"What is the happiest moment of your life?"

"When I became a part of the Human Nature family. Because Human Nature's advocacy is great, their mission is great. It's nice to help out the poor while still being able to earn for yourself." - Mark, Store Personnel

"Realizing that I can be a servant to all. No, it's true! When you get older, you realize that your purpose here is to serve God, and to serve him means to serve your fellowmen. When I started in Human Nature, I was still selfish. Really! What pro-poor? I'm also poor. I don't have my own house. But when I started to imbibe Human Nature's advocacy - when people like Dylan, Anna, Camille, Joanna started infecting me - it was then that I realized that for you to be able to succeed, to be able to have longevity in Human Nature, you have to serve your fellowmen." - Yla, Store Manager

"Happiest are those moments in my life that I am reminded that even though I am undeserving, I am embraced by a love which is so much bigger than all this world can give. I see this love not just in my family and friends but even in the simplest gestures from unexpected people and even from mere strangers - a pat on the back, a thank you note, words of blessing or even a little smile. Because I have received this kind of love, I have the privilege of sharing it to other people (and hopefully, I am maximizing this privilege!)." - Kat, Social Enterprise Category Manager

Goodness Goes Full Steam Ahead at Human Nature's Manufacturing Plant! (Part 1)


by Ara Alinea

Last September, Human Nature added another milestone to its journey of sharing the goodness with the world in the form of our very first manufacturing plant in Canlubang, Laguna.


Human Nature's Manufacturing Plant at Canlubang, Laguna


Baptism by Typhoon Mario

Located at the corner of Excellence and Integrity in Carmelray Industrial Park, Human Nature's manufacturing plant sits among industry giants who have practiced and perfected the art of manufacturing. But instead of being intimidated, team Carmelray - as most Human Nature employees have dubbed them - takes it all in stride. After all, you could say that despite being in its starting phase, they are no strangers to daunting challenges.

Just two days after officially starting operations at the plant, Typhoon Mario struck land in Metro Manila. But despite the heavy rains, strong winds, and the jolting thunders, the inextinguishable Filipino spirit shone through with the production of the first product, our Natural Hand Soap. Quality Assurance Microbiologist Elizabeth Sanchez shares the heartwarming first:

"It was midnight and my body was starting to feel exhaustion from too much standing. Despite that, being there at that very moment when the first product bulk was sampled was an experience. We were all like mothers who gave birth and touched her precious baby for the first time. The joy was overwhelming."


L-R: The filling for MammoMe | QA team checking the quality for each bottle of MammoMe


Building Better Lives Beyond Manila

The past few years have witnessed people from the provinces migrating to Metro Manila for better job opportunities. In the process, places beyond the capital are experiencing a drain in talented Filipinos that could aid in their economic progress and better quality of life. And this is exactly where our manufacturing plant's ultimate goal lies: to prove that building big dreams beyond Metro Manila is not just possible but can also be accomplished with tremendous results.

By providing benefits and wages at par with their Metro Manila counterparts, Human Nature hopes to attract more Filipinos back to the provinces to be part of revolutionizing a growing economy that also lifts up the poor. It is our first resounding drumbeat announcing to the world that "Made in Philippines" - may it be from the big capital to the small provinces - can mean world -class excellence!


L-R: Words of love and encouragement at the plant entrance | The QA team taking a break from their busy work for a group photo


Get to know more about the people behind Team Carmelray, their dreams for the plant and their relentless bayanihan in times of challenges, on the next employee newsletter!

The Gift of Healthy Hair


Hers is an engaging sort of beauty. Her lush locks cultivated with care, spunky in their sway, their great lengths a symbol of selfless hope.

"I have always wanted to do something that would bring hope to other people," she muses cheerfully. It was in January 2011 that a then-25-year-old Evert Dela Cruz first resolved to become an agent of happiness by donating almost a foot of hair to create wigs for cancer patients.

Few traits are as capable of being nurtured and shaped to assure self-confidence and security as one's hair. Every woman's crowning glory carries a meaningful significance linked to their self-perception and how they project themselves to the world. However for some women who must lose their hair in order to survive, having beautiful hair fulfills more than just an aesthetic need - it fulfills one's need to reclaim a life that is normal and dignified.

Choosing to donate one's hair is ultimately a choice to give away a beautiful part of oneself, a sacrifice made in full view so that others may continue to live with confidence and pride.

Choosing to Let Go

Inspired by an anecdote of one girl's donation, Evert resolved to become an agent of happiness to others, despite the hesitations of giving away such a prized part of oneself. "My first hair donation was easy because my hair was already long to start with," she recalls. "My second time was a bit challenging because it took me more than two years to grow it back."

Now at 28-years-old, Evert is ready to take her place in the stylist chair once more for her cause. "This time, I want to donate longer hair - about 15 inches!" she smiles, her billboard-beautiful tresses an astounding 27 inches in length. "I want the person who is going to receive it to enjoy having long hair as much as I did."

Grown with Love

You grow what you sow - as such, treating hair with tender loving care is a crucial part of nurturing hair that is healthy enough to give away. "The best part about the experience is I get to try different hairstyles, from buns to braids to letting it down!" Evert laughs. "The most challenging part, on the other hand, is growing it and keeping it healthy."

"Letting it grow for more than two years requires a lot of treatment," she continues. From choosing the right hair care products that do not harm the hair, to getting regular trims and keeping chemical treatments to a minimum, healthy hair is a high maintenance feat. To keep her hair long and strong, Evert swears by Human Nature's Natural Strengthening Conditioner in Cool Peppermint and Daily Hair Treatment.

"I don't want to just give long hair," she explains. "I want to give healthy hair."

Reaping Long-Term Rewards

For women who may have reservations about donating hair, Evert admits that it is an investment that one must commit to before preparing themselves to let go. However as a repeated hair donor, she can attest that the rewards are worth it.

"It feels liberating and it makes me feel good knowing that somewhere in this world, I became an instrument of hope and happiness to a person's life," she smiles.

"Don't think twice because it will grow back," Evert adds encouragingly. "A few years of letting it grow back is nothing compared to a lifetime of confidence, hope, and happiness that you restore in these cancer patients."

Do you want to give the gift of healthy hair? Louis Phillip Kee Premier Salon in Taguig is giving a 15% discount for all hair donors who avail of their haircut services until October 23, 2014. You may also crop your hair at your desired salon and drop off your hair package (with ponytails neatly zip-locked!) with Angie Tan at 3/F Marketing. For inquiries regarding year-round hair donations, visit Cuts Against Cancer's official site.


Brewing the New Bayani

What makes a bayani? For the Bayani Brew crew, it's all about love - for people, for one's work, and for one's country.

Their mission to brew a generation of Filipinos who are crazy in love with the Philippines begins with a small but mighty team at the heart of their expansion. Together with the Bayani Brew Crew consisting of Ron Dizon and Xilca Alvarez-Protacio, Bayani Brew's hardworking merchandising team paid a visit to Human Nature's Head Office last September 13 to undergo merchandising training with our very own Nikko and Tin.



After breaking the ice with an ABC Supermarket Memory Game Relay, Nikko and Tin began the training by going back to the start: the Bayani Brew Love Story. "We really have lots of things we need to focus on as the outlets we serve grow and our staff grows,"explains Xilca.

From reporting materials to keeping internal and external customers happy, the many responsibilities of a Bayani merchandiser were tackled throughout the workshop.

"[The bayanis] were enlightened about the importance of doing things accurately and establishing rapport with their stakeholders, especially the people in their retail partners," Nikko beams. "The merchandisers also changed their perspective how important their work is."

"They [the bayanis] really were enlightened on how it is to work in a professional setting with a hardcore performance metrics system and with passionate love for the company," expresses Xilca. "They realized what they could aspire for when they do their work with care and meticulousness."

Bayani Brew has come a long way since their humble beginnings, with their addictive beverage flying off the shelves of S&R, Landmark and Family Mart, in addition to Human Nature. And by the looks of it, there's no stopping these bayanis from spreading their crazy love for the Philippines around the country!
Would you like to share your good news and inspirational stories with the rest of our Human Nature family? Send your goodness stories to nicole.sa@humanheartnature.com! Three stories will be featured each month, so come and share the goodness!