GreenMinded Fellows dared to take the road not taken. It will shake the traditional approach, making livelihood projects run on a corporate set-up to ensure it's success, back to back with reflow to the environment, promotes and preserve culture and heritage of the communities helped.

GreenMinded is a group of talented, successful yet unselfish individuals who run their own business on a social entrepreneurship framework, fusion their resources and abilities to make a difference, giving no room for failure for they have all the ingredients of making anything they touched a success! So contagious that the community empowered can pay forward through mentoring other in need communities, whether in preservation of culture and heritage or in the livelihood empowerment or both.

Fellows who immersed themselves in the real business world and touch based with communities, understanding their needs, weaknesses and limitations , empathizing the sufferings caused by exploitation. The fellows have the strength and conviction to tell the rest to back off and give the needy a chance for fair equity and fair trade.

The GreenMinded Fellows dare to come face to face to the cartels enslaving the needy. Their ultimate challenge is orchestrating a community sustainable livelihood anchored on Social Entrepreneurship, a pioneering system based on fair equity, from production to market benefiting every home through empowerment holdings the hands of the beneficiaries as they start learning to walk through theories and practice, a participatory learning experience made possible through trust and capacity build up.

The GreenMinded Fellows: Ferdinand Cruz (honorary chairman), Mary Jean Netario-Cruz (Executive Director), Josephine Ortiz (Operation Director), Dante Soriano (Finance Director) Noemi Pamintuan - Jara ( Project Director) Jet Abugan (Sales/Promotion and Marketing Director), Arlyn dela Cruz (Business Development Director) and Espie Benico (Accounting Director)

 
 
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KIDS Foundation headed by Atty. Karina Tanega went out of their way to visit the Miarayon KIDS.  Miarayon is about 8 hours away from CDO.  KIDS was assisted by Edmund del Castillo, Exec. Director of LSED, Jean Netario-Cruz, GM of SOD and Exec. Dir of GreenMinded and Ferdinand Cruz, Exec. Dir of EASTI.  Lito Ramos of Sta. Teresita Foundation for the KIDS of Miarayon is the coordinator for the School Supplies for Abel and Edmund for the Sta. Teresita.  Jean Cruz coordinated for the Daraghuyan in Malaybalay City.

Miarayon other than being far from CDO is also known as the warrior Tribe, the Talaandig.  We were warned but the group has all the courage of Father Dario, the Parish priest in Miarayon was with us.  The face of the people when we asked for the Miarayon direction shows that there was a tale of how frightful the place is being known as warriors domain.  Being to a place is far opposite from hearing the tale from the hearsays.  The place is so peaceful and enchanting.  The beauty is magnificent.  The Talaandigs are friendly yet it is true that they are armed to protect themselves from people who brings only misery to their place.  Miarayon has been raped byt the loggers.  Only a few trees were left.  Landscape of a previous volcano eruption made the place fertile that it is a perfect place to grow vegetable.  But then another problem is being experienced by the farmer here.  The middlemen who exploits them through financing their farming.  They almost earn nothing.  GreenMinded allies is exploring how to help the farmers for their livelihood, fair trade and fair equity.  Father Dario and Green Allies has been exploring the coffee of Miarayon to be its major banner.  Miarayon produces Arabica Coffee, known for its flavour and better price.  It has a huge market demand only if produces right.  Ferdinand Cruz' has assessed the place and the people that the idea can be done.

KIDS distribution of the school supplies to the beneficiaries were delivered on target.  The activity were sealed by the exciting white river rafting in CDO, a reward for everyone who cares.
 
 
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Having an herbal garden at home is a haven.  It's like your medicine cabinet out in the open field or have your own grocery food section just a door step away.  Healthy living need not be expensive, more so now that  our economy is overheating due to our country's financial condition. Planting your own food does not only address your health but empowers your pocket too.  It also gives you a you real food security.  Having an edible garden is worth every inch of the soil than just having an ornamental one.  You can blend both worlds by simply knowing the properties of each plant that you can put in your garden.  With these, you can be enchanted with the beauty of the flowering plants, eat them and relaxed your senses through inhaling the aroma of herbs as the wind sways the leaves.

Planting also teaches us virtues.  The virtues of patience, care, appreciation of nature and a lot more came handy when you do your garden. Start with beneficial plant, one at a time learning its properties and internalizing its taste, looks, most of all feel how it  responds to your body.  There are plants known and proven effective in addressing the kidney stone problems, urinary tract infection, menstrual problem etc.  See www.herbalmagic.weebly.com for specific plants.
 
 
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Social Entrepreneurship endeavor will never be this exciting without the support group of our class.  Each group's project is presented to the class for comments and suggestions even after the class has ended.  Each project try to see connectivities and seek how each one of us can help for the achievements of the goals and vision.  it has been very empowering to belong in our class.

The get together dinner was held at Wack-Wack residence of Andrea. She host even the food... ooohlala.. we scheduled the next get together in Sandy's place, Cheers office in Q. Avenue.  KIDS will be having fun run and SOD will have a booth with the 50% of the net profit to be given back to KIDS as our Social Entrepreneurship version.  Indeed there are unlimited ways to help while doing business, if only people are open and not simply doing business for profit.

more of this article to follow..

 
 

When you hear about organic farming, Ms. Betsy of Don Bosco's Bios Dynamis is the right person to talk to to get more understanding about this, science but is so magical.  Betsy explained to us, what is this Bios Dynamis is all about.  This is about the science of planting without the use of harmful pesticides and chemicals used in commercial farming.  The science that to other seems so magical or taboo but with scientific explanation.  Betsy and I met at the 5th National Organic Conference which was help in Davao.  After that even, I am seeking her technical support to make it sure the the organic farming livelihood in other communities is backed up with  ahighly credible organization that we can rely to ensure the success of the project when it comes to the production side.

Betsy welcomes us with open arms and committed to provide training onsite .

Kudos to my Lady Betsy! 

 
 

Ferdie, Ed Tami and Colleague (me taking their picture while discussing the possibilities of helping in providing solution to the ongoing peace and poverty problem in their tribe.  Ferdie suggested that since there are already on going projects, why not do livelihood that can fund their claim for their territory. market linkage is another strenght of Ferdie's team.  Both parties agrees to to strategic planning after Ed Tami identify which area to pilot for the livelihood project.

 
 

In deed big bucks are waiting for the fisherfolks who are to ornamental fish industry.  But that is if and only if the government will fully support this industry.  The key is Ferdinand Cruz who has made the first export for the community in Batangas.  When hope is no longer in their vocabulary, Ferdie came to the rescue and walahh.. they had their first export after a few months of reviving their business.  Before Ferdie came, a research company hired by the government gave only false hope and killed their dreams.  Long waiting is over and I am happy  I am working now with a real person whose heart to help is genuine.  He is an example of a successful Social Entrepreneur. 

Foreign buyers are now buying Koi and we ended up buying kois of a dear friend whose farm is a heaven for koi giving them the colours and nutrients from all natural resources.  See the picture yourself and envy the koi fish.  Oh how I love to spend time with the koi.


 
 
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The Phase II of the fishFUD project in Balingasag Mariculture Park started by conducting the Community Business Planning held at Occassion Municipal Hall, Sumilao, Bukidnon.  The Planning session for the poorest three Barangays ended with a MOA signing identifying the commitment of Barangays to produce the crops.  On photo is Edmund del Castillo signing the Produce and Buy Memorandum of Agreement, an activity at the end of the Planning Session.  Edmund del Castillo is the Executive Director of fishFUD for the Sumilao Tribal Council.