CEBU, Philippines - Dylan Wilk wasn't born with a silver platter. Like most of us trying to make ends meet, he also has had his fair share of the struggles having to watch his single mom raise him with meager income. But because England is such a rich country, made wealthy of course by the taxes of the people who buy their own British products, Dylan said he was able to finish school through public education.
"Through the taxes paid by flourishing businesses strengthened by nationalism, or patriotism, I was able to go to school for free. Everything is being paid by taxes from various industries. Even the food that we eat at the school canteen is free," he shared in a recent interview.
Encouraged to establish his own business in his early 20s, Dylan got a 250-pound (P175,000) bank loan after several rejections. He embarked on selling videos online through Gameplay. By the time he was 25, he had his company listed under the London Stock Exchange. From there, he moved on to become the youngest director of a publicly listed firm in the United Kingdom.
At 25, Dylan became the ninth richest person in England under 30 years old. He owned fancy cars that could be disposed of as quickly as newer brand models get into the market. He lived in luxury among the most posh hotels. But it was a trip to the Philippines that led him to realizing his deeper purpose in life, and start something revolutionary in nature.
He saw how rich the Philippines is – in natural resources and spiritual wellbeing. He mentioned that the very reason why the country remains to be third world is because people don't fully back its own enterprises. "But you are such a nurturing, loving, and very caring people. If you could do that to your country, by buying Philippine-made products, walang iwanan, you can enforce change," he said.
Through a social enterprise he co-founded with his Filipina wife, Anna Meloto, he was able to raise purchasing rates of raw materials from our local farmers. For example, elemi oil (just one of the world's most sought-after natural ingredients in personal care products found here) from a tree grown in the southern part of Luzon, is bought by the French company, Chanel, for P10 a kilo but sold at hundred of dollars a bottle as a finished product.
Gandang Kalikasan buys at P3,000 a kilo to uplift the lives of farmers. Rather than trying to maximize profits, the way capitalists work, social enterprise optimizes them. "This is about considering, in all of our decisions, what's best for our country, what's good for our people. I would say 'our' because I've now come to live like a Filipino. I have children I would love to see grow more as a Filipino," Dylan enthused.
In addition, profits for the first three months of operations which began in 2008 were given to the farmers so they can purchase equipment.
Wilk's endeavor demonstrates love of the Philippines, love of the environment, and love of families, as it provides personal care products that feel good on the skin as they do in the heart.
It is human nature to always look forward to the positive impact of our pursuits to our country, fellowman, and planet. This inherent desire to always go for "only the good" finds its place in the core policies of Gandang Kalikasan being pro-Philippines, pro-poor, and pro-environment.
Dylan shared that for as long as Filipino farmers only grow rice, they will always be poor. That's why Gandang Kalikasan, through partnerships with Gawad Kalinga and other organizations develop world-class organic farms and other enterprises, which multiply the income of farmers. Here in the Visayas, there are lemongrass farms in Negros Occidental already, and a peppermint plantation in Bohol.
"Though it is cheaper to source overseas, even the packaging of our Human (Heart) Nature products are sourced here, the way the products' ingredients are grown, harvested and extracted here to help churn the economy," Dylan pointed out.
According to him, the societal change that we long for can best take shape when we start supporting local enterprises. Before he flew back to Manila, he left us with this situation to ponder on: "Look at cacao. Europe cannot grow cacao. It just would not grow with the kind of climate and soil European countries have. Where do you think they source out their products? Look at the Philippines. We have an abundant supply of cacao beans. However, dark chocolates imported from Europe are most relished here despite its costly tag. Don't you think there is something wrong with that?" (FREEMAN)