The "Hapinoy" in Bam Aquino

CEBU, Philippines – World Economic Forum's Young Global Leader awardee Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV was in town last August 28 for Kumon Philippines' Education and Parenting Seminar Series 2010 to share on the concept of self-learning in a societal context which serves as the "realization" part of the whole process of teaching him independence during his early years.

Bam, one of the prolific youth advocates of his generation, told participants how interplay of factors - beginning at home - has led him to the discovery of his potential and passion; and how this made him an agent of change that he is today.

He opened his module by crediting his achievements to his parents, most especially his being a social entrepreneur since 2006. "They have successfully instilled in me the habit of excellence; serving as living examples of integrity and service."

"Because failure is not an option, but a reality, they taught me to be resilient," Bam shared, adding that it has been ingrained among his siblings (he is youngest of three children) that at the end of the day, what matters most is that they've done their best. "Like Shaq (O'Neal), excellence has become a habit, thus is second nature already."

In coping with failure, he pointed out that, "you can't win at everything. So it helps na our parents praise us kids for simply trying our best."

Second point he raised, in a PowerPoint presentation, is the fact that they were constantly reminded "only their parents' love is for free, nothing else."

"Kaya we grew up with so much respect for them and ultimately ang dynamics ay nagbago when we reached adolescence because they started learning from us. In the process, pareho kaming nag-i-evolve," he added.

Further, he mentioned that his parents didn't spoil them with material things. "If we want new toys but walang okasyon, we save up for it. Natuto kaming magtipid and to value hard work. 'Kala kasi ng karamihan pag galing ka sa political family eh napakadali ng lahat. There are many disadvantages to it as there are many advantages. Sa case namin, everything you need, you work for it. You will succeed if you genuinely work out for things, yun ang turo sa 'min."

Third point, Bam's parents didn't shelter him from harsh realities. "I was six years old lang when my Tito Ninoy was assassinated in 1983. I had so many questions, on the outrage, on the mass actions, but they never doubted my capacity to understand the things going on around me at that time. They offered explanations. That basically crafted my youth."

Fourth, his parents allowed him to choose his own adventure. "They never micro-managed me, but always gave me clear parameters. Later on in life, this would come in the form of wisdom and guidance. They always trusted me," he further said.

"I had a scholarship abroad but I felt I wasn't ready yet at that time. Ang observation ko kasi sa mga relatives ko who studied abroad eh disconnected sila sa Pilipinas. Kaya sabi ko sa dad (Paul Aquino) ko, maybe pag college na lang ako. But dad, who would have wanted at least one of us to study abroad, never ever said a word after that decision of mine." His testimonial led to the topic on social enterprise of which he is currently an active player through "Hapinoy", a play on the words "happy" and "Pinoy" - the colloquial word for Filipino.

Social enterprise is the marriage of NGO and business work which was a new concept when he started the Hapinoy Store Program in 2007. Currently, he is the president of MicroVentures, Inc. - a social business enterprise that leverages microfinancing as a powerful tool to empower socially and economically challenged families.

Upon realizing that 15 to 20 percent of microfinance borrowers use the capital to put up stores or expand their inventory, the Hapinoy Store Program focuses on the sari-sari stores in the Philippines (sari-sari is the Filipino word for "many or various kinds"), small neighborhood convenience stores or retail-based outlets that sell various things, mostly basic commodities. These variety stores are almost always located within or as an extension of the storeowner's home. With about 700,000 stores in the country, sari-sari stores make up 30 to 40 percent of total retail sales nationwide. Bam said that they first focused on aggregating all these sari-sari store owners for bulk product discounts.   

Through hapinoy.com, it was further learned that all of Hapinoy's Community Stores are owned by female/women micro entrepreneurs whom they fondly call nanay (Filipino word for "mother"). The program then puts nanays on the Path to Prosperity, focusing on nanay's growth in her business and personality.

Today, Hapinoy has evolved into a full-service micro entrepreneur enhancement program: a network of micro, small, medium and large enterprises where Hapinoy Community Stores and sari-sari stores serve as the hubs for goods and services that are coursed through the program and offered to its Base of the Pyramid target.

"My passion for social development is deeply rooted in the method of discipline my parents has inculcated in me as they persisted in maximizing my self-learning ability in the formative years of my life," Bam said in closing the talk.

Bam is a first-degree cousin of President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III. Previous to his entrepreneurial activities, Bam was made chairman of the National Youth Commission, the main youth policy-making arm of the Philippine Government from 2003 to 2006. As such, he was the youngest person in Philippine history to head a government agency at 26 years old.

His latest show, Start-Up, a show for budding entrepreneurs, currently airs on the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC). Bam graduated first honors from grade school to college (BS Management Engineering) at the Ateneo de Manila University. (FREEMAN)