Transforming Lives and Livelihoods in the Philippines

In January, I had the amazing opportunity to join Wendy Harris and Gale Lee on a trip to the field in one of our long-standing program countries, the Philippines.

Going back to the Philippines for work was more than just a welcomed opportunity. There’s something surreal about seeing my home country through a different lens – literally as I was there to document CESO’s success stories through a video journal. With my camera and a plan on hand, I was ready to dive into work and capture every detail of our programs in the Philippines. It wasn’t long until I realized that work in the field is full of surprises.

Travel stretched for hours on the road; conversations went in different directions; meetings took place in the oddest settings; in a bee farm, for instance, with wild bees buzzing in my ears. Yet every single digression made my trip so much more fulfilling than what I had expected. I learned to appreciate the little things that our Volunteer Advisors and in-country staff do to ensure the success of the projects. From building relationships with our clients to the long hours spent on the road.

Every client and partner I met throughout the trip had truly incredible stories of success to share. Each of them were filled with excitement and enthusiasm for the future, and pride for their current achievements. Every individual shared business challenges they faced in the past, making their current success even more fulfilling. A common thread through all was a clear gratitude for the skills and knowledge CESO Volunteer Advisors shared, helping them develop tools to navigate through the barriers and challenges they faced as they built their businesses or ventures.

One story that particularly struck me is the story of Maureen Pasciolco, the owner of Pasciolco Agriventures – a coconut products manufacturing company. Maureen is a mother, a wife and a successful entrepreneur who envisioned a better life for her family and her community.

Her story was both inspiring and informative. At the surface, her story is about the growth she has experienced – personally and professionally – after attending business-oriented seminars facilitated by CESO Volunteer Advisors through the Department of Industry and Trade (DTI). She talked about successfully expanding her business in an internationally competitive market of coconut manufactured products. Today, she is in the process of transitioning her operations to a bigger factory space to meet the demands of her clients. She exports 70 per cent of her manufactured products to markets in Asia, Europe and North America. All of which, she says, were made possible with support from CESO Volunteer Advisors. From guiding her to allocate the manufacturing cost of her products, to advising her in the nuances of important business contracts, it was clear that the expertise of CESO Volunteer Advisors she met and spoke with bring tangible value to her business.

However it was clear that the value and the impact of the work our CESO Volunteer Advisors goes far beyond Maureen’s business. Before the business boom, Maureen’s husband worked abroad to provide for their family. As business has grown, both Maureen and her husband happily decided it was time for him to come home and be with his family. The success of the business also allowed Maureen to help other families stay together. Today, Maureen, through Pasciolco Agriventures, directly supports 50 families by providing them with livelihood and shelter.

Maureen’s story affected me deeply. It is inspiring to hear that Maureen’s determination and willingness to work with CESO Volunteer Advisors resulted in more than just a successful business venture. The results of her success allowed her to keep her family together and to share that gift with so many others.

My trip to the Philippines has inspired me to appreciate the impact ripples that reach beyond the initial conception of CESO assignments and programs.