My Story

Intro

In November 2007, a triad of friends who studied at Ateneo de Manila University shared an idea of starting a social enterprise in the field of renewable energy and delivery of appropriate IT services. Given that 20% of Philippine villages are not electrified, there is an opportunity to support these communities through energy-related services. Alexander and his friends took the idea and started a successful social entreprise to bring light to the more than 2,700 villages in the Philippines which are still off the grid.

About Me

Entrepreneurship was something I didn’t actively pursue in the beginning. I wanted to be able to drum up and concretize ideas in my head though and entrepreneurship provided the pathway for me. I was also drawn to it because I found this space as an opportunity to expand myself and to could contribute to my community as a means of my self-expression. There are numerous avenues to serve and this is the pathway that I choose to do so.

I stand for empowering people in taking action in their own lives. I believe that each and every person has the opportunity to make a difference everyday. I find that being an entrepreneur has provided for me the laboratory to take this into practice. The Hopi proverb, “We are the ones we have been waiting for” rings true for me. With RuralLight and the other endeavors that I’m involved with, it is my intention to forward this type of conversation.

I have worked with various research and consulting agencies tackling infrastructure development, education, environmental and social issues before I founded RuralLight. I am a Partner for Operations and Management of RuralLight, a social enterprise based in Manila, Philippines focused on empowering off-grid communities in pursuing sustainable solutions in renewable energy.

My Venture

RuralLight is a youth-led social enterprise based in the Philippines that is focused on empowering off-grid communities in pursuing sustainable solutions in renewable energy. The spurt of this idea was and still is due to a longing to give something back to the country. After numerous exchanges of ideas over e-mail, voice chat, coffee or a mix of all of those, the beginnings of a social enterprise took place.

RuralLight empowers off-grid communities and villages to use renewable energy in part or wholly by providing scalable solutions that support their local economies. This includes supporting local produce by expanding their markets and engaging in community-centered product development and deployment like bringing in products for the bottom of the pyramid. This context engages and empowers the community to enhance their livelihood and expand their market.

Our plans include bringing in products for the bottom of the pyramid such as solar-powered lights and sustainable products (i.e. refrigeration, heating, etc.) that supports the environment. We would also like to expand the market of the produce of the community to expand both locally and internationally.