Gomer Padong
Program and Development Cooperation Specialist
Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA)

Gomer handles Programs and Development Cooperation at the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA). He is co-coordinator for Women’s Economic Empowerment Transformative Initiatives in Agricultural Value Chains (WEE-TRAIN) as part of the GRAISEA program influencing ASEAN in partnership with Oxfam and the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok. Gomer also was research coordinator of a very recent action research on the impact of COVID19 to Philippine social enterprises entitled, “Inclusive and innovative Pathways to COVID19 Recovery: Social Entrepreneurship as Strategy in Leaving No One Behind and Building Back Better in the Philippines.” He also leads the secretariat of the Poverty Reduction through Social Entrepreneurship (PRESENT) Coalition, a platform advancing social entrepreneurship as an approach to poverty eradication and economic development.

Felicitas “Joji” Pantoja
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Coffee for Peace

Ms. Joji Pantoja is the CEO and Founder of Coffee for Peace, a social enterprise that helps promote peace and economic stability in conflict-affected communities in Mindanao. Under her leadership, Coffee for Peace runs capacity-building programs on Peace and Reconciliation through engaging small coffee farmers in a sustainable and just value chain production of  global-quality coffee. Recently, Joji received the 2020 Oslo Business For Peace Award, an award that recognizes global business leaders who are positively changing the face of business.

Kevin Dela Cruz
Entrepreneurship Manager
PhilDev Foundation

Kevin has been working in the development sector for nine (9) years assuming various roles as a social entrepreneur, government consultant for livelihood and education, and a program development manager. He is currently working as the Entrepreneurship and Incubation Manager of the Innovation for Social Impact Partnership (ISIP), a joint program of the United Nations Development Programme, PhilDev Foundation, and the Australian Embassy in the Philippines. He is also the Founder and Lead Consultant of Strago Solutions Consulting working with clients coming both the public and the private sectors focusing on development sustainability and management. He has been a well-sought resource speaker and trainer around the Philippines, discussing topics ranging from youth leadership to social entrepreneurship development.

He was awarded by Meg Magazine as one of the 30 under 30 Youth Movers and Achievers of the Philippines in 2013. He is currently taking his graduate studies in Ateneo School of Government taking up Masters in Public Management. He took his undergraduate degree, BS Community Development, in the University of the Philippines – Diliman.

About the Philippine Startup Week

Philippine Startup Week 2020 is a 5-day virtual conference highlighting the Filipino entrepreneurial spirit as we power up the new normal together, created through the collaboration of multiple government and private agencies.

PHSW 2020 is organized by Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Information Communications Technology (DICT), QBO Philippines, and various community enablers.