The key to a sustainable corporate social investment lies in identifying one’s sense of purpose and, from there, grow one’s work to benefit both business and society. This was the key message of HARI Foundation, Inc. (HFI) President Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo at the Plenary Session of the 4TH Global Social Business Summit of Gawad Kalinga (GK), held at the Hyundai Center for Green Innovation (HCGI) at the GK Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan. Summit theme was “Social Market: Disruption for Shared Prosperity Now.” The HFI president addressed some 700 participants from 20 countries.

Ms. Agudo detailed on how education in climate change founded on the Filipino value of Bayanihan is HFI’s current thrust, and how GK had helped HFI flesh out and develop this CSR core through their close to 10 years of solid collaboration. She likewise pointed out that the Summit venue itself, HGCI, which was inaugurated in 2013, stands as a symbol of Hyundai and GK’s shared vision to educate the youth and other sectors of Philippine society in environmental stewardship as a key pillar to building sustainable communi-ties.

The Summit showcased the experiences of GK partners from the private sector in developing markets for inclusive growth that would match the government's efforts bid for sustainable peace and prosperity. The Plenary Session had noted business leaders talking not only about the progress of their respective advo-cacies, but also about nurturing the concept of “disruption for shared prosperity” within their families.

Presenting with Ms. Agudo was son, Don, co-founder of Taguyod Bayan Foundation, Inc. (TBFI). Inspired by his mother’s advocacy, and now officially partnering with GK, Don launched TBFI in 2012 to contribute to the building of disaster-resilient communities in undermined areas that are heavily hit by natural disasters.