HIGHLIGHTS: Social Good Summit 2017

MANILA, Philippines – What can we do to help build a country where no one is left behind? What role can technology and social media play to create an inclusive society? 

These were just some of the questions and challenges posed to participants of this year’s Social Good Summit held on Saturday, September 16, 

Since 2012, Rappler has been organizing the Philippine leg of the Social Good Summit, an annual global event organized around the United Nations General Assembly. It is sustained globally by +SocialGood, a community which shares world-changing ideas to spark action in our social media era.  

With the theme: “Innovate with Purpose: Leave No One Behind,” the 2017 Social Good Summit in the Philippines challenges Filipinos to examine the purpose of innovation and how technology can be used to help create a society that leaves no one behind.

Here are the highlights from this year’s event.

What’s your social good story? 

The morning part of the whole-day program features speakers sharing their passion projects and initiatives that can help the country achieve the global goals by 2030.

For Joey Concepcion, presidential adviser on entrepreneurship, the growing digital economy presents a host of opportunities for millennials willing to take risks and take on the challenges. (READ: Duterte’s adviser on entrepreneurship: Future lies in digital economy) 

“The future for you is the digital economy that is growing…Tech space, whether it’s robotics, AI (artificial intelligence), that is your advantage. Because you understand it more than we who are above 50, [the] 70, 80 generation. You are not scared of playing around with gadgets,” said Concepcion.

Technology and apps can play a significant role when it comes to health.

Zarina San Jose of World Youth Alliance Philippines promoted the app FEPP (Fertility Education and Medical Management), which helps women monitor their reproductive health through biomarkers related to their menstrual cycle. 

But changing people’s mindset and fighting hate and stigma are equally important in the fight for a more inclusive society. To fight the growing HIV epidemic in the country, it’s important to fight the stigma that comes with it through love and acceptance instead of hate. (READ: #2030NOW: Best cure for HIV/AIDS stigma? Love and acceptance) 

Rappler CEO Maria Ressa also discussed Rappler’s beginnings back in 2012, where the social news network married technology with journalism. She also introduced Rappler’s #InspireCourage campaign and crowdfunding effort to support free and fearless journalism.

Panel discussions and talks

What are some of the challenges to innovation and entrepreneurship in the Philippines? During a panel discussion, experts highlighted the need for an ongoing discussion between government regulators looking out for the public interest and innovators who want to make their game-changing ideas a reality.

Finding the formula for success isn’t always as straightforward as it seems, and failure is an inevitable part of the experience, as illustrated in the experience of 3M. 

Ariel Lacsamana, president and managing director of 3M Philippines, shared the story of how the multinational firm got to become a $30-billion company.

How do you use social media for social good? Actor and environmentalist John Arcilla, Miss World Philippines 2017 Laura Lehmann, and Globe Telecom program manager Miguel Bermundo tackle this topic in a panel discussion where they talk about using technology to spread positivity instead of hate.

For Arcilla, innovation and technology can and should be used to bring people together and create good.

#HackSociety winners

The SGS culminated with the overall winner for this year’s #HackSociety, the ideathon that aims to crowdsource hacks or solutions to some of society’s most pressing problems.

Four finalists were selected during the semi-final round on September 15. (READ: Standout solutions: The winning ideas from #HackSociety 2017)

Taking home the top prize was LawKo, which aimed to bridge the knowledge gap between a complicated legal system and the Filipino public through a Facebook chatbot.

Instead of complex terms and legalese, the chatbot will present topics on civil procedure, criminal procedure, and other pertinent law topics in a way that’s more understandable to the average Filipino user. The chatbot can direct users to relevant offices and courts, answer questions on law procedures, and make this information much more accessible and comprehensible.

“Legal processes shouldn’t be this hard to understand. Through these dark times, LawKo aims to shed light for the ordinary citizen,” said Alexandra Austria. – Rappler.com