NASEEA Inaugurates Brightwoods School as Region III Hub

On May 29, 2025, the National Association of Social Enterprise Educators and Administrators (NASEEA) officially inaugurated Brightwoods School as its Regional Hub for Central Luzon. This marks a significant milestone for NASEEA - which represents the academe subsector of the Philippine Social Enterprise Roadmap - in its effort to advance social enterprise education across the country.

The event, held at Brightwoods School in Angeles City, Pampanga, brought together key stakeholders from the public and private sector for an inspiring night of collaboration and community-building.

The inauguration set the tone for a larger movement—to empower future leaders of change through education, shared purpose, and action.

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Shaping the Next Generation of Social Entrepreneurs

The NASEEA Hub for Region III is envisioned as a collaborative platform for educators and institutions committed to integrating social entrepreneurship (SE) into academic programs and real-world impact. By supporting SE curriculum development, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building, the hub aims to:

• Enhance the effectiveness of social enterprise programs; 
• Foster social innovation through community-driven and collaborative solutions;
• Equip and empower the next generation of social entrepreneurs and impact movers through knowledge, skills, and learning applied in real life;
• Build a strong network of advocates for social entrepreneurship

Under the guidance of Dr. Norby Salonga, Chairperson of NASEEA and Founding Director of the Lasallian Social Enterprise for Economic Development (LSEED) Center, NASEEA continues to champion the role of academia not only in equipping students for employment but in shaping socially responsible, mission-driven citizens, leaders, and entrepreneurs.  

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Building an Ecosystem of Support

Among the highlights of the event was a powerful keynote by Mr. Rodmark Barriga, co-founder and CEO of the social enterprise, Palamigan Co., and President of the Society for the Advancement of Professional Social Entrepreneurship (SAPSE).

Barriga gave context to the work of social entrepreneurs in addressing systemic challenges through sustainable, community-driven enterprise solutions. The case of Palamigan Co., as well as featured social enterprises (SEs), Pamana and TeachForward, showed the potential of SEs as a means to inclusive progress. At the same time, their experiences underscored the importance of building an enabling ecosystem that will allow SEs to thrive. 

The SE Roadmap, now in its third year of implementation, has played a key role in growing this ecosystem. Together with the Bayan Family of Foundations, SAPSE serves as co-secretariat to the SE Roadmap, which provides a blueprint for strategic collaborations among academic institutions; cooperatives; corporations; MSMEs and People’s Associations; NGOs; and public agencies towards developing SEs and strengthening the larger social and solidarity economy.

Dr. Norby Salonga also gave an inspiring inaugural message to the multi-sector body in attendance, which included officials from the Department of Education (DepEd) Angeles City, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Pampanga, educators and school administrators, and social enterprise champions from across industries. 

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Laying the Groundwork for Impact

The launch of Brightwoods School as a Regional Hub is not just a milestone for NASEEA and the SE sector — it is a call to action. The path to sustainable development runs through classrooms and communities on-the-ground; through collaborative networks and change leaders willing to co-create solutions for the better.

Through its Region IIIl Hub and its national headquarters at the LSEED Center of De La Salle University, NASEEA provides a platform for private and public sector educators and institutions to develop joint initiatives, launch SE programs, and support budding social entrepreneurs. This lays the foundation for institutionalizing SE education nationwide. 

Congratulations to NASEEA, the Brightwoods School team, and all our SE advocates who made this happen! Here’s to shaping a future that is powered by purpose and collective action.