sapping the coconut trees of their nutrients and killing them from the inside out. And with a permanent solution to the problem still undiscovered, farmers have to make do with temporary fixes of their own.

Win-Win for All

As of this October, Dr. Gerry's Coco Nectar is back to smooth sailing and is even opening up an even bigger production plant to accommodate the growing demand. With this budding success, Tito Frank hopes to reach out to more people in GK Liwayway and offer them stable jobs with big benefits. But beyond that, he hopes to help them solve the concerns of the community for the long-term.

"When we decided to put up our plant beside this community," says Tito Frank, "These are the things we wanted to help them change for the better – their culture and consciousness."

L-R: GK Liwayway pangulo Ate Chatto, Jaycel and her mother, Ate Bacion, all residents of GK Liwayway. When asked what’s the best thing about working for Dr. Gerry’s as Admin Assistant, Jaycel replied with a smile, “Three of my siblings are now in elementary and I help my parents in paying for all their school needs.”

The simple act of reaching out to make a dream come true together has opened so many doors for GK Liwayway and has stayed true to Tito Frank's advocacy of uplifting communities and the coconut industry. This growing partnership may have only just begun, but together they already hold big dreams for each other!

Goodness tidbit: All of our natural shampoos and even our Furry Kind Cocomutt Shampoo have coco nectar as one of their active ingredients, especially sourced from Mauban, Quezon! So with ever purchase of these shower buddies, you also help provide a sustainable job for our farmers. Hooray!

Interested in visiting or partnering with a GK community? Visit Gawad Kalinga's official website for more information.

Get to know how Dr. Gerry's Coco Nectar all started! Check out our interview with its founder, Tito Frank, here. You can also get your own bottle of health and drink up! Every bottle you buy brings a better life for the coconut farmer and hope for the coconut industry.

The COMET has landed and it's gearing up to cruise the streets of Quezon City!

The COMET has landed and it's gearing up to cruise the streets of Quezon City!

Find out which branches will be open to serve you on Saturday, November 1!

Find out which branches will be open to serve you on Saturday, November 1!

Tell us what you think about our latest products!

Tell us what you think about our latest products!

When Thomas Graham began his journey with Gawad Kalinga, he never imagined the world that would open up to him.

>When Thomas Graham began his journey with Gawad Kalinga, he never imagined the world that would open up to him.

“Come alongside the poor, befriend them, partner with them, and you will discover their potential. But don’t take my word for it – experience it for yourself.” –Tony Meloto, Gawad Kalinga Founder

When young British journalist Thomas Graham paid Gawad Kalinga (GK) Founder Tony Meloto a visit with a clipboard of inquiries concerning poverty and economic growth in tow, he never imagined that an entirely new world would open up to him – a world that called him to “ditch the shirt and tie” and the realm of theory to discover through lived experience what Meloto fondly alluded to as the genius of the poor.

But there was one question that continued to linger in Graham’s mind: “If there is indeed genius in the poor, then why are they poor in the first place?” As Graham struggles to grasp this elusive genius, he seeks to transcend the utter disconnection between the middle class and the poor by connecting to the realm of the grassroots.

Built Upon Bayanihan

From the once-desolate streets of Bagong Silang to the innovative breeding grounds of the Enchanted Farm, Graham collects a range of poignant and sometimes humorous encounters with GK community members, volunteers, servant-leaders, and nation-builders. As he navigates the backstories of former gang members, criminals, inmates, and flood victims, Graham gradually uncovers the cornerstone of social transformation: a spirit of service and bayanihan that leaves no one behind.

“No one is too poor that they cannot share,” shares Adeluna of GK Missionville. As Graham's travels confirm, community after community is transformed through the collaborative efforts of residents and volunteers unified in one vision to bring poorest of the poor out of poverty. “The big idea is not doing good, it’s doing good together,” says Luis Oquinena, GK Executive Director.

Hope is instilled by those who believe in the potential of the poor – who are thrown into the direst and most challenging social and economic conditions – to take up their crosses and change their lives. “The key to this transformation was the presence and partnership of others, who came alongside the lost and marginalized and gave them the confidence and belief to rebuild their lives,” writes Graham.

Partnering with the Poor

Building houses marks only the beginning, as GK’s mission to end poverty for 5 million families in the Philippines by 2024 illustrates. One must allow the initial spark of volunteerism to grow and anoint all of their actions. “[Building] a more cohesive nation requires a far more enduring commitment than a one-off venture into the life of the marginalised,” writes Graham.

As Suwani, head of ground operations in GK Indonesia, articulates, “[Gawad Kalinga] is not charity – it’s about partnering with the poor, about truly loving and caring for them.” This partnership with the poor, as Graham learns, is about tapping into their creative, collaborative potential to identify their community’s most urgent needs and developing and honing their skills to build a community that is uplifted and empowered.

As a young man named Emong, who Graham meets in Bagong Silang, shares: “Even if you’re a drug addict or criminal like I was, you can change in a minute if you realise that you can help others. We need to give people a chance to help others and do good. As soon as you realise that others care about you, you gradually begin to care about them, too. This is the basis for change.”

Channeling the Genius of the Poor

“The poor are rarely given the opportunity to realise their full potential in this individual sense,” writes Graham. “Nonetheless, there is a certain ‘genius’, I believe, in the underlying connectedness within the communities I have visited.”

Social enterprises and entrepreneurs rely on and channel this genius of the poor in developing sustainable livelihoods and creating original products and marketing strategies to create a positive impact on poor communities. Graham explores the efforts of these various enterprises and businesses – from Golden Duck and Gourmet Keso to Bayani Brew and Human Nature – to move beyond the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) notion of the poor as mere beneficiaries, and actually partner with the poor in business.

As Graham learns, there is much to be discovered in partnering with the poor and delving into their way of life – above all, a certain authenticity in living and realizing goals that they can identify with and call their own, and with which they can together raise a community of immense hope and resilience from the brokenness of social inequality.

Graham writes:

“Genius, I have discovered, lies not just in individual brilliance in some area of human activity, but in a supremely positive, humane attitude to life, to its ups and downs, to its unfairness and its opportunities, and above all to other people – family, neighbour or stranger. In this respect I gave glimpsed genius in the impoverished [communities] […] And in the process I have been taught, not how to pass an exam or appear intelligent, but simply how to live a more authentic human life.”

“The Genius of the Poor” is now available at Human Nature’s online store and Flagship Store:

463 Commonwealth Ave
Barangay Matandang Balara
Quezon City
(02) 224-2222/ (02) 224-2223
customer.service@humanheartnature.com

Photos courtesy of Gawad Kalinga's Facebook Page

Human Nature dealer Jennifer Rellosa Belmonte shares her inspirational story of triumph over adversity through faith and resilience.

Human Nature dealer Jennifer Rellosa Belmonte shares her inspirational story of triumph over adversity through faith and resilience.

by Leslie Santos

Jennifer Rellosa Belmonte is wife to Nats and mother to two lovable boys. Her sons’ names, Arkin Ieuan (a gift from God) and Ethan Jared (strong ruler), are testaments to her steadfast faith in God. She shares her inspirational story with Human Nature Marikina. 

Battling it Out

A few months after her wedding, Jen woke up in the middle of the night, having difficulty breathing. She was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with a rare and incurable disease, arteriovenous malformation or AVM. AVM is a defect in the blood vessels where an abnormal connection between the veins and arteries interferes with the body’s ability to circulate blood (www.healthline.com).

Jen’s first attack required her to undergo a lobectomy on her left lung to stop internal bleeding. Because of this, she was under strict instructions from her doctors to avoid any strenuous physical activity and pregnancy. However, fifteen months after her operation, she learned that she was pregnant. “It was a mix of emotions, feeling excitement and fear at the same time”, Jen recalls. It was unplanned but she went through the pregnancy nonetheless. Arkin Ieuan was born under normal delivery but with a special procedure, “vacuuming”, because she was sedated and not allowed to exert physical effort to push the baby out. Two days after, she had a seizure and experienced temporary amnesia for a full 15 minutes, not recognizing her husband and even unaware that she gave birth. 

Her doctors gave clear instructions not to get pregnant anew because the risk is very high. However, fate had other plans; she learned that she was again pregnant in 2012. Guilt filled her heart but she was determined to bring her child to life, even at the risk of both their lives. Abortion was never an option. At almost seven months, she had her second attack and doctors had no option but to have another lobectomy, this time in her right lung. Two days before her operation, she had to deliver the baby by C-section, and she remained in the ICU for weeks. Her baby, Ethan Jared, also had to stay in an incubator because he was delivered prematurely and developed some complications.

All these have been physically draining and financially challenging for Jen and her husband --- all hard-earned savings spent but hospital bills still kept coming. Her condition is congenital, thus, not covered by insurance. Fortunately, they were blessed with family, friends and office colleagues who generously contributed to help them out. 

Bouncing Back

Jen's children are healthy and growing up fast. Her husband and family continue to be very understanding and supportive. Yet, the road to recovery has not been an easy one. Recuperating from the physical toil of her illness has been much easier to deal with. What has been more difficult is the path to convalesce from the emotional wounds. 

After her ordeal, Jen, disengaged from her friends, suffered from low self-esteem, and started to question and blame God. But with the help of her loving husband, adorable children, and supportive immediate family, she was able to slowly get better. She wanted to integrate back into society which she has intentionally shied from for some time. One step she took is to sign up as a dealer of Human Nature Marikina. Jen shares that “Human Nature’s advocacy is something I strongly believe in,” making it much easier for her to promote and sell Human Nature products. Besides, being a Human Nature Marikina dealer doesn't take much toll on her physically. Jen says, “I just post in Facebook and get orders already”. It is an activity that breaks the monotony of her day-to-day housewife-mother-chores. And within less than two months of being a dealer, she bagged Human Nature Marikina’s top advocate award for September, a feat that completely surprised her.

Blooming Anew

Many would agree that Jen's battle may be one of the toughest anyone has hurdled, let alone heard of. However, Jen, in spite of her petite frame, has bounced back, not by fighting but by surrendering to God. She attests that “surviving all these wasn't easy and took some time. I still have fears each day, but there is really nothing I can do except to live life as best as I can, one day at a time”. Jen has a newfound outlook, and in doing so, she has started blooming anew.

Article and image credit: Joy Carpio and Human Nature Marikina

Last September, Human Nature added another milestone: our very first manufacturing plant in Canlubang, Laguna!

Last September, Human Nature added another milestone: our very first manufacturing plant in Canlubang, Laguna!

Last September, Human Nature added another milestone to its journey of sharing the goodness to the world in the form of our very first manufacturing plant in Canlubang, Laguna. And like all great things, it took solid dedication, meticulous precision, and relentless bayanihan to give birth to what would be the first step towards revolutionizing world-class proudly-Filipino products.

Human Nature’s Manufacturing Plant at Canlubang, Laguna

Baptism by Typhoon Mario

Located at the corner of Excellence and Integrity (yes, those are real name streets) in Carmelray Industrial Park, Human Nature's manufacturing plant sits among industry giants who have practiced and perfected the art of manufacturing. But instead of being intimidated, team Carmelray – as most Human Nature employees have dubbed them – takes it all in stride. After all, you could say that despite being in its starting phase, they are no strangers to daunting challenges.

Just two days after officially starting operations at the plant, Typhoon Mario struck land in Metro Manila.  "I'll never forget that date," starts Senior Formulator Bless Gradia on recalling the events of September 19.

"We were already in Carmelray doing the cleaning and sanitizing of machines and whole production area. It was really easy to say 'Sorry Dylan, the plant is really not ready yet. This will not work. We need to postpone this.' But we felt the urgency, that we cannot just give up and say it’s too difficult," says Bless.

And sure enough, despite the heavy rains, strong winds, and the jolting thunders, the inextinguishable Filipino spirit shone through with the production of the first product, our Natural Hand Soap. Quality Assurance Microbiologist Elizabeth Sanchez shares the heartwarming first:

"It was midnight and my body was starting to feel exhaustion from too much standing. Despite that, being there at that very moment when the first product bulk was sampled was an experience. We were all like mothers who gave birth and touched her precious baby for the first time. The joy was overwhelming."

That day witnessed the first of the many more goodness that will come for Human Nature. Yes, team Carmelray knows it'll demand more from them – more hours, more energy, more sacrifices – but they know that everything they do goes beyond the walls of the plant.

(L-R) The filling for MammoMe | QA team checking the quality for each bottle of MammoMe

Taking Goodness to the Next Level

Being a beauty company that provides genuinely natural products, it's always a must to uphold high standards when it comes to our products' quality. "We have very strict cleaning and sanitization protocols," says Bless, "Natural products need more care to ensure absence of microbial and physical contaminants."

And ensuring that these protocols are met to the very last dot is difficult when working with third-party manufacturers (TPMs). There's also the issue of efficiency as with TPMs, we share their resources with other companies so what products are needed and how often they need to be produced are heavily dependent on this external factor.

It's when faced with these difficulties that it was decided to take matters into our own hands and take that leap forward in providing world-class Filipino products.

"It's always a challenge to start up your own manufacturing plant," says Elizabeth. Similar to developing new high-quality products, people from Quality Assurance and Research & Development assigned to the plant had to give the best output possible despite the limited resources. But even with the speed bumps of building our own plant from the ground up - of 24-hour shifts, starting production even with incomplete equipment, our own water system not installed yet, of no central air-conditioning (and even desks!) - we pushed through knowing that at the end of the day, it's all worth it. 

Sneak peek into our manufacturing plant’s warehouse. Soon, it’ll be the primary storage for all our products.

"The plant definitely will be the heart and core of Human Nature," explains Elizabeth, "It will be the central place of our operation because every bottle that will be produced here contains a touch of every department: Supply Chain for planning, QA for testing, Warehouse for distribution, and so on."

Team Carmelray: Bayanihan at its Best

Still a newcomer to the manufacturing industry, Team Carmelray is going through a steep learning curve but they leave no room for compromise when it comes to the running of the plant.

"On a normal day, my shift is 9AM to 6PM," starts Maintenance Supervisor Manny Macasojot, "but because the plant is still in its infancy, I need to do whatever I need to do. I'm not thinking in work hours for now."

Manny has only been in Human Nature for two months but he has already had many encounters with the power of bayanihan – one of the philosophies the company lives by. "At first, I'd get a bit surprised that my teammates would comfort me [when I'm stressed] because everyone here is so friendly to everyone. It's one for all, all for one in everything we do."

When asked, Manny summed up the past two months as “Mahirap pero masaya.” [Challenging but fun.]

The people of team Carmelray always take the extra step to lift everyone's spirits up, especially at their current 24-hour shifts with only a few hours of rest on Sundays. "We are trying our best to complete all requirements," says Bless. "This is so we can increase the plant’s productivity and efficiency in the coming weeks in preparation for the peak season."

Though production at the plant is in overdrive for now, the people are expecting to shift gears to 16-hour day shifts in the coming weeks once everything is stabilized. Even now, despite the many challenges, we are experiencing faster and smoother production as compared to when we were tapping third-party manufacturers. Indeed, goodness grows fast!

Building Better Lives Beyond Manila

The past few years have witnessed people from the provinces migrating to Metro Manila for better job opportunities. In the process, places beyond the capital are experiencing a drain in talented Filipinos that could aid in their economic progress and better quality of life. And this is exactly where our manufacturing plant's ultimate goal lies: to prove that building big dreams beyond Metro Manila is not just possible but can also be accomplished with tremendous results.

By providing benefits and competitive rates (far higher than the mandatory provincial minimum wage), Human Nature hopes to attract more Filipinos back to the provinces and be part of revolutionizing a growing economy that also lifts up the poor. It is our first resounding drumbeat announcing to the world that "Made in Philippines" – may it be from the big capital to the small provinces – can mean world -class excellence!

(L-R) Words of love and encouragement at the plant entrance | The QA team taking a break from their busy work for a group photo

*Some interviews were conducted in Filipino and were translated into English.

Check out our Christmas 2014 pricing updates!

Check out our Christmas 2014 pricing updates!

Christmas 2014 Pricing Updates

Effective November 15, 2014 | 9am | Nationwide

Christmas bells are ringing at our November 2014 Magalogue Turnover!

Christmas bells are ringing at our November 2014 Magalogue Turnover!

Christmas bells are ringing at our November 2014 Magalogue Turnover! Join us on Saturday, November 15, 2014 for nationwide branches and get a head start on your holiday shopping!

Mark your calendar and we'll see you at your nearest Human Nature branch! 

A big heartfelt message from all our partner communities to your family: thank you for sharing goodness that leaves no one behind!

A big heartfelt message from all our partner communities to your family: thank you for sharing goodness that leaves no one behind!

Come home to your own natural apothecary with these 100% goodness-filled oils that are a lush well of home and wellness uses.

Come home to your own natural apothecary with these 100% goodness-filled oils that are a lush well of home and wellness uses.