Rizal, the Social Entrepreneur

Looking Ahead

The series of talks focused on social entrepreneurship - its meaning, examples and how our national hero showcased it in his life. More than anything, the talk was inspiring. As a Management Engineering major, it was moving to see how ME graduates such as Bam Aquino and Mark Ruiz were able to utilize what they know in order to successfully merge business and social innovation, two worlds that usually contradict each other.

The talks featured many themes related to social entrepreneurship. Among all these themes, there was one particular theme that struck me the most - attain sustainability. After listening to the talks, I became a fan of how social entrepreneurship makes a huge impact in the lives of many; however, what really won me over was how social entrepreneurs ensure that the effect of the changes they make are felt over a long period of time. I like how social enterprises, unlike charitable institutions, don't just address current issues but attempt to fix future problems and the big picture as well.

In the talk, it was established that social entrepreneurship is a business and not a charity; thus, like any other business, there is a need for long-term sustainability. Mr. Tan talked about how social entrepreneurship practices self-dependent funding and does not rely on philanthropic funding. I like how this system empowers everyone in the team to be invested in making sure that the business continues. It promotes people to rely on themselves and not others. With social entrepreneurship, people are not just given fish; they are taught how to catch fish. Those who benefit from social entrepreneurship don't just get money or donations, they are given skills, training, knowledge and opportunities. This is related to another theme in the talk, social value. Because beneficiaries of social entrepreneurship are empowered to believe in what they can do, they don't just provide for themselves; they end up with self-fulfillment as well. Rizal, being a true social entrepreneur, focused on getting Filipinos to rise above their impoverished thinking. This approach to helping others is very effective because it doesn't just give them what they need at the moment, it equips them with skills they could use their entire lives and paves the way to their holistic formation as people. After all, what good is making an impact if it only lasts a short while? What use is helping others if they go back to the way they were before moments after? As I see it, attaining sustainability is how you truly help others.

If we want to progress as a country, I believe that it's important to always consider sustainability. It's important to always look ahead and think long-term. With certain situations, it's best to live in the moment and live life one day at a time. In addressing social issues, however, we must realize that if we don't look ahead, others