A Better World
Why Hapinoy is Like the iPhone
You’re probably wondering how in the world I came up with the following equation : Well, the truth of the matter is that lately, I’ve begun to become more comfortable explaining Hapinoy’s Business Model in this way. Most especially now that we’re in a stage wherein we can more tangibly share the next phase of... »
Business Partners, not Beneficiaries
Last weekend, Reese Fernandez – President of Rags2Riches, Inc and my other/better half – conducted a transition workshop with the Rags2Riches Cooperative’s Board of Directors. The main content of the workshop was – and stay with me here – finance and managerial accounting. To appreciate the concept on why it’s a transition, one has to... »
INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Programme ‘09
Through the referral of Rags2Riches’ partner and investor, LGT Venture Philanthropy, I got to know about the INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Programme. I applied through Hans Wahl, the Programme Director, and thankfully got accepted – thus spending the last week in INSEAD Singapore on this very engaging learning journey. The course itself was led by Filipe... »
My TEDx Manila Talk : Change, Inc – How Social Businesses Can Help Build A Better World
Sharing my TEDx Manila Talk — a personal passion for changing the world through social businesses, and how we at Hapinoy try to live this through the work that we do. Change, Inc : How Social Business Can Help Build A Better World View more documents from Mark Ruiz. »
Eradicating Poverty Conference
The MCPI (Microfinancing Council of the Philippines) had a regional conference on the theme Beyond Credit : A Holistic Approach to Poverty Eradication, and we at Hapinoy were invited to share our experience and perspective on the topic. The topic is actually quite interesting, especially since we founded MicroVentures/Hapinoy specifically on this insight : Given... »
The Rags2Riches Manifesto on Eco-Ethical Style
As we celebrate the 2nd year anniversary of Rags2Riches, we affirm our commitment to the advocacy we are building – an Eco-Ethical LifeStyle elegantly encapsulated in our Manifesto : My lifestyle is life-giving. I refuse to live in any other way. I believe that we should never compromise beauty for life or life for beauty. They come... »
Filipino Efren Penaflorida is CNN Hero of the Year!
Thank you for the pride, Ef It’s such a cool and refreshing feeling to see headlines like the ones below … you rock! »
Sustainability as Core Strategy
So there it was, on the front page of the Philippine Star yesterday — ‘Ayala adopts sustainability as new business strategy’. With this (i’m assuming) much-discerned strategic direction, Ayala will be reorganizing its multiple businesses around sustainability. Meaning to say that they won’t just be focusing on financial returns; they will now be ardently looking... »
Green Thinking : A Business Fable on Clean Energy and Climate Change
Dennis Posadas, renowned author of books such as Rice and Chips : Technopreneurship and Innovation in Asia and Jumpstart : A Technopreneurship Fable, has a new book — clarification : business fable – in the pipeline. It’s entitled Green Thinking : A Business Fable on Clean Energy and Climate Change, and is part of his... »
TEDx is Coming to Manila
TED, our inspiration behind putting up the WhyNot?Forum, is coming to Manila! This particular event is called TEDx Manila, and is being organized by Filipino UP Professor and education advocate Rom Feria (himself a TED Fellow). TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is... »














