Building Social Enterprises in the Philippines: Strategies for Local Development (A Film Showing and Public Forum)

April 22, 2009
1:30-5:00 p.m.
Claro M. Recto Hall
UP Diliman, Quezon City

Building Social Enterprises in the Philippines: Strategies for Local Development

What is a social enterprise?
How can social enterprises help communities create wealth that circulates locally?
Can social enterprises be built in rural Asia?

A social enterprise is a business that puts social and environmental objectives on the agenda as well as profit making—it is undertaken to provide community benefit directly, via employment, profit sharing and care of the environment. In many parts of the world social enterprises are being supported by communities and governments because they are helping to address social and economic marginalization of people and places.

This DVD looks at how some social entrepreneurs and social enterprises are pursuing new development pathways in the Philippines. It showcases social enterprises created by community groups in the provinces of Surigao del Norte, Bukidnon, Bohol and Lanao del Norte.

It contains interviews with social entrepreneurs and community members who are spearheading social enterprise development that

• provides purposeful work
• generates cash income
• mobilizes local assets
• services community needs
• builds organizational capacity
• strengthens the resilience of local economies

The film is narrated and written by Professor Katherine Gibson, a human geographer from the Australian National University and Ms Maria Angela Villalba, Executive Director of Unlad Kabayan Migrant Services Foundation Inc. and Philippines Social Entrepreneur of the 2007 (awarded by Ernst and Young and the Schwab Foundation).

The social enterprises featured in the film include those initiated through action research conducted as part of an ARC-ANU-AusAID Linkage project led by Professor Gibson from 2003 to 2006 and those funded by migrant savings and developed with the assistance of Unlad Kabayan.

This is a must see for those interested in new pathways for local development.

This film was produced by Katherine Gibson, Ann Hill and Paul Maclay.

Funded by: Australian Research Council, AusAID, Australian National University, Unlad Kabayan Migrant Services Foundation Inc.

It features: Matin-ao Rice Center, FAM-Dev Farm, Laca Ginger Tea Community Enterprise, Jagna Nata de Coco Enterprise, Jagna Porters’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Dressmakers of Malbog, Jagna, Linamon Creative Hands of Women, Linamon Virgin Coconut Oil Enterprise, Social Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development Services (SEEDS) Lanao.