Okada Manila has partnered with the School for Experiential and Entrepreneurial Development (SEED Philippines) to provide scholarships aimed at empowering young Filipinos through agri-education and rural enterprise. The initiative, under Okada Manila’s Okada Green Heart program, reflects the integrated resort’s commitment to sustainability and community development.
During a visit to the SEED campus in Gawad Kalinga’s Bayanihan Village, Cavite, on 22 May 2025, Okada Manila representatives participated in a check handover ceremony and community immersion. The visit highlighted the program’s focus on education, innovation, and inclusive development.
The partnership has already supported graduates from Bacolod and Leyte, who developed six community farms during their training. These scholars have since joined local agriculture offices, non-profits, and even pursued higher education.
“We are proud to support programs that cultivate long-term, measurable value for both people and the planet,” said Kenji Sugiyama, Managing Director and CSR Committee Member of Okada Manila. “Through our partnership with SEED Philippines, we are investing in young changemakers who can help transform their communities through sustainable farming, innovation, and social entrepreneurship.”
SEED Philippines is known for its inclusive agri-entrepreneurship model, which equips youth from underserved communities with the tools to combat poverty and revitalize farming.
“This milestone partnership with Okada Manila reminds us that meaningful change begins when we come together for a shared purpose,” said Mark Lawrence Cruz, Director of SEED Philippines. “Your support enabled our scholars to be the next generation of agri-leaders and food producers for their families and communities. At SEED, we live by the spirit of ‘Walang Iwanan,’ and we are honored to walk alongside Okada Manila in this mission of educating the next generation of agri-leaders and food producers for the Philippines. No idle land, no idle people. Gawad Kalinga, SEED, and Okada Manila — working together for a more productive Philippines.”
The scholarship initiative is also funded through Okada Manila’s Balik Baterya partnership with Motolite, which recycled over 32,000 kilograms of used lead-acid batteries in 2024. The program generated P1,034,880, with P502,880 allocated to SEED Philippines and the remainder to the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).
SEED scholar Jodel Sanchez of Iloilo expressed his gratitude: “For young people who lack access to education and cannot finish school, you were the ones who stepped in to help ease the hardship in our country."