Discovering the genius of the poor

MANILA, Philippines – “Ditch the shirt and tie! Go out and discover the genius of our poor!” Having interviewed a number of businessmen and politicians worldwide, no words have ended up having such a profound impact upon me as those of Tony Meloto, founder and chairman of Gawad Kalinga.

After three hours of interview (I had expected to be in and out in no more than 30 minutes), I looked back at my clipboard of questions to realize that at least half of them never actually got answered. Not because Meloto had refused to answer them, but because I myself had realized how irrelevant they were.

As he talked passionately about his unconditional love for the poorest of the poor, my follow-up questions – on the latest government anti-poverty scheme or the UN development goals – didn’t somehow seem to fit.

Meloto encouraged me to view various poverty-related issues in a different light. When I talked about charity, he spoke about going beyond it, about partnering with the poor. When I singled out the role of government, he talked of creating ‘miracles of solidarity’ involving partnership, not only with the government, but with all sections of society. When my questions focused on individual projects to alleviate poverty, Meloto looked forward to eradicating it entirely by 2024.

Since arriving in the Philippines I had interviewed many people on the subject of poverty, but I hadn’t met anyone who spoke about it quite as audaciously as he does.

One of his more astonishing claims – his belief in the ‘genius of the poor’ – remained particularly stamped on my awareness. I wondered how he could see ‘genius,’ when all I could see was dirt and deprivation. If there was indeed genius in the poor, then why were they poor in the first place?

Perhaps sensing my skepticism, Meloto laid down the gauntlet: “Come alongside the poor, befriend them, partner with them, and you will discover their potential. But don’t take my word for it – experience it for yourself.”

Journeying with the poor

Stirred by the challenge, I decided to quit my job in order to extend my stay in the Philippines a few extra months. My first stop brought me to one of Metro Manila’s largest slum areas – Bagong Silang (Caloocan). Once one of the most dangerous areas of the capital, I witnessed how GK villages had brought peace and hope to thousands of people living in this area. I met with men who were once volatile teenagers, and yet have since emerged as faith-driven, family men preaching the value of bayanihan and walang iwanan.

Inspired by the people I met in Bagong Silang, I set out on a journey that took me across the length and breadth of the islands, deviating from the regular tourist trail to visit, amongst others, typhoon-afflicted regions, city jails and conflict areas of Mindanao (with just a GK T-shirt for protection).

With my journey extending to almost a year, my father – somewhat concerned by his son’s disappearance to a bizarre-sounding foreign organization – came out to investigate. He ended up catching the GK ‘bug’ too – his three-week stay in the country focused not on resorts or dive spots, but on packing in visits to as many GK villages as time would allow.

One of the most touching moments of my journey, however, came at GK Tugas Village on Bantayan Island (northern Cebu). Just a few months earlier, Typhoon Yolanda had made its devastating impact here, stripping virtually every home of its roof and plunging the entire community into prolonged darkness.

The previous year, the venue for my Christmas celebration had been a glitzy nightclub in Metro Manila, and yet this year, our ‘discotheque’ was a small wooden gazebo. Instead of a booming sound system, we relied upon our own voices, or on the music provided by one man’s basic Nokia mobile phone.

My surroundings couldn’t possibly have been more meager, and yet the way in which this community received me, and the remarkable tales of resilience, hope and transformation they shared with me, made this one of the most memorable and meaningful Christmases of my life.

Throughout my journey, the Filipino values of bayanihan and walang iwanan were not just spoken about but put into action by brave and committed volunteers. Not only were these values an inspiration to the most marginalized communities, but they made me all too aware of the disconnectedness of the western culture that had shaped me: its obsession with gaining material wealth, and of pursuing the goal of individual self-advancement and self-fulfillment.

Somewhat ironically, my 12-month journey amongst the unlearned and unschooled has taught me more insights and life lessons than all my privileged education had achieved back home.

Harnessing human potential through business

Nonetheless, my admiration for the ‘genius’ of the people I met was also tinged with regret, since so many of the transforming communities I visited remained disconnected from decent livelihood opportunities. When caring outsiders have come alongside them, I have been impressed by the ability of the poor to apply themselves and develop newfound skills, directed towards the building of homes and communities as beautiful and functional as any you might see anywhere in the world (using comparable resources).

Sadly, the world of business seemed to offer few outlets for the poor to demonstrate their talents and potential and this huge disparity in economic opportunities not only struck me as deeply unjust, but a huge waste of human potential.

During our first interview, Meloto had explained that if we could see the poor not merely as ‘units’ of cheap, reliable labor but as partners in enterprise, then the power of business could be unleashed to eradicate poverty. He spoke about creating 500,000 social entrepreneurs who would produce beverages, chocolates, toys, toiletries and fashion garments “as good as any you’ll see the world over.”

The second half of my journey has afforded me the opportunity to discover the world of social enterprise. From Human Nature to Bayani Brew, I have discovered local, pro-poor and world-class brands which have become a solution to poverty simply by being popular.

My own social business idea was, in fact, hatched not in the Philippines but in a London pub. As I gave a heartfelt and personal account of my GK journey, many of them simply looked on in utter bemusement at their ‘filipinized’ friend.

To many Brits, the Philippines still remains a mystery. As for Gawad Kalinga, a couple of my friends wondered if I had signed up to a mysterious cult. “You really must come out to visit – I hope that all of you can be connected to these amazing communities, just like I have,” I pleaded with them.

Back in the Philippines to stay, I am fortunate to have a home (and family) both here and in the UK. My new challenge? To provide more and more Europeans with opportunities to discover the genius of the poor, just like I have.

We have decided to call our social enterprise MAD, because being connected to Gawad Kalinga really is about Making A Difference. As I have witnessed throughout my journey, when the rich and the poor come together, it is not just the poor who are enriched.

Social Business Summit

The 2013 Social Business Summit was a unique opportunity to delve into the world of social business. Surely there is no other platform or setting in the world like the GK Enchanted Farm where innovators, rich and poor, political leaders, multinational company executives, idealistic young students and graduates, small-scale entrepreneurs and skilled professionals, from all around the globe – 500 in all – can meet and learn from each other about how to tackle poverty through the creation of social enterprises.

Join the 500 change-makers at the 2014 Social Business Summit (Oct. 2-4) at the GK Enchanted Farm and be prepared to discover your own passion and purpose.

For more information, visit the website:www.socialbusinesssummit.net.

The author is a British journalist who came to the Philippines on a short-term assignment. He has since stayed over two years in the country, volunteering for GK and other causes. His experiences will be documented in a book: “The Genius of the Poor”, which will also be launched duringthe Summit.