Quezon City, Philippines — Guided by the theme “What Purpose Makes Possible,” members of the Foundation for a Sustainable Society, Inc. (FSSI) gathered on June 10, 2026, at Novotel Manila Araneta City for the Foundation’s 37th General Assembly Business Meeting. The annual assembly brought together FSSI members to reflect on the organization’s accomplishments, strengthen its governance, and reaffirm its shared commitment to advancing social enterprises and sustainable community development.
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The day’s proceedings began with a prayer, bringing members together in reflection before undertaking the Foundation’s annual governance processes. The gathering served as an opportunity to review organizational performance, deliberate on key matters, and make decisions that would help guide FSSI’s work in supporting sustainable and inclusive community development.
The formal business meeting commenced with the Roll Call and Certification of Quorum led by Mr. Jose Detablan, FSSI Secretary. Upon confirmation of the required quorum, FSSI Chairperson Mr. Nestor Carbonera officially called the General Assembly to order.
In his opening remarks, Carbonera emphasized the importance of collective stewardship and the role of social enterprises in addressing persistent development challenges.
“Social enterprises are not just alternative models. They are practical and tested responses to long-standing development gaps. As a foundation, our role goes beyond funding and program support. We are part of a wider ecosystem that seeks to establish that profit and purpose are not opposing forces, but mutually reinforcing drivers of sustainable development,” he said.
Following the presentation of organizational reports, members participated in an open forum where they raised questions, shared reflections, and offered recommendations. The discussion highlighted FSSI’s commitment to participatory governance, allowing members to actively contribute to the Foundation’s strategic direction and organizational priorities.
A key agenda of the Assembly was the election of members to the Board of Trustees and the Good Governance Committee. Atty. Alex Enriquez, Chairperson of the Election Committee, presented the election guidelines and officially introduced the nominees before the voting process.
The Assembly concluded the elections with the proclamation and oath-taking of the newly elected officials, marking another chapter of leadership for the Foundation.
Following the elections, FSSI introduced the members of its Board of Trustees for the new term. Ms. Florencia “Oyen” Casanova-Dorotan of WAND Women Organization, Inc. and Ms. Agnes Bolaños of the Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks (MINCODE) were elected to their second terms as Trustees, with Ms. Dorotan also re-elected as FSSI Treasurer.
They joined Mr. Nestor Carbonera of the Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA), who continues to serve as Chairperson; Mr. Norman Joseph Jiao of the Association of Foundations (AF), Vice Chairperson; Mr. Jose “Joe” Detablan of VICTO National, Secretary; Mr. Edilberto Guyano of the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA–Caritas Philippines), Auditor; and Ms. Bernadette Toledo of MASS-SPECC Cooperative Development Center, Board Member. Also serving on the Board is Usec. Joven Z. Balbosa of the Department of Finance as the Foundation’s ex-officio member.
The Assembly likewise congratulated Mr. Eduardo Jimenez, Chairperson of the Alliance of Philippine Partners in Enterprise Development (APPEND Inc.), on his re-election to the Good Governance Committee.
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In his closing remarks, FSSI Vice Chairperson Mr. Norman Joseph Jiao reflected on the importance of remaining anchored on purpose as the Foundation continued its work with communities and social enterprises.
“All of us have our own purposes; it’s our mandate. We’re not just looking at it as a mission, vision, or values. For FSSI, ‘What Purpose Makes Possible’ means it is important to know exactly what that purpose is and to ensure that we are able to operationalize and implement it,” he shared.
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The meeting formally concluded with Chairperson Carbonera’s adjournment of the 37th General Assembly Business Meeting.
FSSI extended its appreciation to its members, Board of Trustees, committee representatives, partners, and staff for their active participation and continued dedication to the Foundation’s mission. Anchored on the theme “What Purpose Makes Possible,” the 37th General Assembly reinforced the role of purpose-driven leadership, collaborative governance, and strong partnerships in creating lasting impact for Filipino communities.
