Als voorbereiding op een televisie interview voor Short News bij ABS-CBN, heb ik deze vragen beantwoordt. Ook als input voor deze blog. 

How and when did you start the business?

•       We have started World Experience Philippines, Corporation officially in January 2014.

What inspired you to start such social enterprise?

•       Upon my arrival, 11 years ago, I saw so many opportunities, how people could learn from each other, just by sharing skills, experiences and knowledge.

Why did you name the business ‘Smokey Tours’?

•       Our Tours & Training Desk under World Experience Philippines, is branded as Smokey Tours. The original Slum Tour for Smokey Tours was in Smokey Mountain. We had the name Smokey Mountain Tours before, but we changed it into Smokey Tours. Check our logo, you can see that the word tours is erased. It is an experience. Since Smokey Mountain is closed, we changed the area of our tour, so Smokey Tours is a better name, it captures all our tours.

Tell us briefly about your tours. How did you come up with the concept?

•       Our signature tour is the Slum Tour. I discovered talent in Smokey Mountain at the time, while I was volunteering in my beginning stages in the Philippines. I organized a photowalk in Smokey Mountain to get people connected. In Smokey Mountain there were filipinos living in harsh conditions, still talking with pride and dignity about their lives. 

•       That made me think, since for me it was normal to hang out in Smokey Mountain, Aroma, Temporary Housing, in Tondo. Why not provide Livelihood for the people, who need it and start a chain of change by showing people the other side of Manila. You can only change, if you know and understand other people’s situations.

•       Our tours are led by tour leaders from the slum, people from underprivileged communities. In order to give more opportunities and to broaden peoples horizons, we also started the Cemetery Tour, Market (Food) Tour, Bicycle Tour and Family Tour. 

What is the main mission of the business?

•       We want to empower, educate and train people from underprivileged communities in Metro Manila by running eye-opening tours, as well as other knowledge and cultural exchanges services. Through these services, we raise awareness about social issues, inspire individuals to bring about social change, and bridge the gap between people from different backgrounds.

Can you explain to us the process of giving the profit to your beneficiaries?

•       We work with local NGOs on the ground, active in the areas, they are close to the people in the community and advise us what the needs are. We believe only in people who want to help themselves.  

Who composes your team? 

•       At this very moment, we are into “Talent Development” and the plan is to open a Job Center in Baseco, to help people find jobs. Our tourleaders get coaching with getting a job after the tour leading that matches their capabilities and talents. We aim for the highest, their dreamjob.

•       So at this moment, we have 2 interns, 2 volunteers, 6 tourleaders, executive director, one manager, one bookkeeper/community program manager and me. We are more like a place where people can learn, make mistakes and develop and take the skills. 

Who are your target market?

•       Our target market are the people who are open to see the other side of Manila. People that are willing to learn and change and help make the world a better place. We hope that doing one of our tours follow into action and change. Most of our guests are Japanese, Dutch, Australian, American and Filipino.

How was the feedback from your previous guests? 

•       People who have done the Slum Tour, write down in the Questionnaires that their life has changed. It doesn’t always come into action, once people are home. I strongly believe we plant seeds in peoples lives and help inspire others to follow their path. 

•       Once I was in a team doing relieve, after Ondoy, during Christmas. One of the other team members, was standing behind me, and talking about our tours, and how wrong it is. He spoke tagalog, and I understood what he said. I turned my back and said, please share those thoughts with me. And he was negative about the effects of the tour etc. I invited him to do a tour, the guy was a teacher and community developer. He did a Slum Tour, afterwards I received an apology letter, saying that he didn’t expect it to be that way and he gave praise. That meant a lot to me. You can always criticize, and then help us, make it better. 

How do you reach your customers?

•      Most through friends, mouth-to-mouth, partners, TripAdvisor, and websearch

What’s the most difficult challenge you encountered so far?

•      I think I blocked challenges, there are many. You face challenges every day. Just registering an NGO is a challenge. 

What business strategies do you find helpful in managing your enterprise?

•       The key is to have motivated people around you, who understand how it is to be with a Social Enterprise. And find the qualities and expertise around you, to do the best Business you can do. So you have to be open to know your strengths and weaknesses.

What other tour company educates people from the slums?

•       We are educating a team of tour leaders, give them self-esteem, teach them English, guidance to face their difficulties and help them most ideally, perceive their long term dream job. 

Are there any help from the government that reaches your beneficiaries?

•       The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission is active in the area. We just signed a MOA with them.

What investments did you consider in bringing up your brand?

•       None, we have always been working with volunteers and get help from experts. My brother is a Branding Specialist, he made the logo and gives advices. In a way, I also strongly believe in good quality of tours and mouth-to-mouth advertising. 

What are your tips for aspiring entrepreneurs who wish to establish their own social enterprise?

•       Hold on. Stay calm. Breath. Investigate, share thoughts with others. Make sure you don’t feel alone. 

For you, what makes a good social entrepreneur?

•       Being able to attend to needs, to provide good and fast service and to stay close to yourself and your social goals. Be authentic. 

Do you have any contact information you would like to flash on screen as a reference for our audience?

•      Website www.worldexperience.ph

•      Mobile number of the business is 0063 917 578 5398 

•      Social media account SmokeyTours #smokeytours WorldExperiencePhilippines