Ep. 116: How to Build a Meaningful Community With “Mayora” Frances Lim Cabatuando

Whether you’re a business owner, a leader with an advocacy, or an enthusiast who wants to gather like-minded people with shared interests, seek support, opportunities for growth, or even create social change, building a community can become a highly rewarding asset as well as a way to change the world for the better.

Laid off at the start of the pandemic, the former advertising executive-turned-homebody put up a Facebook group called Home Buddies. In three years, it has exploded to become the largest FB community in the Asia-Pacific region (excluding India), with a community of 3.2 million online “neighbors” or kapitbahays, and won $80,000 in funding from Meta’s Facebook’s 2021 Community Accelerator Program, besting 13,000 other applicants. Her new group Hangout Buddies, “a travel and tambay community,” now has 210,000 members.

Frances shares her inspiring story of passion, creativity, and resilience, her mission to promote inclusivity and improve lives, plus valuable insights and tips for wannabe community builders.