Quezon City, 5 September 2025 – The Foundation for a Sustainable Society, Inc. (FSSI) celebrated its 30th Anniversary with a dinner program held on September 5, 2025 at the Seda Vertis North, Quezon City, bringing together social enterprise partners, institutional partners, members, and colleagues in the social enterprise and civil society sectors to honor three decades of advancing social entrepreneurship and sustainable development.
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The evening’s program reflected both FSSI’s rich history and its future direction.
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The event opened with welcome remarks from FSSI Treasurer Florencia Casanova-Dorotan. Meanwhile, Eugene Gonzales, FSSI’s first Executive Director gave a message reflecting on the organization’s beginnings and its journey since 1995.
“FSSI has rightfully prided itself on its enterprise and community-level impacts. The numbers and images tell compelling triple bottom line stories, showing concrete results in people’s lives, in nature, and in financial sustainability. After 30 years, I am confident that the foundation can further scale up its work and achieve even greater impact at the regional and national levels,” Gonzales shared.
Also present during the celebration for former Board members and staff of FSSI, including Rory Tolentino, founding Chairperson and former executive directors Emma Lim-Sandrino and Jay Lacsamana.
A highlight of the program was the announcement of the very first FSSI 3BL Social Enterprise Awards, recognizing FSSI’s outstanding social enterprise partners that exemplify the Triple Bottom Line (3BL) of People, Planet, and Profit. Their stories underscore the transformative role of social enterprises in creating inclusive, sustainable growth.
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JMJ Solar Panel and Equipment Store was conferred the FSSI 3BL Gold Excellence Award, the highest distinction of the evening. The enterprise was recognized for its exemplary integration of social, environmental, and economic objectives, serving as a model of how enterprises can achieve financial sustainability while generating meaningful community impact and safeguarding the environment.
Get to know the 3BL SE Awardees here
Guests were also treated to the video presentation capturing the milestones and impact of FSSI through the decades.
In his message “Onward from Thirty,” Nestor Carbonera, FSSI Chairperson, shared highlights of the Foundation’s new Strategic Plan for 2025–2029, with a focus on expanding partnerships, ensuring financial sustainability, and strengthening institutional capacity – anchored on FSSI’s mission of investing in social enterprises that uplift communities while protecting the planet.
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“Friends, our theme for this 30th year is Grounded in Purpose. It helped us reflect on the past. But as we look forward, we now share with you: Tulong na Umuusbong. This means support that goes beyond aid—support that grows roots, bears fruit, and transforms lives. Support that reflects our Triple Bottom Line: People, Planet, and Profit—because real progress must be holistic,” Carbonera said.
In his closing remarks, FSSI Vice Chairperson Norman Joseph Jiao thanked everyone in attendance. Marking this pearl anniversary, he reflected on how the past 30 years have shaped and strengthened the organization—even in the face of adversity. He spoke to the importance of staying grounded in the present, drawing from experience while remaining focused on the path ahead. While the past provides context, it is in the present that intention becomes action. He offered a toast in celebration to close the program for the night.
