Brasilia, Brazil — It was a long journey, from besting other teams in the national competition, to raising funds, to the actual plane ride. But all the sacrifices did not remain unrewarded.

The team from Sultan Kudarat Polytechnic State College (SKPSC) Science Laboratory High School traveled to the Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship (SASAGE) World Cup 2009 in Brasilia and garnered five special awards.

The SASAGE World Cup 2009 is an annual international business competition for high school students from different countries around the globe. This year’s host is SASAGE Brazil. The competition ran from August 9 to 12.

Johanna Lyn Malicad and Kent Rey Murillo are fourth year students at the SKPSC High School who traveled to Brasilia under the guidance of advisor Engr. Rodolfo Solomon. They were supposed
to be accompanied by two other students, John Rei Dela Cruz, and Ena Angela Oculto, but skyrocketing airfares for the South American country proved to be all too challenging. Dr. George Sorio, chairman of PCSISI, personally made the team’s travel to Brazil possible.

The team garnered the coveted gold medal of the Arthur Boschee and Evelyn Ball International Award for Social Enterprise.

The team also reaped the following SASAGE International Awards for Best Social Enterprises Addressing the UN Millennium Development Goals: third place in Goal 1 (Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger); first place in Goal 3 (Promote gender equality and empower women); first place in Goal 7 (Ensure environmental sustainability); and third place in Goal 8 (Develop a global partnership for development) The team received a plaque and a prize money of USD 2,000.

The International Award was first given at the 2007 SASAGE World Cup and the first recipient was the team from Ateneo de Manila University High School.

THE WINNING BUSINESS PLAN

The Sultan Kudarat team’s business strikes a balance between economy and ecology by coming up with an innovative use of palm fronds into cement blocks. The final product proves to be 20 percent
more economical than commercial hollow blocks used in construction. The hollow blocks are also fire-resistant and lightweight.

The business promises to address the acute housing shortage in the country and arrest the rising cost of construction materials.

Their social venture, in the municipality of Isulan, trained over 100 male participants on the skills needed on the fabrication of palm frond, cement-bonded blocks used in construction.

With this venture, the SASAGE team also educated the residents on the environmental and health hazards created by improper burning of this agricultural residue.

Furthermore, this high school team also empowers T’boli women who also use a by-product of palm fronds discarded from palm farming in their handicrafts.

The team dedicates some of their time to carry out education and skills training to revive the handicraft weaving business with emphasis on financial management, marketing operations and quality control. The students aim to create business opportunities for this ethnic group while enhancing and strengthening cultural appreciation and preservation.

‘RP COMES ROARING BACK’

No louder cheer went up for any team during the final awards ceremony than when the winner was announced.

Dr. Curtis L. DeBerg, SASAGE global founder and CEO, said, “Rodolfo and his SASAGE team, as represented by Johanna and Kent, should be very proud of what they have accomplished. The Philippines has come roaring back to the SASAGE competition, having won the Third Annual World Cup in San Francisco, USASA in May 2005.”

Rob Best, SASAGE global COO and one of the judges for the Boschee/Ball Award, said, “Johanna, Kent and Rodolfo simply won the hearts and souls of all 200 participants from 14 countries.”

Based on their performance, SASAGE Global is seriously considering the Philippines as the host country for next year’s 2010 SASAGE World Cup (eighth year). SASAGE Philippines is part of the Global SASAGE Network, which adheres to the vision of “creating better futures through entrepreneurship and community service.”