A Better World

Why Hapinoy is Like the iPhone

Monday, February 1, 2010
By Mark Ruiz
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

Wednesday, January 27, 2010
By Mark Ruiz
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

Sunday, December 6, 2009
By Mark Ruiz
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

Sunday, December 6, 2009
By Mark Ruiz
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

Friday, November 27, 2009
By 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

Thursday, November 26, 2009
By Mark Ruiz
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!

Monday, November 23, 2009
By Mark Ruiz
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

Friday, November 6, 2009
By Mark Ruiz
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

Friday, October 30, 2009
By Mark Ruiz
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

Wednesday, October 28, 2009
By Mark Ruiz
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... »

Life's Work

  • 1 HAPINOY
  • 2 RAGS2RICHES
  • 3 INOVENT
  • 4 WHYNOT? FORUM

My Cognitive Surplus

  • 2 ALL IN
  • CHANGE, INC