G&G on the six continent adventures blog

A few weeks ago brave and adventurous lady Jennie Siering visited Gifts and Graces to learn more about social entrepreneurship. Jennie and her husband Nelson came to the Philippines from the US as part of their backpacking tour across several countries. The Philippines was the first leg of the tour. Right after visiting the G&G office, the couple went straight to the bus station to catch a bus to Banaue.

One of Jennie's goals for the trip was to learn first-hand about social entrepreneurship models, its challenges, and its opportunities. In Jennie's own words, during their travel and adventures around the world, she wants "to explore existing and up-coming social enterprises, as well as deepen my understanding of global issues, in order to successfully launch my own social enterprise." Jennie learned about Gifts and Graces and Executive Director Greg Perez through their common connection with IE Business School. Jennie will be an incoming student in the fall while Greg will be graduating this June.

Please click here to read Jennie's blog post on Gifts and Graces.

In her post, Jennie reflects about the different options for would-be social entrepreneurs in terms of legal structure: not-for-profit, for-profit, or a hybrid model.

Thanks Jennie for featuring us. We wish you all the best on the rest of your adventure!

Amazing Women 2013, Women and Fair Trade Program

Here are some pictures from our memorable Amazing Women exhibit 2013, subtitled Women and Fair Trade. We wanted to demonstrate the impact that fair trade has been making on women. It was a simple, intimate program of G&G's partners and supporters. Of course the participants of our capacity building program were there and Nadeth even demonstrated how to properly wear a T'boli malong. We hope you enjoy the photos

G&G Directors Sandy Romualdez, Annie Garcia, and Executive Director Greg Perez chatting before the program

G&G Marketing Officer Kennard Guiaco is Master of Ceremonies

G&G Executive Director Greg Perez talks about women and fair trade

Ate Daisy Pena of Caritas Manila shows the retaso denim bear and pilot monster doll their livelihood groups made for G&G

Nadeth demonstrates the proper way to wear a malong

Nanay Sol gives a heartfelt testimonial on how working with G&G has impacted her and Pamana Pag-Asa Cooperative

G&G Director Ms. Annie Garcia makes a rare speech underscoring the importance of partnerships

G&G Founder Sandy Romualdez gives words of inspiration

Tatay Jaime of Malabon shows off the Cora totes his group weaves out of plastic strips

Pamana group with G&G Directors holding up the canvas bags they make for G&G

Also represented were WFTO Asia and representatives of the SM team. We'd like to give special thanks to Jen and Bambi for all their help in making this possible and of course Ms. Annie Garcia, President of SM Supermalls who wholeheartedly supports our advocacy.

For more photos, visit our album on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/giftsandgraces.sales/media_set?set=a.435977069829855.1073741829.100002526976885&type=3

G&G Celebrates Amazing Women in 2013

This year, Gifts and Graces celebrated Women's Month with another Amazing Women exhibit. The exhibit was hosted by SM Southmall. This year, instead of individual women, we featured women's organizations that empower women. We wanted to tell the story not just of Filipino organizations but also those in Asia. From the Philippines we featured Caritas Manila, PAMANA ng Pag-Asa Cooperative, Kaibhan and Nanay Linda Casimiro of Pandacan. From Asia we featured Laxmi Majrjan and Rupa Biswa Karma both from Nepal. Below is the story of Freeset, an organization that works to help women be free from the bondage of prostitution

Being a fair trade organization, we featured the stories alongside the products that empower women.

Newspaper bags, brass bells, woven plastic bags

Agate bag charms, Soy candles, Embroidered pillows, travel sets, woven retaso coin purses

On weekends we featured product demonstrations. Here Ate Liezel Quismorio from Pandacan, Manila assembles mini origami stars made from magazine pages.

Our visitors also expressed support for our advocacies aligned with the Fair Trade Principles. Here's a collage of students, families, friends who support Fair Trade, the environment, women empowerment, micro-enterprises and Filipino craftsmen, and non-discrimination.

Among our visitors were some kids who played with the wood toys made by Tahanang Walang Hagdanan.

We were also visited by our Capacity Building Program participants

and a group of women from the Department of Tourism - NCR who made the visit part of their women empowerment program for the day.

Watch out for our succeeding posts on the stories of the organizations we featured as well as our simple program to highlight the importance of supporting women.

And of course we hope you can join us next year when we celebrate another group of Amazing Women in 2014.

Finally, our Conversation with Aun, our second AYAD volunteer who got away with many things just by putting on his jacket, presumably because it made him look like a "businessman from Cebu!" Here is his interview

At Aun's farewell lunch.
With the G&G team Nanding, Greg, Jo, Marge

Name: Aun Ngo
Age: 28
Nationality: Australian

What made you decide to volunteer?
I have been an avid supporter of volunteering for some time now and was involved in a soup kitchen back in Melbourne for over 8 years. So when the opportunity to volunteer internationally came up, I jumped at the chance. The role, which lasted 10 months, also gave me ample time to explore parts of the country and it's culture.



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

Prior to going to the Philippines, I didn't actually know all that much about the place. The most interesting thing that I will take away is just how beautiful and diverse the country is. Still relatively off the radars of many travelers it is only a matter of time before the world finds out about the amazing beaches, islands, waterfalls, volcanoes and sights of the Philippines.

Another thing that might not be well known is how unique the culture is; The Philippines is unlike any other Asian country. There are Spanish elements, American influences, ancient Malay influences, religious and socio-political forces that combine to create a wonderfully eclectic mix.

How did you use your skills and experience?

I had the opportunity to utilise some of my experience with marketing, social networking and photography to take a look at G&G's operations and assist with planning for the future. (G&G comment: Aun is very friendly and very social. Aside from his official work to help G&G with marketing, particularly social marketing, he helped put us in touch with some others who have gone on to become G&G supporters as well)

Did anything go wrong that seems funny now?

There was that time at a function where another volunteer and I were speaking to a Filipina for a fair while before realizing she was one of the country's most famous artistas.

What was the best moment of the entire experience?

Getting the opportunity to attend the Asian Development Bank's Annual Meeting was definitely up there. Being able to listen to a wide range of people passionate about development regaling stories from around the region.

At the ADB Annual Meeting 2012.
With Greg, Marge, and Ponce Ernest Samaniego

What did you learn about yourself?

I learnt that it is possible to eat too much pork. (G&G says: LOL! and Marty's Aun?)


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

I find that people who volunteer actually come away receiving far more from the experience than the people they seek out to help. Volunteering enriches your life, introduces you to people you may not have the opportunity to meet otherwise (both other volunteers and clients), and you definitely know that when you are volunteering, you're not doing it for the money!

I gained a whole new circle of friends, appreciation for an amazing country and some passable conversational Tagalog!

Visiting partner community FCED Foundation and chatting with its Executive Director Ms. Teresita L. Silva.
Also in the photo: Raymund Acedera, Greg Perez, Atty. Rudyard Arbolado

At the Amazing Women Exhibit at SM North Edsa with the extended G&G family.
From L to R: Cielo Bueno, Mrs. Melot Moral, Loida, Carla, Raquel, Marge, Jo, Greg, Aun,
Nanding, Ponce, and Ms. Jen Colayco, head of SM Supermalls' Women's Committee

Christmas 2012

A Special Christmas Message for our dear friends, clients, volunteers, donors, and supporters:

It's that time of year again . . . It's a few days before Christmas and we at G&G find ourselves yet again rushing and cramming. We are putting the last ribbon on the last order, fluffing the throwpillows that are going to Robinson's, and our own gifts are almost ready to go. As we prepare to close shop for our traditional shutdown for a much needed rest, we look back on 2012 with much gratefulness. This year we celebrated Women's Month, joined Manila FAME, opened in Robinson's Magnolia and Ermita, and partnered with Globe for capacity building, among other things.

We say thanks and a prayer for our many blessings, including the privilege of doing what we do. And of course we say thanks and a prayer for you our clients, volunteers, donors, and friends for your continued support. We wish you a blessed holiday season and many blessings for the New Year! And we're looking forward to seeing you again next year, the Mayan calendar prediction notwithstanding, refreshed, recharged, and raring to do it all over again in 2013!

Many Thanks,
G&G