Revolutionizing Goodness: Human Nature Celebrates its New Manufacturing Plant!

"When we started Human Nature, it was always supposed to be a vehicle to help not only poor communities, but also the working poor," begins Dylan Wilk, Human Nature's Vice President and Chief Operating Officer as he sits down to talk about our first manufacturing plant in Canlubang, Laguna. Six years and 29 branches after Human Nature first opened its doors, our ever-vibrant hive of activity is a testament to this mission.

Working Rewards

The Philippines has proven its potential to move towards more inclusive growth in its national progress; the manufacturing sector in particular shows much promise as a venue for developing human capital and economic growth by increasing job opportunities that promote competitiveness, stability, and quality of life. Values like fairness, just wages, compensation, and dignity of laborers are now staple in the vernacular of game-changing businesses as efforts towards shared growth continue to engage the working poor.

"The most exciting thing about starting our own factory is that it gives us a chance to show the whole country that it's possible to treat factory workers differently," Dylan points out.

Its 50 starting employees, gathered mostly from Gawad Kalinga communities, will be working on a regularized - rather than contractual - arrangement with full benefits for almost twice the mandated daily minimum wage, making it at par with the above-minimum wage earnings of Human Nature employees in Metro Manila.

In addition to this, Human Nature passed on the opportunity to apply for Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) accreditation in line with our company's withstanding commitment to pay government taxes in full to support our local economy.

Natural Care Factory

From an operational side, manufacturing natural products has always been challenging for a genuinely natural beauty company. "Current plants are designed for production of the synthetic products and are not adapted to the nuances needed for the processes in making natural products," asserts Supply Chain Planner Geli Diamante. "The set-up of the plant is designed for the processes involved in manufacturing natural products."

With the best and brightest Quality Assurance, Research & Development, and Regulatory teams on board, Dylan and Geli are confident that this factory will multiply Human Nature's capacities in the areas of hands-on research and testing, thereby assuring quality production and promoting Filipino innovation.

"Since we have complete control on the equipment and processes involved in the manufacturing of our products," Geli explains, "this will mean we can constantly find ways to innovate and improve on our quality. This will help propel our products to have a global standard."

"This factory is about much more than just creating products," Dylan shares. "There's a whole dream behind it that goes beyond Human Nature."

Building the Dream

"On a personal level, I want to build quality of life outside Manila," Dylan contemplates. "That's the dream in the end: to create a nice community and show what quality of life can be like for the poor and for everyone else."

Dylan believes that this manufacturing plant will not only have a social impact, but also propel Human Nature as a socially successful and globally competitive brand showcasing the best of the Philippines.

"Made in the Philippines can mean made to a world-class standard," he smiles.

The Perfect Fit by Des Dales

My friends used to laugh at me and call me Six-Month Girl because in every job I've had, it only took me a matter of two to six months before I decided to leave it. I did not want to settle for something that did not make me happy nor useful. I was dreamy-I wanted a job that I can say was a perfect fit.

When my close friend heard I was resigning from my job, she never stopped pestering me to apply for a company called Human Nature where she got convinced to be a dealer because she believed in the cause. I, on the other hand, did not budge because I was accepted in a scholarship to learn about meditation, Chinese arts, and simplistic living and we were to stay in a temple for four months.

In the end, I did not learn about the Buddhist way of life. Because of my persistent friend, I submitted my resumé, got scheduled for an interview, researched about the company, and then fell in love. Without being accepted yet, and praying so hard to be, I knew I wanted it more than the temple stay. I knew it was the perfect fit for me.

Now on my thirteenth month in Human Nature, with conviction, I say, I was wrong-it's not a perfect fit. For an agro-enterprise business manager, my only background in farming was my father's love for it and my childhood experiences with him at the farm. My business background, on the other hand, went as far as selling homemade brownies to classmates. Often, I'd be frustrated over myself for not knowing more than I know. Jong Noriel was often the recipient of my rant about my worries and fears who, very comfortingly, would just laugh at me and say, "It's normal."

Normal! Yes, very comforting. I can't say it sarcastically enough. Once, he even said, "Faith it until you make it! That's what most of us do in this business."

How could I be dreamy in this job? The first time I did plantation monitoring, I was so exhausted I cried. I thought it was so easy that I targeted to visit all the citronella plots in one community for one day. After six hours of endless walking through three rivers, a forest, and who knows how many hills, we were only able to visit nine plots. There were nine more to go. And I had to do this monthly on three communities. Then there is the bumpy and scary uphill habal-habal (a single motorbike shared with 3-4 other passengers) ride which I have to take at least once a week to reach a community. Of course, there's also the different community issues and personality differences among their members that also need to be dealt with.

No wonder, on my orientation in Manila, Joan Icotanim had remarks like, "Don't resign ha," or, "We're just here for you if you need to talk,"and, "I'm on my third year in the company, lampasan mo 'yan ha. Kaya mo yan," even when I have not even started yet.

Then there was Mike Go who said, "You have to know why you're doing it and who you're doing it for. Without the heart, it's difficult to last in this job."

The most puzzling part was during my company interview with the Dylan Wilk, he only told me four things:

"When you face the community, pray. When you write your records, pray. When you report to us here in Manila, pray. Whatever you do, just pray first."

My innocent self was baffled by all the reassurance and profound advice and blindedly thought, maybe Dylan's just very spiritual and everyone else was just very supportive. I felt so blessed to belong in this family.

But now I know why they said what they said-it is not an easy path. They, of all people, should know. Dreaming for social change is easy. Working for it is the hard part. We have to be properly geared with the right heart and a strong faith to persevere in this mission. Knowing that there are a lot of us who have come together who share and chase the same dream is an added bonus.

So the company with a heart definitely has mine. It may not be the perfect fit but leaving is not an option.

This project has given our partner farmers, whose dreams are as simple as being able to eat every day or getting a new pot for cooking rice - a chance to hope. How could I give up on that? Whenever I find myself complaining, a weakness I admit I have, I remind myself to be grateful. Every time I go to the communities, I feel so blessed for having the chance to meet these amazing people of humility, generosity, and strength. They, who barely have enough to fill their stomach, still find the grace to invite me for a meal and share their food with me. They, who live in a day-to-day basis still manage to smile and laugh. It is such a privilege to be welcomed in their homes and in their lives.

I have now let go of the childish dream of a purposeful yet comfortable and easy work life but I am now realistically dreaming of a much better one-an improved life for our farmers and their families. Like what one of the inspiring people I met in this job said, "Be grateful for the challenges. The fruit is so much sweeter when you worked hard for it."

Our Unsung Heroes: Human Nature's Merchandisers