Marianna Alfa ‘Hanna’ Fernando-Pacua, a
Master of Development Communication (MDC) student of UPOU, together with few close friends, participated
in Project Pagsulong, a unique P1 M youth challenge, last July 2012. It is a competition among young Filipino
budding social entrepreneurs.
She chose the project called ‘Byaheng
Bayani Tours and Travel, with environment advocacy in mind, having taken up the
ENRM 252 course last semester at UPOU. She is presently enrolled in ENRM 221, a
course on Social Cultural Principles of Human-Environment Interactions. As
frequent travelers, Hanna and friends saw how tourism could benefit the
tourists and the people earning their living from tourism. Their goal is sustainable tourism. They
envision the country as a beautiful yet culturally relevant place to travel,
while helping local communities earn, and also protect the environment.
Their project’s aim is to
provide socially-responsible tours and activity packages for travelers who wish
to expand their social, environmental and cultural awareness. The travel
itinerary includes activities that involve cultural immersion and community
interaction, as well as promote the Bayanihan spirit. Young people from the Philippines and Asia can
participate in volunteer activities such as GK Bayani Build, Save the Ifugao
Terraces, and Habitat for Humanity.
Their project made it to the top
30 semi-finalists, out of 374 entries, in September, and in the top 10 finalists in October 2012. The criteria in selecting the finalists, and
the winner of the challenge later, are:
1.
Social
Impact – the project is focused on a specific business/entrepreneurial need,
and addresses a concrete social need/issue
2.
Innovation/Invention – it demonstrates
a new concept, or a variation of an existing idea
3.
Feasibility – it demonstrates the
practicality of the project, and is technologically applicable and can be
executed
4.
Team Leadership / Management and
Community Participation – it showcases the strengths of the team, demonstrates the team capability in carrying
out the project and exhibits how the team mobilizes stakeholders and
communities.
As finalists, they underwent a
9-day innovative boot camp in Antipolo City. The top 10 finalists were mentored
by local business leaders on different facets of entrepreneurship. It was an
intense, hands-on sessions that taught them the ins and outs of starting a
business and how social enterprise plays a role in national building.
Last March 16, 2013, four teams
were declared winners and took home grant money for the implementation of their
winning entries. The people’s choice received 100,000 pesos; the third prize,
200,000 pesos; the second prize 300,000
pesos; and the grand prize got 500,000 pesos.
Hanna said “our
team did not take home any grant money, but still won with the experience we
took home with us! Top 10 was an honor in itself, grabe!”
To be able to execute their project, to
Travel with a purpose, Serve the community, and Inspire others, they found
sponsors. They had their Pioneer Byaheros' first trip to Mount Pulag with the
support of their friends, the Alphabet Warriors and Kuya Pultak. They stayed at
Pultaks Lodge at 8118 Teltelpok, Eddet, Kabayan, Benguet from April 26 -28,
2013. To see what they have done, see
their pictures in action at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.457320031022080.1073741828.374397045981046&type=1
The Byaheros had their second batch of
Mt Pulag travellers on April 29-30, 2013. They had art attack, photography and
art workshops there, and participated in the Bindiyan Festival. See what they
have done in https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.467209566699793.1073741829.374397045981046&type=1
Project Pagsulong is a P1Million youth
challenge to help alleviate poverty. It
invites young Filipinos, 18 to 30
years old, to form a team (with 3 to 5
members) and come up with innovative business ideas good enough to stand
against proposals from other teams, as well as viable enough to provide
real-life solutions for alleviating poverty. For more information on the
project, visit http://www.projectpagsulong.ph/
For more details on the Byaheng Bayani
Tours and what are their next steps, visit https://www.facebook.com/Byaheros.ph
