Ten months being exposed to how the development sector’s problems, education-oriented goals & social impact driven motives are being married to business’s sustainable, viable & profit-driven objectives – I realize that the road to the true practice of CSR and social entrepreneurship is hard to travel. Talking about these seemingly feel-good things may be easy, but truly walking the talk is a whole new different story.
Truly, the price of the prize of greatness is great.
“Rise up from the dust like a phoenix.”
These words, from Bamboo the band’s “I-You”, resonated to my whole being. It’s as if they created that line solely for my consumption – it’s as if the line is tailor-fitted to who I am.
I’ve always been fascinated by the Phoenix who is in a never-ending cycle of painful death and majestic rebirth. My fascination with the mythical creature dates way back in high school.
I honestly wondered, who would not be in love with the Phoenix story? It tells a story of a young chick with all the big dreams of becoming a majestic Flaming Bird, for everybody to adore. Then once it becomes who it wants to become, it must then face the pains of stepping down from the majestic glory and burning itself to ashes. Death. But the story does not stop in death, for a Phoenix emerging from the ashes, the dusts of pain, is a stronger creature compared to its previous incarnations.
My question: how long does the phoenix rise from the ashes after burning out?
How long is the recovery time?
How does it find the Herculean strength to rise up and vow to be stronger than before?
How does it muster the power to pursue its personal redemption?
How does it get the confidence that it will be stronger than before?
How can it get the self-assurance that same failures will not be repeated? That it is past the foes and shadows it once feared to fought?
How does it overcome the fear?
The thing is, a phoenix needs to be stronger when it undergoes rebirth, because the previous status quo it once lived in will possess far greater challenges.
In facing uncertainty, having Father Time on its side allows the Phoenix to recuperate and complete the rebirth.
Intertwined, as if, as one
Emotions that picture battles not won
Hoping things will get better, not bitter
Making the fairy tale a true happy ever after.
Shades of green, dreamy
Blurred, vague, blinding light
Sunrise! It’s out of my hands!
Sometimes, baptism can be harsh. Purification can be painful.
All the things that happened may be a harsh spanking from Mother Nature to remember to take care of her. Perhaps we should have a change in lifestyle?
But still, after half a week of rainfall, the sun shines. The aftermath of a purification, a symbol of hope.
As my favorite OPM artist, Bamboo, would now sing:
“Tuloy ang ikot ng mundo!”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELaU4fEv3xA]
Was there ever a time when you’d imagine yourself as a fairy tale character in a fairy tale ending?
One peaceful afternoon, I just wanted to be alone in my room, with guitar at hand. It was one of those days when I’d just like to play songs, covered or those that I composed. As a songwriter, I know that I lack technical music stuff and the theories and the godly skills, but heck! Songwriting, for me, was an avenue of expression. Much like this blog.
For some reason, I plucked a variation of the C#m, A, and B chords with open 1st and 2nd strings. I was, hmm, hypnotized by the tune then boom! Like a spark waiting to be ignited to the fullest, all these words flowed in my head. The story began to unfold myself.
Suddenly, I was this prince charming guy in my own fairy tale world, where I can’t help but feel overprotective for the princess or heroine. In reality she’s strong, but in my bias and behind these eyes I exaggerated her weakness – all in the name of painting myself as the “overprotector”.
The end product of the massive imagination – my original song entitled as “Overprotective”. Below is one of its renditions, featuring a violinist – and amazingly, the one the song is dedicated to. Haha!
I hope you enjoy!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF4r2lRu4-s]
Lyrics:
You make it seem
That you need a guardian
You can trigger the dormant chivalry in man’s heart
‘Coz your heart
Brittle as glass
And your skin
So silky delicate
Well that may not be the case
But you got me believin’
That I am your knight and surely I’ll treat you right
That I am your knight and surely you won’t need to fright
You got me
Very anticipating
Of every move you’re gonna gonna make
You make me want to ride my horse
and save a princess in distress
Drive the monsters away and
Keep the bad dreams at bay and
Hug as night turns to day and
Kiss the worries away
Like a fairy tale, you got me overprotective
A gentleman’s wish – to keep his princess safe
Faith.
How do you define faith?
For me, faith involves trusting the unknown, the uncertain.
Faith involves looking at the future.
One of the aspects that our YFC Shared Learning experience taught me is, really, to have faith. To not be blinded by things that are in front of us now, but to anticipate. To have foresight.
The problem with us people, even the corporations? Too much myopia. Too much nearsightedness. We only try to see what is in the present, not its effects on our future.
Relating this to our thesis, this is not supposed to be the case.
For Dr. Young and Dr. Tilley, an enterprise which truly integrates sustainability must always take note of its actions’ consequences to the future generations. The concept of futurity.
Let us look beyond what the naked eyes can see.
Maybe, with just a little touch of foresight, we can tremendously change our future and direct it to a brighter tomorrow.
Mr. Anonymous offered a very interesting scenario featuring a dilemma, written below:
What if you’re placed in this dilemma:
Your successful company that you have taken care for years is about to face bankruptcy, turmoil, or whatever the worst you can think of. You’ve cut down the number of your employees already to the minimum, you’ve cut their salary, you’ve done everything you can to save it. I’m no business person so I’m not familiar with the terms and techniques, but you get it: you’ve done everything ethically, morally and legally possible. Still, it seems inevitable. Then suddenly a light of hope was shown to you and it involves manipulating people through religion and spirituality. Nothing’s illegal in terms of papers, permits, etc. but the only catch is that you’ll have to use religion to manipulate people such as your investors, or even your employees. In other words: “mang-uto ng ibang tao gamit ang salita ng Diyos/Relihiyon” to save your most beloved company. Your company is your life, your passion. You did almost everything for it and if you’re not going to do this “manipulation”, everything you have will be lost. What will you choose?
Manipulation is such a strong word.
In this very challenging situation, I would not use religion and spirituality to manipulate. And really, if I did have a strong sense of spirituality and religious belief, I believe in the 2nd Commandment wherein one should not use God’s name in vain; and believing in Karma, whatever you do will have repercussions.
First of all, I were to establish a company, given my current frame of mind and worldview, it will have social and/or environmental value generation motive embedded in it. I believe it will be at least a social enterprise or a sustainability enterprise – addressing more than the profit motive. Therefore, spiritual values must be integral to its culture.
Spirituality will not be used to manipulate, but rather its benevolent values are what the company will be fighting for. So to reframe your scenario, it’s not “mang-uto ng iba gamit ang salita ng Diyos”, but rather, “draw support from others through the Word of God that our very company stands for.”
Maybe we can get support through donations? Or by partnering and collaborating with other social enterprises? Asking for loans? I do not know. But the great thing about social enterprises is that it thrives in the dynamic of collaboration, not competition. Somehow, there will be bigger socially-driven institutions that can offer help for my company to survive.
If I were to be a successful entrepreneur, then there WILL always be a creative solution. If I was able to provide a creative solution for others, why not exhaust all creative solutions for the company as well?
Collaboration with other social enterprises or institutions with the same values will help me get over this very challenging dilemma. Hindi naman pang-uuto kung talagang bahagi na ng buhay at negosyo mo ang Salita ng Diyos, diba? 🙂
So to directly answer your question, I will not use religion to manipulate, but rather, make it a source of strength and keep the faith. Because I know that institutions who share the same spiritual values as my company can help me get over this lump.
I do not consider myself YET as an excellent social entrepreneur. But if I am to become one and own a social enterprise instead of working for one, then that means I must have been capable of finding plenty of creative solutions. And besides, I know that I am not alone. There will be fellow social entrepreneurs that will be willing to sustainably collaborate with me to get over this.
I hope that I answered your question. 🙂
In one of my CSR Series post that featured the topic of Prayers and Spirituality, an anonymous commenter offered a very enriching insight written below:
“Hi sir, nice blog post you have. I hope you don’t mind if I post a “what if” here. What if businesses are gearing towards spirit-driven consumption, just because the businesses recognize the power of religion, faith, or whatever that is synonymous to that, can further be used to boost their respective business? I mean, what if it is the focus of businesses lately because people are easily lured into manipulation when it comes to the name of whoever is their Higher Being?
I just want to share one of my experiences. I have been into one of worship centers by a certain Catholic group. The flow is plain and simple:
1. Start with a 1 hour mass
2. 30 minutes worth of worship songs, sharing of experiences by some worship leaders, telling people to lift their hands, do this do that.
3. The main speaker/worship leader arrives at the stage, delivering a very inspiring and educating seminar. It could be about finance, love, life, social responsibility. Anything that matches the season of the year or their chosen theme for the month.
4. They go back to a 15 minute worship, glorifying the Higher Being.
5. There goes the donation part. For the group’s financial projects so they can “spread the word, spread the good news”. And they will ask you to join the group, or join their elite donors who give 100k a month voluntarily.
6. Please return next Friday! You may go out now 😛
So in this flow, the people are driven by their religion, praising first, then will be inspired to donate, to “give more to others”. What if this flow is just to manipulate people to give money? What if the money they receive is 50% for themselves, 40% for their projects, 10% for charity?
What if religion, and faith in itself is just another business strategy, no longer a driving force to inspire and do our true purpose?
What if spirituality became an integral part of any organization in order to ease the pressure in making employees, or other people do what the organization wants to achieve, regardless of the intention?
What if religion, faith and/or spirituality is just a tool to earn money nowadays?
I just want to hear your insight on this one, nothing really personal. I’ve read some of your posts before and I find them very interesting. If I am out of the topic here, please pardon me. It just came into my interest to try and hear your opinion regarding this. Thank you and have a nice day :)”
This was my reply:
Sadly, there are indeed instances wherein some abuse the concept of religion and spirituality, and turn them into manipulative tools to lure people into what they want. Indeed, we cannot deny the fact that these kinds of things build reputation, and who wouldn’t want to build one’s reputation?
My key insight in the scenario you wrote is that the “audience” should be vigilant – though it is hard, one must look past superficial things and determine whether “spirituality” is authentic or just for show. I know that what I am writing is easier said than done, but that’s the way it is.
Kudos to the organizations that will indeed practice good governance, benevolent spirituality in the workplace, and spearhead sustainability-oriented activities not just because of reputation management, but because they indeed want to make positive change.
If I may refer to writings from the Bible, it is said there that even evil beings can quote from the Scriptures – even the malevolent can deceive by doing superficial good.
As such, from the Bible as well, we must be wise as serpents but harmless as doves. In my interpretation, this means being able to see things with open eyes, but not indulging in the dirt thus becoming harmless doves.
So in summary, what I want to say is this: we have eyes, we should just open them. We have the power to determine lies from truths. However hard it is, it does not mean that it is not possible. We should keep open eyes and minds, and remember that though the essence of spirituality and religion are good, malevolent people have the power to distort it in a way that will benefit the latter’s personal desires.
Unfortunately, we live in a world where even the seemingly most benevolent activities have malevolent ulterior motives. It is a challenge for us to be aware. Equipped with the Internet and free from the possible manipulations of biased mass media, we have the responsibility to question what we see, even if it is as fundamental as what we believe in. Because in the long run, this strengthens our faith, our core values.
I’ll first let the Naked Juice ad below do the talking through its amazing kinetic typography advertisement.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DkRznTser0]
Wow, I was amazed. This is beyond the recycling green advocacy. The concept of “reincarnating” is great, in the aspect of bottles, is great because plenty of drinks and packaging use it. Especially in the Philippines, it is one of the major garbage found in bodies of waters and in the streets.
But then, continuous “reincarnation” of bottles to be used for eternity will greatly reduce waste.
Bottomline: this is a prime example of what it means to go beyond “responsibility” and become an embodiment of “sustainability”.