The recently concluded VeggieEskwela BootCamp in the Province of Basilan—held last November 18–21, 2025—marks another meaningful step toward building food-secure, nutritionally empowered communities across the island.
Throughout the BootCamp, participants deepened their knowledge on nutrition-sensitive agriculture, community coaching, and household food production—gaining both the technical skills and leadership mindset needed to champion food security in their respective LGUs. More than just training, it became a space for collaboration, inspiration, and renewed commitment to making healthy food accessible to every family.
Together, we move closer to a Basilan where every household can plant, harvest, and nourish their own well-being. Because when communities grow food, communities grow strong.
Grateful to all our partners and champions who continue to walk with us in this mission. The work continues, and the impact begins with each one of us.
The LCF CSR Institute successfully conducted the LCF Executive Session: Advancing CSR for Shared Prosperity on October 17, 2025, at The Company Manila, Makati. The event brought together executive directors and CSR heads from LCF member organizations for a collaborative dialogue on the League’s strategic direction and collective impact.
The goal was to involve the members of LCF as represented by Executive Directors (ED) or CSR Unit Leads to discuss the strategic direction of the League.
The session began with Ms. Roberta Lopez-Feliciano, LCF Corporate Secretary and Managing Director of ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc., setting the tone for a day of meaningful collaboration.
To begin the session, Mr. Philip Dy, LCF Trustee and President of Metrobank Foundation, Inc., delivered the session overview and introduced the main speaker for the executive session, Dr. Philip Arnold Tuano, the President of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies.
Dr. Tuaño discussed the current economic and social development realities of the country, in light of LCF’s planning activities
The input session was then followed by a workshop session facilitated by Ms. Dove Subingsubing, Managing Director of Evident Integrated Marketing & PR. The session concluded with closing remarks from LCF Chairperson Mr. Shem Jose Garcia, Executive Director of Vivant Foundation, Inc., who outlined the next steps following the day’s activity. He mentioned the League’s ongoing strategic planning process, expressed gratitude to the speakers and facilitators for their valuable insights, and shared upcoming milestones.
Through these sessions, the E.D. Exclusives continued to serve as a meaningful space for reflection, collaboration, and co-creation among the LCF’s member leaders, strengthening the League’s shared vision of advancing strategic, sustainable, and inclusive development in the Philippines.
A resounding success! LCF’s CSR Institute held the Resource Mobilization: Grant Writing Workshop from September 22-25, 2025. The training workshop was co-hosted with Jesus V. Del Rosario (JVR) Foundation, Inc
The workshop aimed to identify the importance of the grant writing proposal process and articulate a better point of view of collaborating with stakeholders in relation to requests for funding. The specific topics discussed during the workshop were: Having an overview of Grant Writing as a Collaboration and Partnership Tool; What to Write and How to Write in a Grant Proposal; and Reviewing and Critiquing the Output Proposal.
Ms. Veronica “Boots” Mendoza was the facilitator of the training workshop.
The workshop brought together seasoned practitioners and leaders in the development sector. Facilitating the sessions were Ms. Veronica Ester “Boots” Mendoza, a trainer specializing in grant writing, governance, and organizational development. She was joined by resource speakers Mr.Joseph Cubar, co-founder and executive director of Phlourish Mental Health Initiative Inc. and country director of Healthy Futures Global, and Ms.Celine Santillan, executive director of the League of Corporate Foundations.
Representatives of major grant-giving institutions also took part in the workshop. Ms. Ivette Ramos, CSR team leader of TELUS International Philippines Foundation; Ms. Marievic Mariano, head of the Grants and Partnerships Unit of Metrobank Foundation, Inc.; and Mr. Benjamin Abadiano, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee and president of Assisi Development Foundation, presented their organizations’ funding priorities and initiatives.
Adding a recipient’s perspective, Emma Rose Medina, executive director of Balik Kalipay Center for Psychosocial Response, shared her experience in securing grants from TELUS International Philippines Foundation.
The final day featured a panel discussion with workshop speakers Boots Mendoza and Joseph Cubar, together with Ms. Ivette Ramos and Mr. Jon Layson of TELUS International Philippines Foundation and Ms. Marievic Mariano of Metrobank Foundation, Inc., who offered insights on best practices and strategies in crafting successful grant proposals.
Participants expressed their appreciation of the four-day learning session which provided them real life insights and practical tips on preparing grant proposals. A Program Head from an organization for parents and children and youth with disabilities (CYWDs) mentioned that, “This workshop has helped us a lot in improving my understanding and grant writing”, while a community relations manager from a corporation said the workshop “created an environment for learning and real life experiences.”
28 participants representing 21 organizations took part in this year’s Resource Mobilization: Grant Writing Workshop, wherein 8 members and member-affiliates and 13 organizations were non-members.
Malampaya Foundation Inc. – Ms. Karen Agabin, Mr. Pacifico Beldia II, Mr. John Christian Claros, Ms. Isidoro Manalon, Mr. Ebenezer Herrera, and Ms. Vejuna Castro
Manila, Philippines – The League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) is intensifying its efforts to address child malnutrition in Basilan, the first province under its LIFE (LCF’s Initiative for Food Security, Nutrition, and Empowerment) program, with the launch of its two key projects: the Busog, Lusog, Talino (BLT) Central Kitchen in Isabela City, spearheaded by Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF), and a water system development project in Tipo-Tipo led by Manila Water Foundation (MWF).
The League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) strengthens its fight against child malnutrition in Basilan through LIFE (Initiative for Food Security, Nutrition, and Empowerment), launching two key projects: Jollibee Group Foundation’s (JGF) BLT Central Kitchen in Isabela City and Manila Water Foundation’s (MWF) water system development in Tipo-Tipo. Photos from LCF.
Wasting and stunting remain among the most pressing nutrition issues in the Philippines, threatening children’s health, learning potential, and long-term development. According to the latest National Nutrition Survey, 23.6% of children under five were stunted in 2023—nearly one in four—and 5.6% were suffering from severe undernutrition. The 2024 Global Hunger Index likewise reports 26.7% stunting and 5.4% wasting, underscoring the urgency of tackling both acute and chronic malnutrition at the community level.
LIFE is LCF’s unified, province-by-province approach to preventing these conditions and scaling interventions for nationwide impact. “Through LIFE, we’re working to nourish not just bodies, but futures—starting here in Basilan, and moving province by province to help end child wasting and stunting for good,” said Shem Jose Garcia, Chairperson of LCF and Executive Director of Vivant Foundation, Inc.
The Zuellig Family Foundation [ZFF] initiated its efforts prior to the launch of LIFE in 2024. As early as 2021, ZFF provided support and worked with local officials on the Nutrition Leadership and Governance Program.
JGF and MWF are among the first to roll out projects in Basilan under LIFE. JGF’s BLT Community Kitchen will operate as a centralized hub for feeding programs targeting children, and pregnant and lactating mothers, ensuring meals are nutritious, culturally appropriate, and Muslim-friendly. Meanwhile, MWF’s water system development project in Tipo-Tipo will deliver access to clean and safe water for the community.
The Busog, Lusog, Talino Community Kitchen
Launched in partnership with the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) and JGF, the BLT Community Kitchen—where ZFF served as on-the-ground anchor liaising with the provincial government and JGF spearheaded the program by fully funding and overseeing construction—was inaugurated on June 26 with then Governor Jim Hataman Salliman, Dr. Joyce Ann Arandia-Viar, Nutrition Portfolio Director of ZFF, LA Cruzat, Senior Program Manager of JGF, and Celine Santillan, Executive Director of LCF.
The BLT Community Kitchen, with 37 sites nationwide under JGF, now forms part of LIFE’s Basilan rollout, paving the way for replication in other underserved areas. [L-R: Eric Villegas, Asst. Restaurant Manager 2, Jollibee Basilan; Nor-in Sabdani Guerrero, Restaurant Manager, Jollibee Basilan; Liane Ira Amat, Program Officer, Jollibee Group Foundation; Zoraida Daisy Avenido, Area Manager, Jollibee District 3 Area 1; Hon. Jim Hataman-Salliman, former Governor, Province of Basilan; Ma. Laize-Ar (LA) Cruzat, Program Director, Jollibee Group Foundation; Celine Santillan, Executive Director, LIFE Program, League of Corporate Foundations (LCF); and, Belle Vinoya, Program Specialist, Jollibee Group Foundation.] Photo from LCF.
The BLT Community Kitchen program is an established JGF initiative, with 37 facilities nationwide, each designed to efficiently prepare and distribute meals to multiple schools. Its integration into LIFE’s Basilan rollout sets the stage for replication in other underserved areas.
“The BLT Kitchen is a model of how multisectoral partnerships can create sustainable solutions to hunger,” said LA Cruzat, Senior Program Manager of JGF. “It’s about leveraging our strengths to create impact where it matters most at the community level.”
Project Bohè: Water System Development in Tipo-Tipo
Water access, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are vital components of nutrition-sensitive programs, particularly in addressing undernourishment in geographically isolated, disadvantaged, and conflict-affected areas. Project Bohè, a water system development initiative, will deliver 350,000 liters of clean and potable water daily to Barangay Bohelebung.
Project Bohè, led by MWF with Tipo-Tipo LGU, Metrobank Foundation, and ZFF, expands safe water access to boost health and local livelihoods. Photo from LCF.
The water system is a collaborative effort with the Local Government of Tipo-Tipo, led by the Manila Water Foundation (MWF), co-funded by Metrobank Foundation, and implemented in partnership with ZFF. Project Bohè aims to expand community access to safe water, contributing to disease prevention, improved health outcomes, and enhanced local economic activity.
MWF recently organized a WASH Group of local leaders through technical training to operate and sustain the system, ensuring community ownership. [L-R: Mr. Reginald M. Andal, Executive Director, Manila Water Foundation; Dr. Nur Khan Istarul of Tipo-Tipo Rural Health Unit; Ms. Nadzwa Sabanda, Provincial Nutrition Action Officer, Ms. Jennifer Nandu of Zuellig Family Foundation, Ms. Aileen F. Duran, Asst. Program Manager of Metrobank Foundation. Mr. Philip Francisco U. Dy, President of Metrobank Foundation; and Mr. Leo Mark Ventus, Metrobank Basilan Branch Head.] Photo from LCF.
To ensure long-term sustainability, MWF conducted technical capacity-building sessions and organized a WASH Group composed of local community leaders. This group will operate, manage, and maintain the system, ensuring community ownership and stewardship. Through Project Bohè in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan, MWF underscores its commitment to bringing WASH solutions to all communities.
MWF organized a WASH Group of local leaders through capacity-building sessions to operate and maintain the water system, ensuring long-term community self-sufficiency.
LIFE Moving Forward
Over the next two years, LIFE, through its members and partners, has several projects planned for Basilan. These include the turn over of anthropometric tools to monitor child growth, fundraising to extend its reach, and expanding its network of partners and supporters. Other LCF members, including East-West Seed Foundation and Ayala Foundation, are also preparing complementary initiatives in the province. LIFE has likewise received donations from organizations such as Jesus V. Del Rosario Foundation, as well as CSR-practicing corporations Monde Nissin Corporation and ISSI Corporation.
LCF’s LIFE initiative is proof that when corporate foundations unite with public and nonprofit partners, tackling child malnutrition becomes a shared and achievable mission.
Support LIFE through resources or capacity-building initiatives. Visit LCF’s Facebook page to learn how you can help. Contact Amber Garma at membership1.lcf@gmail.com or 09204649035 for more information about LIFE’s Christmas campaign.
LCF’s CSR Institute concluded the 2025 Communicating Your CSR: Doing Good and Telling it Well Workshop yesterday, August 28, 2025. With 24 participants, the workshop ran from August 26 to 28 via Zoom on the first two days and in person on August 28 at the JVR Room, AIM Conference Center, Makati City. This workshop was developed and facilitated with Evident Integrated Marketing & PR, and co-hosted by the Jesus V. Del Rosario (JVR) Foundation, Inc
This year’s workshop was facilitated by Ms. Lacey Ramos, Training Specialist at Evident Integrated Marketing & PR. She was joined by Ms. Dove Subingsubing, Managing Partner of Evident Integrated Marketing & PR; Mr. Owen Cammayo, Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications at SM Investments Corporation; and Ms. Cristina “Tina” Dumlao, Business Editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Through the workshop, participants gained a deeper understanding of the fundamentals and principles of CSR communication, underscoring the importance of these skills not only for communications professionals but for the overall success of their organizations. The 3-day workshop also highlighted the value of both internal and external communication, enabling participants to better appreciate their company’s brand and the impact of their CSR initiatives.
A participant from Gokongwei Brothers Foundation mentioned that “It made me appreciate the role of each member of our foundation and how important the role of communication to ensure we can get support for our programs.”
24 participants representing 13 organizations took part in this year’s Communicating Your CSR Workshop, wherein 11 were members and member-affiliates and 2 organizations were non-members.
Mentors from East-West Seed Foundation joined the Philippine Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture (PPSA) in the Scaling Up Sustainability (SUS) Project: Farmers Fair, held on July 16–17, 2025, in Cagayan Valley. The event brought together farmer champions, mentors, and partners to support climate-smart farming and farmer entrepreneurship.
The SUS Project, funded by a GlobalGiving grant in partnership with Corteva, aims to train 100 Filipino farmers through two key phases. The first phase focuses on mentoring women farmer champions to strengthen their knowledge and skills, while the second phase empowers them to become resource speakers, sharing their learnings with fellow farmers in their communities.
Partners from PLDT & Smart Communities, Harbest Agribusiness Corporation, and DA Region 2 also took part in the event, supporting PPSA’s mission to cultivate leadership and sustainability in Philippine agriculture.
KITA (Kapital at Ipon Tungo sa Asenso) Mo Na! —a financial education program of BDO Foundation—was recognized as Financial Inclusion Initiative of the Year at the Asian Banking & Finance (ABF) Retail Banking Awards 2025. The program aims to support the agricultural sector by improving the financial literacy, productivity, and income-generating capabilities of farmers nationwide.
This ongoing program was developed by BDO Foundation in partnership with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC).
“The recognition serves as an inspiration for us to keep moving forward as we support national efforts toward financial inclusion. We share this award to our partners that share the same mission of empowering farming communities with the right knowledge to pursue a more secure future,” shared BDO Foundation president Mario Deriquito.
KITA Mo Na! adopts a gamified approach in teaching farmers important know-hows on managing finances. A game master leads the sessions where farmers are given real-life scenarios that influence their daily financial decisions.
As of end 2024, the KITA Mo Na! program has reached 870 farmers and livestock raisers in different parts of the country. Beneficiaries are taught basic personal finance topics like saving, budgeting, debt management, basic financial products, ways to earn additional income, financial consumer protection, and scam prevention.
Recognized at the Retail Banking Awards 2025. BDO Capital & Investment Corporation president Eduardo Francisco received the award on behalf of BDO Foundation (Photo courtesy of Asian Banking & Finance)
Championing other interventions
BDO Foundation and its partners developed several interventions to ensure the success and sustainability of the program.
The conduct of training of trainers is one essential strategy that the organizations continue to implement to cascade the program to different farming communities all over the Philippines. As of end 2024, there are already 49 trainers from all regions that are capable of teaching the KITA Mo Na! program to their respective farming communities. They are supplemented with a trainer’s guide and game kits to ensure a standardized cascade of the program.
“We are hopeful that through the shared efforts of the foundation, our partners, and the trainers, more and more farmers are equipped with the right knowledge and tools to make sound financial decisions – that no one is left behind in rebuilding a financially literate citizenry,” shared Marikit Naguiat, BDO Foundation’s manager for financial inclusion.
Ensuring the program’s resilience, BDO Foundation, BSP, and ACPC have established a monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the impact and effects of KITA Mo Na! on the beneficiaries.
BDO Foundation stays committed to supporting similar efforts that contribute to the BSP’s National Strategy for Financial Inclusion and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.
A fin ed program for farmers. KITA Mo Na! highlights real-life situations farmers face—a conscious effort of BDO Foundation and its partners to ensure that the shared knowledge resonates with its target communities.
When strong typhoons like Rolly and Ulysses hit Legazpi City, Albay, many families in Brgy. Bigaa were affected due to extensive damage to properties, roads, and power lines. But in the midst of the storm, one building stood strong, the school building donated by Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI) at Bigaa Integrated School.
“The SBFI school building became our evacuation center,” shared School Principal Dr. Conchita G. Bartolay. “It’s elevated and sturdy, so it protects people from floods and possible lahar flow. It also became a relief center.”
More than a learning space, the building served as a lifeline for the community. Even after the storm passed, its role in the lives of students and teachers remained strong.
Over the years, the school building had sustained damages from typhoons. Recently, it got a fresh start. From April to July 2025, Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI) repaired nine of its previously donated school buildings, including the one in Bigaa. In total, 60 classrooms were restored across five cities and municipalities, benefiting around 3,000 students and their communities.
At Bigaa, eight classrooms were repaired. Walls and floors were repainted, broken windows and doors were replaced, and damaged roofs, ceiling and toilets were fixed.
Dr. Bartolay, with 25 years of experience in education, knows how crucial a safe and well-built classroom is. The improvements meant so much.
“Since the building was renewed, students have become more excited to go to their classrooms,” said Dr. Bartolay. “And our teachers feel more motivated, knowing they’re teaching in a safe space.”
As part of its commitment to the Build a School, Build a Nation program, SBFI has been doing major repairs of donated school buildings every five years, or earlier if schools are affected by disasters.
“Thank you, Security Bank Foundation. You gave us more than just classrooms. You gave us a place to learn, a place to grow, and a place to survive. Dios mabalos,” Dr. Bartolay added.
Bigaa is just one of many schools that benefited from its first batch of classroom repair this year along with Tikay Elementary School in Malolos, Bulacan; Washington National High School and University of Eastern Philippines – High School in Catarman, Northern Samar; Cabagñan Elementary School in Legazpi, Albay; New Ormoc City National High School and Ipil Central School in Ormoc, Leyte; and Tagbilaran City East and Central Elementary Schools in Tagbilaran, Bohol.
The second batch includes twenty more classrooms that are still being repaired and are expected to be finished by September 2025.
Beneficiary schools are empowered to care for their donated buildings through regular upkeep like derusting windows, declogging pipes, and trimming trees that may cause damage. Security Bank Foundation also guides them through online assemblies on proper building care because lasting building impact relies on shared responsibility.
SBFI welcomes partnerships with like-minded organizations that share its commitment to improving public school infrastructure. To learn how you can support, visit https://bit.ly/SBFIPartnershipPage
The League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) recognized outstanding corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives during its 2025 CSR Conference and Expo, conferring the Guild Awards and Medal of Recognition to organizations driving meaningful impact across communities. These honors underscore how strategic CSR is in enabling businesses to lead in innovation, resilience, and inclusive development.
Business and foundation leaders and CSR advocates gathered at the Dusit Thani Hall for the 2025 CSR Guild Awards and Medal of Recognition. Photo from League of Corporate Foundations.
Held under the theme “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity for Shared Prosperity,” the event provided an avenue for leaders from the private sector, development organizations, and civil society to explore how businesses can embed CSR and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices into their core operations to address inequality and foster more resilient, inclusive communities.
Austere Panadero, President and Executive Director of Zuellig Family Foundation and LCF Trustee, delivered an opening message at the Guild Awards during the 2025 CSR Conference and Expo. Photo from League of Corporate Foundations.
As part of the conference, the CSR Guild Awards, presented to LCF member organizations, honored programs that demonstrated excellence across CSR focus areas, including education, arts and culture, environment, health, disaster resilience, and enterprise development.
Among this year’s CSR Guild Award recipients were:
Ayala Foundation, Inc. (Enterprise Development), recognized for its Iraya Mangyan weaving program supporting indigenous artisans;
Vivant Foundation, Inc. (Education), honored for Project Liadlaw, which brings solar power to off-grid schools;
Metro Pacific Investments Foundation, Inc. (Environment), awarded for expanding its MPIC Guardians Program to strengthen coastal conservation in Siargao and Mabini;
Oscar M. Lopez Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Foundation, Inc. (Disaster Resilience), acknowledged for developing inclusive preparedness tools for the deaf community; and
Aboitiz Foundation, in partnership with the Hedcor Group (Arts and Culture), recognized for reviving traditional textiles through Project Tahi ‘Ta.
Other finalists include Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc., ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc., Joy Nostalg Foundation, Inc., Jollibee Group Foundation, Inc., Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, Inc., Manila Water Foundation, Inc., Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc., PLDT-Smart Foundation, Inc., and Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., & Aboitiz Land, Inc.
In addition to its member foundations, LCF also honored non-member organizations through the CSR Medal of Recognition, awarded to programs demonstrating high impact across LCF’s CSR focus areas. This year’s awardees included:
Pioneer Adhesives Foundation, Inc. (PAFI) (Disaster Resilience), for Angat Sining Tibay at Galing (ASTIG)
First Gen Corporation (Enterprise Development), for Threads of Change, supporting indigenous weavers in Jabonga;
Fluor Daniel Inc., Philippines (Environment), for Commitment to Sustainability: Environmental Stewardship, promoting environmental conservation through mangrove reforestation, coastal cleanups, and education initiatives.
Pascual Laboratories (Environment), for the SEED program on environmental education and sustainable agriculture; and
Pioneer Adhesives Foundation, Inc. (PAFI) (Education), for WRAP in School, which promotes waste reduction and sustainability through student engagement and environmental awareness;
Juanito I. King Foundation, Inc. (Health), for Project Healthy Smile at Bittang Elementary School, providing dental health education and services to underserved children.
Other finalists included Fluor Daniel Inc., Philippines; First Gen Corporation; Rex Education; Philippine Manufacturing Co. of Murata Inc., and Cebu Mitsumi, with special citations awarded to Sentinel Upcycling Technologies, The Teacher’s Gallery, Inc., and Philippine Manufacturing Co. of Murata Inc.
Shem Jose Garcia, LCF Chairperson, highlighted in his message how this year’s Guild Awards winners embody diversity, equity, and inclusion through their work with marginalized groups, and stressed the role of collaboration in driving shared prosperity.
“It’s encouraging to see that many of this year’s winners are working closely with marginalized groups—including Indigenous communities and persons with disabilities—truly reflecting our theme of diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Shem Jose Garcia, LCF Chairperson. “Further, this creates space for collaboration and leveraging our collective strengths, especially in today’s society, where true success goes beyond efficiency and optimization to nurturing people and the communities we affect. That is how we achieve shared prosperity.”
With increasing adoption of sustainability and inclusion in business practices, LCF regards this as a prime opportunity for the private sector to drive transformative change—prompting companies to shift their view of CSR from a charitable obligation or regulatory requirement to a strategic priority critical for national development.
The League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) gathered business and industry leaders at the 2025 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Conference and Expo on July 1 at Dusit Thani Manila, to promote inclusive growth as a key driver of sustainable development. Held during National CSR Week, the event highlighted how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are reshaping business strategies—reflecting the shift in CSR from traditional philanthropy to strategic, systemic efforts that contribute to society and support nation-building.
Business and foundation leaders, and CSR advocates gathered at the Dusit Thani Manila for the 2025 CSR Conference. Photo from League of Corporate Foundations.
With the theme “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity for Shared Prosperity,” the conference highlights DEI as a core strategy for companies seeking to promote development and economic resilience as the country recovers from recent economic setbacks and global uncertainties.
Shem Jose Garcia, LCF Chairperson and Executive Director of Vivant Foundation, Inc., delivered his opening message at the Guild Awards during the 2025 CSR Conference. Photo from League of Corporate Foundations.
According to Shem Jose Garcia, Chairperson of LCF and Executive Director of Vivant Foundation, Inc., inclusion requires recognizing how identities like gender, ability, ethnicity, and income overlap and affect people’s experiences. “As CSR practitioners, most of our projects seek to uplift those left behind in poverty, finding solutions that would benefit the greatest number of people. However, when creating and implementing projects that aim to benefit the many, there remains a challenge that this can often leave behind those with special needs or limited capability to benefit from these programs,” he said. “It is important not just to identify these groups as a category on their own, but to understand the importance of intersectionality – that a person may be disadvantaged not just because of one category to which they belong but how those categories overlap.”
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, Chairperson, Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality delivered her keynote session entitled “Shared Prosperity, Shared Responsibility: The DEI Mandate in Nation-Building” during the 2025 CSR Conference and Expo. Photo from League of Corporate Foundations.
In her keynote session titled “Shared Prosperity, Shared Responsibility: The DEI Mandate in Nation-Building,” Senator Risa Hontiveros, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, underscored the need to embed DEI into nation-building efforts across all sectors. She discussed that working towards equity and social justice is not only right but also good for business. For example, women in leadership foster inclusive work environments that value diversity and equality—principles essential for sustainability and growth.
Opening day sessions featured discussions on inclusive corporate supply chains, enterprise development for underserved groups, and the shift toward measuring CSR performance based on community-level outcomes. Speakers emphasized that inclusive practices are not simply acts of goodwill—they are strategic approaches that strengthen business resilience, drive innovation, and contribute to long-term national development.
Left to right: Enrique S. Canoy, VP for Operations & Corporate, Communications Head, RMN Networks, Inc.; Ramon Derige, Executive Director, SEAOIL Foundation, Inc.; Ronn Astillas, Chairperson, Philippine LGBT Chamber of Commerce; Shem Jose Garcia, Chairperson, League of Corporate Foundations and Executive Director, Vivant Foundation, Inc.; Sen. Risa Hontiveros, Chairperson, Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality; Rudy P. Guiao, Jr., CIO Lead for PH and Managing Director for IT (PH, SEA, and China), Accenture Technology; Edric Calma, Vice Chairperson, League of Corporate Foundations and Vice President, Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc.; Ryan Vidanes, Executive Director, Conrado & Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation, Inc.; Austere Panadero, President and Executive Director, Zuellig Family Foundation, Inc.; and, Philip Francisco Dy, Trustee, League of Corporate Foundations, Executive Vice President of Metrobank Foundation, Inc. Photo from League of Corporate Foundations.
This call for systemic inclusion carried over into the first plenary session, “The Intersection of Financial Inclusion & Resilience: Protecting the Vulnerable and the Marginalized Sectors in the Philippines,” where its featured Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Director Mynard Bryan Mojica, Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association Deputy Executive Director Michael “Mitch” Rellosa, and Insurance Commission Deputy Commissioner Atty. Reynaldo Averilla Regalado.
The discussion highlighted how access to credit, savings, and insurance can help marginalized communities reduce long-term risk and build resilience to disasters—reinforcing the broader message that inclusive systems are not just equitable, but essential to national development.
The CSR Expo welcomed guests at Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City with interactive booths of impactful, community-focused initiatives in health, education, environment and more. Photo from League of Corporate Foundations.
Alongside the conference kick-off, LCF opened the CSR Expo 2025 at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati, where member organizations and partners showcased high-impact programs across education, health, livelihood, environment, and disaster resilience. Designed as an interactive and educational space, the Expo engaged the public with grassroots initiatives—from youth skills training and education access to coastal conservation and social enterprise development—demonstrating how responsible business practices respond to social and environmental needs.
LCF also highlighted key milestones of its flagship league-wide program called ”LCF’s Initiative for Food Security, Nutrition, and Empowerment” or LIFE at the Expo, including one of its first programs inaugurated in Basilan last June 26—the Busog, Lusog, Talino (BLT) Community Kitchen. Designed to prepare 600 to 1,000 nutritious, Muslim-friendly meals daily, the kitchen serves as a centralized facility for food to be distributed to schools in alignment with local feeding programs. Present during the inauguration were Former Governor of Basilan Jim Hataman Salliman, Dr. Joyce Ann Arandia-Viar, Project Manager of the Zuellig Family Foundation, and LA Cruzat, Senior Program Manager of the Jollibee Group Foundation.
At the 2025 CSR Expo, Edric Calma, Vice Chairperson of League of Corporate Foundations and Vice President of Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. underscored the League’s commitment to inclusive development like LIFE encouraging deeper corporate involvement in community resilience. Photo from League of Corporate Foundations.
According to LCF, this pilot effort is an opportunity for more corporate foundations to take part in the LIFE program and for the private sector to be involved in community development. “Inclusion and sustainability should be built into how companies operate, grow, and engage with communities,” said Edric Calma, Vice Chairperson of LCF and Vice President of Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc..
The 2025 CSR Conference and Expo is co-presented by Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc. and co-organized with Metro Pacific Investments Corporation Foundation, Inc., and The SM, Henry Sy, and Felicidad T. Sy Foundations, Inc. It is also made possible through the support of BPI Foundation, Inc., Manila Water Foundation, Inc., Metrobank Foundation, Inc., Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc., and Vivant Foundation, Inc., with special thanks to Energy Development Corporation, Inc., Lopez Group Foundation, Inc., and Jollibee Group Foundation, Inc. LCF also thanks Ayala Foundation, Inc., BDO Foundation, Inc., and Citizen of the World Philippines Foundation, Inc. and acknowledges Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., Don Antonio O. Floriendo Sr. Foundation, Inc., Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, Inc., ICTSI Foundation, Inc., Ronald McDonald House Charities, SEAOIL Foundation, Inc., Security Bank Foundation, Inc., Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation, Inc., Unilab Foundation, Inc., and Zuellig Family Foundation, Inc. for their support. These and other partners help foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing on sustainability and inclusivity.
League of Corporate Foundations 