Ethniko Filipino Handicrafts, a micro-enterprise of Business Administration students, was declared the Mindanao winner of the "I am a Changemaker" competition of the British Council last October 28, 2011 at the University of San Carlos, Cebu City where the students bested five other finalists from Mindanao. This year’s competition was co-sponsored by the Social Enterprise Development Partnerships, Inc (SEDPI), Starbucks, and Go Negosyo.

Ethniko Filipino Handicrafts was among the twenty groups from all over the country chosen from a multitude of applicants to be part of the “I am a Changemaker “ social enterprise business plan competition that seeks to look for a new breed of entrepreneurs who dream up innovative solutions to help solve problems in their communities. Five finalists were chosen each from Mindanao, Visayas, Luzon and NCR. Together with Ethniko Filipino in the Mindanao cluster were Earth Team, comprised of several Xavier University alumni, and The Notebook, comprised of first year XU students.

Two representatives for each of the twenty finalists were flown to Cebu and given a three-day training on Social Enterprise Planning and Development which started October 24 at the Golden Valley Hotel, and was facilitated by SEDPI. Fourth-year BA students Oliver Maneja and Chris Jumalon represented Ethniko Filipino.

At the end of the training, on October27, the groups were made to present their business plans in front of a panel of judges. After which Ethniko went through to the final round where another panel defense was held on October 28 at the auditorium of the College Architecture and Fine Arts of the University of San Carlos. In the end, Ethniko emerged as the Mindanao winner and was awarded one hundred thousand pesos to finance their business plans.

Earlier this year, Ethniko participated in a social enterprise workshop, received funding support, and joined the learning exposure to social enterprises in Manila, all from the Student Entrepreneurship Program of the School of Business and Management of Xavier University.

The mentorship of Mr. Don Manuelo Patrimonio, Mr. Milbert Dialogo and the SBM Faculty were instrumental in this recognition for Ethniko Filipino. The group’s representatives are very grateful to the British Council trainors, the competition organizers and the two sets of judges for believing that Ethniko Filipino could make a difference and that they could really be “Changemakers.”