Another busy day at work. My usual routine once I get to the
office would be: set-up my laptop on my desk, make coffee, sit down and check
for new email messages... And then I saw an email from IMPACT HUB MANILA inviting
me to join their HUBLOGATHON: Blogging For Impact on August 3 (a Monday), and I
quickly replied: YES!
The problem was... Crap, it's a Monday and call time is 9:00
AM. Cab fare would kill me (and taking a cab is highly unlikely because no cab
would ever go to my place in Valenzuela), the MRT crowd would crush me, and
riding the bus can be a total hell because of the traffic. Getting there was a
challenge, itself. Good thing I found out that there's this cab terminal near
my place which will take in 4 passengers for 80 bucks each and drop us off
somewhere in Ayala; and so I did that. I got off at Pasong Tamo and took a jeep
going to Mantrade (passing by Chino Roces) and asked the driver to drop me off
at Green Sun. I arrived at the venue a few minutes
before 9:00 AM. I was ON TIME and the earliest of all the bloggers (yey!). I
hate being late.
Wait, first... Let's
talk about WHAT IS IMPACT HUB MANILA?
"Impact Hub
Manila provides a space where entrepreneurs and all kinds of innovators can
come together to prototype new models for a world that works for all -
connecting all sectors, industries, and cultural backgrounds.They access to
inspiring work spaces, a vibrant learning community, startup incubation
programs, corporate innovation workshops and entrepreneurial leadership
trainings."
After learning about what they do, I was like, "that is a pretty cool idea!" I
mean, as a struggling entrepreneur, I don't have an office yet plus working at
home can drag me to procrastinating A LOT. Aside from that, I'd get to
network with like-minded individuals who are also passionate about what they do
and determined to do something great. Isn't that an amazing environment to work
at?
So, now, back to the
event:
The first speaker was Jen Horn and she told us the
story about how Muni started. I remember having already met her during the Bloggers United Pop-up Bazaar last 2011
where she was manning the booth for Punchdrunk Panda and I also had my own
selling makeup products. That bazaar was for the benefit of the typhoon Sendong
victims. Through her talk, I learned more about Muni and the events and
meet-ups they do that promotes mindful living. As a matter of fact, I'm supposed
to attend their Muni Meetup: Creativity and Collaboration event on August 15, 2015 but I suddenly have an event for work and the problem is I've already paid for the ticket. Boohoo! :( So if any of you would
want to go there, just email me so I can just transfer to you the ticket I
bought. I only have one available so whoever emails me first would get it!
![]() |
With Proximity President, Philippe Gaeng |
![]() |
Kelsey (thepinupgirlmanila.com) with Philippe again :D |
The other speakers introduced their advocacies and how
they've incorporated it in their enterprises. There
was KKK Coffee, Proximity, Bambike, Hope in a Bottle, Joomla, and many others.
We were then grouped in pairs and was assigned to interview and write about one
of the social entrepreneurs and about their enterprise and advocacy. We were
assigned with Proximity. They are a microfinance institution (pretty much like
one of the organizations I work for - KMBI) tapping jeepney and tricycle
drivers and giving them the opportunity to own their own jeepneys and tricycles.
Philippe Gaeng, the president of Proximity, even invited us to ride with one of
their beneficiaries and write about their life story. I will soon be doing that
so stay tuned! :D
![]() |
Grabbed from Facebook.com/impacthubmanila |
Aside from the event proper itself, it was also a great
opportunity to network and bond with fellow bloggers, and some of the social
entrepreneurs. We actually went out after the event for dinner and a few drinks!
It was a great opportunity for me, as a struggling social
entrepreneur, and a fulltime Marketing and Communications Officer for a
non-profit organization to learn more about creating an impact, starting a
social enterprise, and meeting new people which I can partner with for future
project with our organization.
Thanks to Impact Hub Manila for inviting me. I'm so
definitely going back soon as I get a free slot from my schedule because I'd
definitely want an inspiring space to work at while I'm fixing Gelleeshop.
--
IMPACT HUB MANILA is located at: 5F Green Sun, 2285 Chino
Roces Avenue Extension, 1231 Makati City, Philippines. You can also get in
touch with them through email at: welcome@impacthub.ph and visit their website at ImpactHub.Ph.
good post! like you blog!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Janei! :)
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