G Stuff is good and green

There are some projects one takes on, and one simply takes it on. And then there are some projects one takes on — and it reaches you at the gut level. An X factor thing that totally resonates with one’s being and just feels so very, very right.

When I started Bantay Bata 163, that’s the feeling I had. When I started Educational Television (ETV), that’s the feeling I had. It just felt so right, such that it almost engulfed my being. My experience when I feel that way is that everything falls into place without my having to do anything. Oh, there are difficulties — as there always are. But there is also the feeling of magic happening.

That’s how I feel with the Green Initiative. It just feels so right! So good for the country, so good for the spirit. That’s the way I feel about the Pasig River effort. In one of our plenary sessions in PRRC, we targeted four key performance indicators: economy; peace and order; health and happiness. Happiness? Sure! I want to put it separately because it is such an important component. It comes naturally with the economy, peace and order and health. But I want to take the route of Bhutan. Bhutan, near the Himalayas, actually measures its GNH — Gross National Happiness — as a national objective over and above the economy. That’s where I would like to go. I met the head of the GNH Institute of Bhutan at a convention in Australia. He is keen on coming to the Philippines.

So why this article? Because a major strategy of the whole effort is social entrepreneurship. In connection with that, in September I will be launching a food business called G Stuff in Rockwell (“G” standing for Green, Gina, Good). I want to launch a business that will help the community. But it must be green. And it must be really good! Like “par excellence” good. This is where I am featuring the virgin coconut oil products produced by the indigenous people of Brooke’s Point. I will be selling herbal plants and strictly organic produce made by our Bayanijuan relocatees from Calauan, Laguna. The River Warriors of Paco have just passed the TESDA National Assessment for Commercial Cooking, Food and Beverage so they are officially chefs. So if there is any institution or community making organic produce, let us know. (Call Inez Achacoso at 0917-5226611 or e-mail inezachacoso@yahoo.com.) My parameters: no white sugar, white flour, chemicals; only stuff that is good for people. And I would prefer if the endeavor helps people and communities. We get people out of poverty. We provide a link between the moneyed crowd and the hardworking communities that want their lives to come up.

G Stuff: I am so excited about this. I will also be getting stuff I know to be really good from the States.

If you want to get involved with Green Initiative or G Stuff, please e-mail me at regina_lopez@abs-cbn.com. If you have products call Inez and give us samples. If you have a story behind the products let us know. It’s the story that is also important.

We work together. We make a difference. Life is now. We go for it.