A Conversation with Colette

This month in Conversations, we talked to Colette Forma one half of the dynamic duo behind Moodies, a marketing company specializing in creating the mood necessary for the audience to be receptive to your message. Colette came to volunteer with G&G through SharePeople. She came to the Philippines for two power weeks and remains in touch with the team. Here we get up close and personal with Colette who gets candid about the best moment of her experience and what she learned about herself.

G&G: Tell us your Name, Age, Nationality, Occupation

CF: My name is Colette Forma. I was born and raised in The Netherlands and this year I reached the age of 40. Together with my business partner, I own and run Moodies: a company specialized in moodmaking. Our work fields are both internal and external communications and brand experiences.

G&G: What made you decide to volunteer?

CF: In April 2011, our company Moodies celebrated its 10th anniversary. A special moment that we wanted to mark in a meaningful way. Around the same time, we met SharePeople, a Dutch organisation that connects social entrepreneurs in developing countries with European professionals in various fields. They suggested we volunteer for Gifts & Graces, who were in need of a retail concept for their fair trade products. The question fitted my experience and after the first contacts with G&G I decided to volunteer at G&G for a period of two weeks. Short but intense!

G&G: As a volunteer how did you use your skills and experiences to help G&G and its advocacy?

CF: The task at hand was helping to develop a G&G fair trade retail concept. We knew very little about the fair trade business in general and had no knowledge of the Filipino market at all, so there was a moment of serious hesitation – were we able to do this? But the organisation and it's purpose were so appealing, we decided to give it a go. Only one of us could actually go to the Philippines, but together, we prepared the case from Holland as well as we could. We read G&G's business plans, talked to fair trade organisations and even worked out a detailed planning and budget format.

a sketch of the G&G store by Marge Obligacion,
based on the brainstorming

Soon after arrival in Manila, it became clear to me that the G&G team had an enormous amount of knowledge and some very good ideas about the future retail store. What I mainly did was facilitating the G&G team to make the right choices, by giving them focus and describing the 'next steps' as clearly as possible. One of the first things we did was a high-pressure, creative energetic brainstorm on the target group with the complete G&G team. It helped the team to imagine their target group as if it was an actual person. This way, they could make clear choices: in which kind of malls should the G&G store be located? What should the store look like? How should the products be presented? And how can we promote the G&G store and everything it stands for? It was the starting point for delivering the description on the personality of our future customer, the design proposal and sketches of the exterior and interior of the shop, and important details like wrapping, music and clothing of staff among many others. In the process, of course I added some of my ideas on retail and communication as well ;-)

Photos from Day 2. Above: Colette with the women of Kapitbahayan Candles.
Below: Colette with the newspaper bag makers of FCED Foundation

G&G: Did anything go wrong that seems funny now?

CF: At the end of each day, I emailed all documents to Holland. Thanks to the time difference, Monique was able to further work on the documents. This way, we could work for G&G around the clock! Towards the end Monique worked on the last changes in the Keynote presentation for the Board of Directors while it was night time in Manila. When checking my email in the early morning, there was no newer version of the Keynote there. Strange, because she knew we needed it in the morning. I couldn't do anything, because in the meantime she was asleep in The Netherlands. Just when I started worrying what happened, an email came in. Fact was that she finished the Keynote late at night, but forgot to mail it to me. She couldn't sleep tough and was wondering why. Until she realized! 

G&G: What are two interesting things about the Philippines that the average person doesn't know?

CF: That 'time' is a very flexible concept and that you can't survive in the Philippines without texting: it's a way of life!

Colette's images around Makati

G&G: What was the best moment of the entire experience?

CF: There where actually lots of good moments, working with the G&G team. The best? Probably presenting to the Board of Directors and realise they were not discussing whether the retail store should be opened, but what location would be best! That was a big compliment for a great team effort.

G&G: What did you learn about yourself?

CF: I guess I learned that with my drive and perseverance I can inspire others to really make things happen. I also learned that I find it hard to speak out my feelings and needs, certainly if this means that I have to confront others. Something to work on!

G&G: Why should other people do volunteer work? What did you gain from it?

CF: Volunteering at G&G gave me the opportunity of working in a different culture (with all the challenges and uncertainties that come with it). Getting to know the team in a very short time, finding out about their roles and personal challenges, facilitating brainstorms in a completely new setting, working together and motivating everyone to deliver their part of the process, seeing the enthusiasm grow. It gave me excitement and satisfaction to be able to do so, far away from my common workspace.  

Colette and Greg at the Legaspi Market
on Colette's first day in Manila

Within just two weeks, the G&G team and Moodies created a store design, a plan of attack, planning, budget and promotional plan. It has been very rewarding for us to add a little to G&G's final goal: giving power to social entrepreneurship and help marginalized individuals to become self-reliant and dignified members of society. We hope the first retail store will open its doors soon! 

Being 'out of your comfort zone' certainly makes you grow as a person! Just do it…

Colette Forma and Monique are the managing directors of Moodies, a Dutch agency that works for large corporate clients. We make sure our client's target groups are receptive to their message. Our moodmaking activities concentrate on internal and external communications, as wel as brand experience and interior design.

To learn more about Colette & Monique's time with G&G, click here. 

Producer Spotlight: Linda Casimiro of FCED

Nanay Linda Casimiro is 61 and helps support her six children and four grandchildren through the orders that she gets through Gifts and Graces, in particular the consistent orders of Vic Barba.

Before joining the FCED Foundation, she dabbled in sewing, but her earnings were not enough for her family. As a member of FCED Foundation, she trained in sewing under KaBaKa - Kabalikat ng Bayan sa Kaunlaran, an initiative of then Mayor Bagatsing. Through her involvement in FCED and the help of Gifts and Graces, she honed her sewing skills and expanded her opportunities.

She narrates that making Vic Barba bags also helped her a lot in improving her sewing skills. It was four years ago when she first received orders of custom made bags for Vic Barba. She studied the design drawings and samples that were sent to her and produced bags that she was very proud of. When asked why she was proud of the Vic Barba bags she replies “maganda ang quality ng ginagawa namin, alam namin yan dahil sinasabi ng ibang tao. At shempre maganda ang design. Ako ang may gawa eh!”. (We make good quality products, we know this from the feedback of other people. And of course they're very well designed. Of course I made them!). Nanay Linda is grateful for the Vic Barba bag orders, she adds “malaking bagay ang pagagawa namin ng bags ni Ma'm Vic, nakakatulong ang kinikita sa pagpapaaral ko sa bunsong anak ko” (Making Ma'm Vic's bags helps us a lot. The income I get from making those bags help in sending my youngest child to school).

She's also very grateful to Gifts and Graces for giving FCED a lot of income generating projects. “Dahil sa Gifts and Graces hindi kami nawawalan ng trabaho” (Because of Gifts and Graces we have reliable livelihood).

Through your support of Gifts and Graces, producers like Nanay Linda can send her children to school and give them 3 square meals a day. There are various other stories like Nanay Linda's and their stories are tied in to yours. Your act of support and generosity today can be their success story for the coming months.

Colette & Monique share their volunteer experience

Colette Forma (leftmost) on a meeting with the G&G team: (L-R) Greg Perez,
Executive Director; Michael Golsworthy, AYAD Volunteer; Marge Obligacion,
 In-House Designer  at the Gifts & Graces office

In April 2011, our company Moodies celebrated its 10th anniversary. A special moment that we wanted to mark in a meaningful way. Around the same time, we met SharePeople, an organisation that connects social entrepreneurs in developing countries with European professionals in various fields. They suggested we volunteer for Gifts & Graces, who were in need of a retail concept for their fair trade products.

As our own business had to continue as well, only one of us could go and work at G&G. Colette was the lucky one, but of course she was also the one who had to leave behind her family and get all the vaccinations J. At G&G, Colette met a professional and very dedicated team with a clear look on their business. They introduced her to some of the community workers. A quote from her diary:

"I was very impressed by all the communities I visited. For example, Boy Buenafe, the artist that decorates the woven paper bags. He lives in a very poor neighbourhood. The streets are full of dogs, chicken, laundry, waste and junk. This is where the children play… We entered the artist's house by a very small staircase. His 'studio' consisted of a table full of working materials, next to the kitchen. It was really impressive that in this small workspace he creates the pictures on the G&G bags, one by one and all by hand. The result is unique and of high quality – something to be proud of!"

What inspired us most, is that G&G does not give such communities one big order once, but aims to give them continues orders. Also, they help to improve the quality of their products and in general, to build their business. This way, people get a real chance to build a live for themselves, their familiy and their kids.

It has been a very rewarding experience, to add a little of our knowledge and experience to G&G. And we learned a lot ourselves as well! We will tell you more about the job we did next time.

Colette Forma and Monique are the managing directors of Moodies, a Dutch agency that works for large corporate clients. We make sure our client's target groups are receptive to their message. Our moodmaking activities concentrate on internal and external communications, as wel as brand experience and interior design.

Gifts & Graces in the Santa Clara University Blog!

Gifts & Graces' Executive Director, Greg Perez, is a Global Social Benefit Incubator '09 Alumna.

As such, Greg's success of pushing for Fair Trade Certification for Gifts and Graces was lauded in the Santa Clara University Blog.

Thank you Santa Clara University & GSBI for featuring the success of your alumna and in the process helping spread our advocacy of livelihood support & fair trade!!

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If you want to feature Gifts & Graces in your blog or website to help us spread our advocacy

please don't hesitate to contact us at marketing@giftsandgraces.com or ring us at 759-2525!

Producer Spotlight: Liezel Quismorio of FCED

As one of eight siblings, Liezel Quismoro dreamt of a better life. She left her hometown of Makato, Aklan with high hopes of bettering her lot in life. She came to Manila to study programming at STI but abandoned the dream of becoming an IT professional when she realized that encoding and programming was not for her.

Instead of being in front of computers, what Ate Liezel really wanted was to be in front of a sewing machine. She wanted so badly to learn how to sew but failed to get into the free training in TESDA. She ended up working for an aunt instead who sold clothes and who taught her basic sewing skills.

It was seven years ago that she joined FCED. Eventually her sewing improved and she learned additional skills like beadwork which she learned form Firma owner Lito Vijandre and rag- weaving which she is learning from Rags 2 Riches.

She expresses her gratitude to Gifts and Graces for helping them find work and marketing their products. She says more people should buy from Gifts and Graces to help poor families like hers.

Ate Liezel is one of five women from FCED who make the tarp bags for Market! Market! Aside from the bonding that they do while completing their sewing tasks making tarp bags allow  them to buy essentials for their kids. Making the tarp bags for Market! Market! Also allows her to earn an income from home while looking after her four kids. Three of her children are in school, she's hoping she could send her third child Ronel to school too. Maybe like his younger sister Rahzel, Ronel could be awarded first honor as well.

She dreams of one day owning a small house and lot in Laguna or Las Pinas where she could be close to her aunt and where her children can have better access to schools. With your help in providing her with a steady income through your support of Gifts and Graces, Ate Liezel's dream could still become a reality.

Shop Gifts and Graces from Shopnow@eyp!

Good news everyone!

You can now buy Gifts and Graces products without leaving your home or office. Click this link to buy our unique handmade products made with by our partner communities.

Magis Seminar in Ateneo School of Business

All over the country, there are many livelihood programs that are organized in order to help disadvantaged groups earn more income. These groups have a lot of potential but many lack several essential ingredients for success. While producers may have the skills, they lack the eye for creating great products that the market wants. Many also are challenged by the lack of technical and business know-how. Gifts and Graces recognizes the needs of these livelihood groups and partners with them to help them become viable livelihood enterprises. The importance of building the capabilities of livelihood groups is even more urgent now as these groups strive to reach their goal to reach mainstream markets and to become reliable suppliers in the supply chain of corporations, wholesalers, and retailers. To address this need, Gifts and Graces designed an on-the-ground capability building program for its partner communities. The Business Basics and Beyond workshop conducted by the Ateneo Graduate School of Business through its MAGIS program, is the first step in the on-the-ground capability building program. 


The MAGIS Program is AGSB’s capacity-building program specifically designed for small and medium enterprises as well as NGOs. This is a follow up to Gifts and Graces’ lecture successful series last year. This year, in partnership with Hands On Manila and the Ateneo Graduate School of Business (AGSB) through its MAGIS program – Managing for Growth, Innovation, and Sustainability, Gifts and Graces rolls out a more intensive capability building program. The workshop is the first step in a capability building program for Gifts and Graces partners that focuses on enterprise growth and community building. The program carries with it the Ateneo quality of education. Participants greatly benefitted from the learnings, life-long strategies and values adhered to by the university. Aside from Gifts and Graces, four of Gifts and Graces’ partner communities participated in the workshop. They were The Learning Center, Hardin ng Kalikasan, Kapitbahayan Candles, and FCED Foundation. 


Taking time to step out of your business to look at it from a higher vantage point may feel like a luxury but is a necessity. Gifts and Graces and our partners had the opportunity to do that at the Business Basics and Beyond workshop. The workshop was designed to meet the participants where they are at, surface their pressing concerns about their organizations, businesses and communities, and create plans that are responsive to their unique needs. Among the needs surfaced from the workshop are a business plan, strategic plan, and community development plan for Gifts and Graces’ partners. The workshop took off with highlighting the importance of the purpose and objectives of organizations as well as the critical elements that contribute to its success. 


On the first day, Prof. Bago’s discussion of the customer value discipline struck the participants. Looking at each organization through this framework was eye opening for everyone. On the second day, each team had to assess whether their customer value discipline permeated all aspects of their value chain. The groups also stretched their minds and imaginations by focusing on opportunities based on the socio-political, cultural, economic, and technological landscapes. Atty. Noli Tibayan facilitated during the second day. Other topics covered were The Nature of Organizations, Business Strategies, Stakeholder Analysis and Management, Business Skills, and Business Coherence. 


At the end of the second day, Ateneo Graduate School of Business Dean Alberto L. Buenviaje gave the closing remarks. Ms. Greg Perez, Executive Director of Gifts and Graces responded by thanking Dean Buenviaje in behalf of the class, saying that the AGSB’s mission to build the country through their work impacted the grassroots level through this MAGIS workshop for Gifts and Graces and its partners. Afterwards, each participant received a certificate of attendance. The workshop was very helpful because it helped the organizations look at their enterprises and from a fresh perspective. We were also given tools and a framework with which to analyze the business environment. Following the workshop, Gifts and Graces will coordinate with other institutions who will provide on-the-ground training and mentorship for its partners. This is to help them set goals and milestones for them to become viable livelihood enterprises. 


 Helping make this workshop a reality was Gifts and Graces’ partnership with Hands On Manila who in turn was partnered with the Ateneo Graduate School of Business. The workshop is a continuation and strengthening of the lecture series Gifts and Graces conducted last year. As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility Program, Globe Telecom sponsored both last year’s lecture series and this year’s workshop. This is in line with Globe Telecom’s commitment to support community-based enterprises through capability building. Eastern Twinstars Foundation, a social investment enterprise that supports asset acquisition, also sponsored attendees to the lecture series and workshop.