Issue 6:
Jul - Aug 2009

ECHOstore coming to The Podium

NEWS BUZZ

ECHOteach at Fully Booked

back to top

In partnership with Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street, ECHOstore presents its ECHOteach, Inner Change, Outer Action. Everyone is looking for ways to achieve wholeness and meaning in life. Two of ECHOstore's dynamic movers and thought leaders share their perspectives towards helping create a better world, beginning with the self and moving beyond it.

SUSTAINABLE LIVING 101
By green entrepreneur Chit Juan
August 22, Saturday, 4 p.m.

Everyone needs only to begin to make small outward steps to sustainable living to create positibe changes. These can be done from the home, school, office, and in the community. Listen to businesswoman a.k.a. the Green Entrepreneur Chit Juan share her "simple prosperity" formula to living a prosperous life in a practical way.

INTEGRAL LIVING: THE SUSTAINABLE WAY
By green guru Jeannie Javelosa
September 12, Saturday, 4 p.m.

The world today challenges us to be healthy, think positive, and work constructively in collaborations that will benefit the greater majority and not just the self. Listen to writer, artist, and yogini a.k.a. Green Guru Jeannie Javelosa share her "integral formula" for living. By beginning change inside one's self and aligning the energies of the body, mind, and spirit, one has a template for a balanced life that contributes to making the world we live in today a positive one.

Reserve a seat for both talks. Simply e-mail your name and contact details to marketing@fullybookedonline.com.

THE POWER OF THREE

Me + Me

back to top

This marvelous world is a great university of wisdom. Learn your lessons and become wise.

Sri Swami Sivananda
Hindi spiritual teacher and founder of the The Divine Life Society

You + Me
= We

back to top

We are the leaders that we have been waiting for. We are the social entrepreneurs that we have been seeking.

Duane Elgin
American speaker, author, and social visionary

We + Planet
= Sustainable Lifestyle

back to top

The plain fact is that the planet does not need more successful people, but it desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of every kind. It needs people of moral courage willing to join the fight to make the world habitable and humane. And these qualities have little to do with success as we define it.

David Orr
American scholar, teacher, writer, speaker, and entrepreneur

THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS

... in a Campaign

back to top

Still celebrating the power of three, ECHOstore launched a sustainable recycling partnership with the Philippine Christian Foundation (PCF) as a community partner, and with companies and organizations.

The partnership campaign allows companies and organizations the chance to recycle items such as used tarpaulin banners, used CDs, old glossy magazines, and softdrink aluminum can tabs, among others. ECHOstore designs items under its Second Life brand; and the dumpsite communities of PCF in Tondo, Navotas, and Baguio make the items to help the people maintain a source of livelihood. The products, now renewed as functional bags, conference envelopes, gift items, notebook covers, etc., are sold back to the companies for possible corporate and employee gifts. Such a partnership ensure a sustainable livelihood.

To date, the following companies and organizaitons are committed to the campaign:

Management Association of the Philippines (MAP)

(Seated L to R) Gerry de Asis of PCF, MAP President Joey Bermudez, and Jeannie Javelosa of ECHOstore

(Standing L to R) MAP Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Committee Chair Lydia Enrile and MAP CSR Committee Vice Chair Chit Juan

plus:
Accenture
Malayan Insurance
Philippine Airlines Foundation

We've even had volunteer designers help Jeannie Javelosa of ECHOstore try to design more items. Interior designer Ivy Almario and fashion designer Kate Torralba are letting their creative juices flow for new Second Life products.

... in Mentoring

back to top

Two packaging and product development workshops were held in partnership with the Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF)'s Partners and Access Centers Consortium, Inc. (PACCI). Jeannie Javelosa and volunteer mentor Dannie Alvarez of the Yuchengco Museum critiqued existing products and helped develop a list of new products for the participating groups.

Jeannie Javelosa giving a talk at the MUAD office.

The first workshop was held from July 17 to 19 with the Multi-Sectoral Alliance for Development (MUAD) Negros in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.

Volunteer Dannie Alvarez during a critique session of local products.

The second was from August 7 to 9 with cooperatives under the Mahintana Foundation. The workshop was held in General Santos City and Saranggani with visits to the B'laan tribe in Lake Sebu, as well as the T'boli people.

Jeannie and Dannie checking out B'laan basket designs.

... in Setting Up ECHOvillage Stores

back to top

In the works is a special pioneering partnership agreement which ECHOstore will sign with PEF-PACCI. This partnership will open a branded retail space in key provinces in the country where PACCI groups are located. ECHOstore will create a general brand called ECHOvillage Stores, inspired by the ECHOstore philosophy, integrated with the PACCI communities' and members' philosophies.

This partnership will empower village enterprises by providing access to suitable markets for innovative, traditional, and ethnic products and, in the process, establish a strong network of village enterprises with full access to stable and growing markets. Priority provincial areas include Baguio, Albay, Palawan, Bacolod, Bohol, and Saranggani, just to name a few. We are now working on setting up the pilot ECHOvillage Store as we reband the PEF's existing Village Store along Esteban Abada in Katipunan, Metro Manila.

And for the Badjaos...

At ECHOstore, Reena Francisco met with Dulzzi Gutierrez to help mentor Fr. Dennis Tamayo, a Claretian priest with the Claret Samal Foundation, Inc., for product development. Reena continues to be in touch with Fr. Dennis and has sent him pictures for bamboo and coconut products that the Badjaos can make for ECHOstore.

... and in Information Dissemination

back to top

Gen G Magazine!

ECHOstore, in partnership with Mediag8Way Publishing, will be launching the first green magazine. Gen G (that stands for "Generation G") Mag will be the first consumer magazine focused on giving readers a glimpse of the green sustainable lifestyle. Gen G stands for everything positive you can think of: Green, Good, Grateful, Giving, Generous, Groovy, Groupie, Grounded, God-loving, and whatever else that can define the new generation of conscious consumers.

This 68-page monthly publication will cover a wide range of topics with information about anything and everything to start you off on a healthier, cleaner, and more sustainable lifestyle. From healthy and organic food products; health, wellness, and beauty products; the latest eco-styles; the newest materials in the market for greening your space; tips and opinions on environmental issues; and people, places, and events that make the sustainable lifestyle the only way to go.

Watch for Gen G Mag in newsstands and bookstores in September, when we launch the first issue!

Green Space

The Manila Times has given ECHOstore a weekly column called Green Space starting this August. It will be shared by a round robin group of contributing writers. We are inviting interested contributors to send articles (maximum of 700 words) about their green products, advocacies, communities, and commentary. To contribute, e-mail your articles to Chit Juan at puj@echostore.ph or to Jeannie Javelosa at jej@echostore.ph.

ECHOstore Green Blogger Circle

We are creating partnerships with green bloggers. Our first partner is Dennis Morada of pinoygreenacademy.com. Check out one of his entries, The Filipino Worth Greening For.

PRODUCT FEATURE

Something for everyone!
Home décor * gifts * fashion accessories * health and wellness * body, beauty, and nutritional products * food and beverages * environment-friendly products * books * music ... and so much more, all showing Filipino design ingenuity and creativity.

Hope Bags

back to top

The "H" of ECHOstore stands for Hope. So we have created our Hope Bags. A purchase of these bags gives hope to people, to communities, and to the planet's survival. Part of the proceeds from these Hope Bags goes to building our advocacy fund for causes close to our hearts.

•      Green Hope Bag - environment fund

•      Brown Hope Bag - building homes fund

•      Beige Hope Bag - children's education fund

Wild Honey

back to top

ECHOstore honey is raw, wild honey sourced from Asipulo, Ifugao. The honey is sourced from hives in the forests, and not from cultured honeybee farms.

Beaded T'boli Tokens

back to top

Carry a small part of our culture with you. ECHOstore supports fair trade by selling handmade artistic expressions of Philippine cultural communities. We now have available beaded T'boli jewelry and neotraditional products that combine components highlighting traditional and indigenous motifs, colors, forms, and symbolisms.

ECHOstore's Neo-Trad line uses components of indigenous peoples for new fashion items.

The T'boli tribe from Lake Sebu, South Cotabato in Southern Mindanao produces intricate beadwork such as necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets, and belts adorned with colorful animal figures. The T'boli are known for their penchant for personal adornment and colorful crafts. According to them, the gods made men and women to look attractive so that they will be drawn to each other and procreate.

A purchase of these small items allows you to carry a part of our indigenous heritage, and helps provide livelihood to these gentle trible people.

GREEN THUMBS UP

The Story of Stuff

back to top

The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world.

It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever. The film has become an internet phenomenon, generating over 7 million views in 200 countries and territories since its launch in December 2007.

HOW TO HELP

Hold your seminar at ECHOstore

back to top

Our store space is open for use by groups and individuals who need space for lectures and workshops related to the sustainable lifestyle, or even just a social gathering.

Please e-mail Stephanie at steph@echostore.ph or call us at 901-3485 for details and to block off your preferred schedule.

Volunteer with us

back to top

We need your help in building a sustainable community! Volunteer with us! Help us write articles, tell us your opinion, and even help us along in our campaigns.

Or if you’re a professional graphic artist or designer, sign up for ECHOdesign Lab, our advocacy and CSR program focused on helping design and develop community products. Volunteer your time and talent to a marginalized or indigenous community’s product to help refine its design, product development, visual identity, and packaging.

To volunteer for ECHOstore or to be part of ECHOdesign Lab, e-mail us your resume at echostore@echostore.ph. Please include your name, address, telephone and mobile numbers, e-mail address, and how you want to help.

Buy ECHOstore gift certificates

back to top

Give GIFTS OF HOPE all year round with ECHOstore gift certificates.

PERFECT for people who have everything, people who love receiving gifts with meaning, people who understand what sharing means, people who love to buy their own gifts, and for people to give to others!

Visit our store at Serendra to purchase or ask about our gift certificates. Available in P500 denominations.

Thanks for your help and donations!

back to top

Many thanks to the following people who have contributed tarpaulin banners and other recyclable items:

•      Marilyn Lazo of OOCL Philippines and a member of the Philippine
       Association of Secretaries

•      Romy and Linda Frias of Lexicon Press

•      Jocelyn Bonilla of Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO)

•      Dulzzi Ocampo Gutierrez of Silverworks

•      Maria Muscat

SIMPLE GREEN STEPS

Eat less meat

back to top

Eat less meat. Reducing your meat consumption would reduce food-related land use and water pollution problems.

From It's Easy Being Green by Crissy Trask

Subscriber Info

ECHOstore eView is the bimonthly e-mail newsletter of ECHOstore* Sustainable Lifestyle.
*ECHO: Environment & Community Hope Organization STORE

Subscribe     |     Unsubscribe

ECHOstore shares space with Kape Isla, Home of Philippine Coffee
G/F Serendra Piazza
McKinley Parkway
Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
Tel: 901-3485
www.echostore.ph (with archives of previous eView issues)

E-mail feedback on ECHOstore eView to Jeannie Javelosa at jej@echostore.ph.
E-mail inquiries about products to Reena at rsf@echostore.ph.