MANILA, Philippines — Eight communities will get to jumpstart their own projects and businesses to help uplift the lives of their people through The Quest for Love, a nationwide search that will soon air on ABS-CBN’s G Diaries, hosted by Gina Lopez.
Launched last March, The Quest for Love is the project of the Investments in Loving Organizations for Village Economies (ILOVE) Foundation founded by Lopez. It aims to promote widespread social and environmental development by providing communities with financial and technical support to start their own social enterprises.
Lopez introduced the top eight finalists of the search in a recent press conferences at the ABS-CBN’s Dolphy Theater attented by Air Asia president Maan Hontiveros, Megawide Cooperate Foundation, Inc. COO Sheila Lynn Nawata, Globe Telecom Inc. senior vice president Yolanda Crisanto, Forest Foundation Philippines executive director Atty. Jose Andres Canivel, Richprime Global Inc. president Myrna Yao, and IISLA founder and CEO Jen Viloria.
According to Gina Lopez, The Quest for Love hopes to empower communities in the remotest areas of the country and transform them into successful and sustainable sites for agro industries, foresty, fisheries or ecotourism.
All finalists will receive P100,000, undergo ILOVE Foundation’s mentoring and support program, and have a direct access to government support from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Tourism, Technical Education Skills Development Authority, Department of Science and Technology, Department of National Defense and Department of Trade and Industry.
The eight were chosen after a day-long deliberation, where 16 organizations that represent different communities in the country got to pitch their ideas to a panel of social investors. The proposed projetcs include heritage villages, habitat rehabilitations, livelihood programs and eco-tourism activities.
Filipinos can watch their journey towards bringing their dream projects to life soon on G Diaries, Lopez’s award-winning advocacy program that features success stories of community development in some of the most scenic destinations in the Philippines.
Joining them are mentors such as restauranteur Marvin Agustin, social entrepreneur Illac Diaz, business experts John Aguilar, Marvin Beduya, Jeannie Javelosa, and Chit Juan, sustainability advocate Reena Francisco, sociologist Czarina Medina-Guce, Human Nature founder Anna Meloto-Wilk, and Bootleg Innovation Design co-founder Aaron Panlilio.
G Diaries airs every second Sunday of the month before ASAP on ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN HD. Visit QuestforLove.PH and G diaries on Facebook, Twitter, and Instragram for more information.