Happy Pinoys

Last Jan. 22, my advocacy company, Advocom, handled the one year anniversary of President Cory Aquino's microfinance initiative. The event served as the launching date for PinoyME (Filipino Micro-Enterprise), a joint effort of Pres. Aquino and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP). It was held at Tiendesitas in Ortigas. Aside from the program proper, there were seminars, microfinance center meetings and booths featuring the 7 biggest microfinance institutions in the country. I was tasked to come up with the logo and the creatives for the event.



My other company, Microventures (a joint undertaking between Advocom and Center for Agriculture and Rural Development or CARD, the biggest microfinance group in the Philippines) used this event to launch our business venture, Ang Hapinoy Store, Ang TIndahan ng Haping Pinoy (name and logo courtesy of my crazy mind).





It is a 7-11 type of franchise on the sari-sari store level. We got a lot of inquiries and we hope that they all come to fruition. It is our way of helping the community but at the same time, earning a few pesos. It is "Doing Well, By Doing Good" put into practice.

We have a good team: Rapa Lopa of the Benigno S. Aquino Foundation and other NGO groups; Manny de Luna, Perry Villa and Mark Ruiz, all former Unilever top guns; Willie Uy, President of Phinma Properties; Jim Lopa, brother of Rapa; Bam Aquino, former chair of the National Youth Commission and TV host; 2 reps from CARD; and myself.

We have already set-up some prototype stores in Sto. Tomas, Batangas and so far, the response and feedback has been very encouraging. We hope 2007 will be the start of the Hapinoy bandwagon that will ease the burden of our less-fortunate countrymen. As in the buttons we wore during the launch, we will one day be truly proud to say "HAPINOY AKO".