We have a pact in Human Nature, to offer only the best because we believe every Filipino deserves it.

Behind each new product and Magalogue release, is a joint effort of talented individuals - People with different backgrounds that share a common aspiration. A team dedicated to bring the race to the finish-line of making natural & healthy affordable to every Filipino.

Product Research and Development is just one aspect of this race which at the same time makes it the most critical. Right from the start, our convictions are tested. How would you expect us to come up with a product that is 100% free from harmful chemicals when in today’s world, we are surrounded with toxic and synthetic alternatives that is being justified as business practicality? And yet, we choose to use ingredients that are both safe to the human body and to the environment, a dedication unmatched by other brands. The challenge doesn’t end there. We are dedicated to using only ingredients that can be grown and sourced locally, intended to help alleviate poverty by not only giving livelihood to local farmers but also by empowering them to become competitive in the market. We buy their produce, share their mistakes yet support them still in terms of technology and facilities that will help them process their crops into extracts and essential oils. Amazingly, 100% of the profit from our Bug Spray, Bug Shield Lotion and Passion Fruit Hydrating Lipsticks is given back to support the long term growth of these farming communities. With these sacrifices, each HN employee has the advocacy by heart. When I joined the HN family as a Senior Formulator at the start of the year, I was truly amazed by the fact that it was not a NGO but a Social Enterprise which truly adheres to being Pro-Philippines, Pro-Poor and Pro-Environment. I felt that joining HN was God’s way of allowing me to touch lives by sharing my blessings and my God-given talents to others. And in the process, it makes me a better human being.

I was fortunate to be able to join the recent visit of our Social Enterprise Development team (SED) to our Citronella Farming partners in Labo, Camarines Norte. It was a night travel from Manila to Camarines Norte that took 6-8 hours. We were eight in the company coming from different departments plus my 8 year old daughter, KC, who was eager to see what a citronella farm looks like. We arrived in Camarines Norte in the wee hours of the morning but our host family welcomed us with a cozy bed for an extra hour of sleep and later on a hearty breakfast to start our day’s adventure. We only had an hour after breakfast to rest after which, we started walking through the muddy slopes of the forest, crossed a river in order to reach the Citronella plantations and extracting facility which was amidst coconut trees. The trek wasn’t as tiring especially when we had fresh buko juice prepared for us by our partner farmers. It was inspiring to see how idle land was transformed into sprawling Citronella fields and how farmers and their families were benefitting by growing such a simple crop. What was more amazing was to see them dry and extract the exact same Citronella essential oil we use in our Bug Spray and Bug Shield lotion! I felt good that we are buying their Citronella Oil, seeing how HN transformed the lives and values of these families inspired me with my work back in the lab.

We then visited the original Citronella extraction facility in Purok 4 of Brgy Kanapawan. It’s nice to see their humble beginnings and realize how far we’ve gone together. Their initial set-up is a testament to their cooperative’s resolve to improve the quality of life in their community. Most of the coop members are looking forward to the end of the month where they promised each other to work hand in hand to ensure the completion of the One Heart for One Community programs and investments in time for our August 8 showcase event. They trusted our vision and believed in the relationship they have with us. They trusted us when we committed to them that we shall buy their produce at a fair price. With this, they saw a brighter future for their families because of Human Nature and Gawad Kalinga.

This experience made me realize a lot of things, most importantly about true happiness.

One of the keys to happiness is learning to appreciate what you have. So many of us dream of having “better” lives – a higher salary, our own house, a car, better relationships – and we think that once we attain those things, we will be happy. It’s normal to have goals in life, but it’s different when we lose track of what truly makes us happy while working to achieve those goals. Because at the end of the day, when you have that house you’ll start dreaming of a bigger one. When you finally bought that car, you will yearn for a newer model.

True happiness is not felt when you have achieved all you wanted. It comes from realizing that we have more than what we need. That we are fortunate and we’re still called to open up and share these to others is truly a blessing.

It’s such a simple joy to be reminded of this fact especially in an unlikely trip to the farm for someone who constantly works in a lab. Seeing the people we run this race for is a unique experience with HN. It makes me appreciate that even in simple ways I can also be a blessing to other people.

Bless Orsolino
Senior Formulator
R&D Department