In 2019, Social Enterprise Development Partnerships, Inc. (SEDPI) and Ateneo Center for Social Entrepreneurship (ACSEnt) mounted series of events to fulfill their partnership agreement to promote social entrepreneurship in the Philippines. 

SE Clinics with PwC

SEDPI and ACSent partnered with Isla Lipana & Co. Price Waterhouse Coopers Philippines (PwC) to conduct social impact clinics in key cities in Manila, Cebu, and Davao.

Small business owners, students and faculty members participated in the clinics. SEDPI and ACSent partnered with University of San Carlos which hosted the event on January 11, 2019. Ateneo de Davao was tapped for the Davao leg which was held on January 25, 2019. ACSent, located in Ateneo de Manila University, hosted the last leg held in Manila on February 22, 2019. 

The event provided venue for those running an enterprise or wanting to get involved to access expert advice on social entrepreneurshio and network with other entrepreneurs.

Vince Rapisura, a lecturer from Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) and president of Social Enterprise Development Partnerships, Inc. (SEDPI) was the lead facilitator of the events. A personal finance expert and social entrepreneurship specialist, he discussed social entrepreneurship, resource mobilization, and business strategies.

 Ana Tan, Director of ACSEnt presented the social enterprise landscape during the clinics. Other resource speakers were Mr. Allan Cao, Mr. Dennis Bautista, and Ms. Rose Dale Ando from Isla Lipana & Co., Price Waterhouse Coopers Philippines. They shared their expertise on taxation, governance and compliance. They also provided tips on pitching and presenting in order to win investors.

 Study and cultural visits for Singaporean students

ACSEnt hosted students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic of Singapore who were on a study and cultural visit to the Philippines. Vince Rapisura shared his experience and rigor on social enterprise development. 

Social enterprise conversations

In an effort to bring together social enterprise practitioners in the country, SEDPI and ACSent pioneered social enterprise conversations. The event is envisioned to be a venue where important topics and issues concerning social enterprise development could be discussed and shared.

For its first offering held last September 30, 2019., Anna Meloto-Wilk of Human Nature,. Reese Fernandez-Ruiz of Rags2Riches, and Vince Rapisura of SEDPI shared challenges they faced as social entrepreneurs. They detailed out the struggles they faced behind the awards they recieved in the past decade. 

Deepening social enterprise practice in the Philippines

SEDPI looks forward to more collaboration with ACSent in delivering valuable discussions and expanding engagements on social entrepreneurship. Both organizations believe that social entreprneurship should be the standard of doing business in the Philippines so that development objectives and financial sustainability are achieved and mutually reinforce each other.