For many Bedan entrepreneurs, travelling around the world brings about winning business concepts and innovative ideas, but for Bedan alumna Jo Bacallo, seeing different countries is not just about enjoying and benchmarking. It’s all about advocating for a better future.

Jo rose from the first ever female batch of then San Beda College – Manila in the early 2000s. Admittedly, her stay in San Beda has taught her invaluable lessons about leaving a mark in an ever-changing society. Being “one of the boys” back in those days, Jo has learned the dynamics of Bedan brotherhood, and being one of the first lionesses in the lions’ den, Jo and her female batchmates helped the community to fully embrace an inclusive and colorful Bedan family.

Her stay in San Beda influenced her to live a life where community plays an essential role in the development of a holistically well individual and a more responsible society. As a working student, she knew how to use her resources responsibly and productively, and she was able to bring with her these values when she flew into the professional world of aviation management.

Having worked for one of the most respected international airlines, Jo had the opportunity to see the world. This meant that she was able to see the most majestic tourist spots and top destinations, but this also gave her the chance to visit far-flung undeveloped areas. These travels exposed her to the realities of life, that there are communities out there that struggle to gain access to clean water, one of the most basic necessities of life.

With the heart of a brave and caring lioness, Jo took up the mission to be a social entrepreneur and activist whose core mission is to help provide clean water and sanitation to the most remote areas around the world, including the Philippines.

Since then, she has initiated a number of projects to help fulfill this mission. In the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, Jo used her micro-water station to donate thousands of (unlabeled) bottles of drinking water to the affected communities in the Visayan region. Realizing that there’s much left undone in her advocacy, Jo poured out more time and effort to being a full-fledged water warrior. This led her to amazing opportunities to work with non-water collaborators both in the Philippines and abroad.

To date, Jo has been actively participating in international water conferences around the world, doing her part to address the unavailability and inaccessibility of water and sanitation, especially for remote communities in the Philippines. She was able to speak in the World Water Week held in Stockholm as a Young Water Professional. She also spoke at youth conferences on the Sustainable Developmental Goals, where Goal 6 of the United Nations emphasizes the importance of the availability of water and sanitation for all.

While she does this, Jo ensures that the legwork is being done in the Philippines – that is that actual projects for those who need it are being implemented and lives of different communities are improved. Through Unicef’s project WASH, Jo is able to share Filipino children the importance of water, sanitation and hygiene. Through her partnerships with local and international groups, such as Juan Portrait, The Storytelling Project, Klasrums ng Pag-Asa, The Wimler Foundation, and Art Dubai, Jo continues to expand her water crusade from one community to another. She continuously works with local authorities and private groups (and individuals) to fuel this mission of educating communities and providing them with clean water and a sanitation management system.

Looking at her journey, Jo has gone a long way since her days in San Beda. But she acknowledges that this mission is far from over. The path is long and wavy in building a safer place for the next generations. For young Bedans, Jo’s message is to keep believing in what you can achieve, even though there are days where you struggle to get up and finish those deliverables. Remember that at the end of the day, success will be defined not by the millions you have made, but by the number of lives you have touched.

Ultimately, she encourages Bedans of all generations to take part, in their own simple ways, in the preservation of our water resources and share in the mission of building a more sustainable future for all.

Written by Ben Ayonon