MANILA – Proudly Filipino conglomerate PHINMA, through its foundation, on Tuesday recognized one of its scholar-graduates for embodying the qualities that the company values the most: academic and leadership excellence, integrity, and social responsibility; and for living up to the company’s mission of making lives better.

PHINMA’s Making Lives Better Award is given to a graduate of the PHINMA National Scholarship (PNS) Program who has demonstrated exceptional academic performance, leadership skills, and commitment to PHINMA’s core values.

This year’s awardee, John Paulo Aniceto, graduated magna cum laude from the Philippine Normal University in 2022. In his senior year, he was chairperson of the PNU Red Cross Youth Council. He was also active in Red Cross activities outside of school, serving as a youth peer educator since 2014 and internal vice-president from 2018 to 2021 in the institution’s Rizal chapter. Today, Aniceto teaches Filipino in the grade school department of Colegio San Agustin-Makati.

“It is disheartening to observe that our students come from a generation when the information they utilize to learn about and understand their world comes from erroneous and incorrect sources. So let’s keep holding up the torch high at the forefront of change…If I keep doubting myself because of the shortcomings and depressing realities we have seen, this award will mean nothing to me. We are now left with no choice but to constantly stand up and build our communities up to their full potential. Whereas our children are the dream-makers, each with a special capacity for nurturing ideals and aspirations,” he said as he accepted the award.

Aniceto’s mother, Nila, is especially proud of him, as she has witnessed how he persevered through the challenges presented to their family. She also thanked PHINMA for being their partner in reaching for their dream of a comfortable life. In her speech to the crowd, she addressed the parents in the audience, urging them to let their children become active participants in society.

“Masaya rin na makita siyang nakakatulong at nakakapagbigay ng inspirasyon sa mga kabataan. Nagsimula ito noong sumali siya sa Red Cross Youth kung saan mas nahubog niya pa ang sarili bilang leader at hanggang sa pumasok siya dito sa PNU. Kaya naman, bilang Nanay niya patuloy ang aking pagsuporta sa kaniya dahil dito raw niya nakikita ang kabuluhan ng kaniyang buhay…Sa atin pong mga kasama rin na magulang na nandito po ngayon, gaya po ng aking patuloy na sinasabi sa sarili. Hayaan nating magsuri ang ating mga anak sa kalagayan ng ating bansa, suportahan natin sila sa kung papaano nila nakikitang makapagbibigay ng kakaunting pagbabago sa ating komunidad,” she said.

PNU President Dr. Bert Tuga, in his closing remarks, talked about the power of dreams, which provide a clear vision and a sense of purpose and direction in life. He applauded the awardee and scholars present who “have forged their own path to achieve remarkable success and make a positive impact on the world around them.” He also thanked the PHINMA Foundation for its “unwavering support in our mission to provide quality education to Filipinos.”

“Your generous contributions have made a significant impact on our efforts and we are honored to have their partnership in this important endeavor. Your contributions continue to help enhance the quality of education and create opportunities for Filipinos to access education and make their lives better regardless of their socio-economic background. Because of you, we are able to actualize our core values of truth, excellence, and service. Thank you for your continuous support and trust.”

Tuesday’s luncheon was not only to recognize Aniceto as an exemplary scholar-graduate, but also to thank PNU, which has been PHINMA Foundation’s partner for 17 years in its scholarship program. “The Philippine Normal University was identified from the start as our preferred partner and will continue to be key to the program’s success especially as we expand to include scholars from the other PNU campuses across the country,” said PHINMA Foundation Vice President Peter Perfecto.

PHINMA and PNU have been partners for the last 17 years in providing scholarships to deserving students with great leadership potential. Out of the 253 graduates of the PHINMA National Scholarship Program since 2006, 189 were from PNU. Sixty-five PHINMA scholars are also currently enrolled in PNU.

The two institutions are united in molding future leaders like Aniceto, who dreams of someday serving in the Department of Education as a school division superintendent. Apart from Aniceto, eight PHINMA scholars who graduated from PNU have been recognized for their contributions in making lives better.

PHINMA, through its foundation, has recognized one of its scholar-graduates for embodying the qualities that the company values the most: academic and leadership excellence, integrity, and social responsibility; and for living up to the company’s mission of making lives better. PHINMA’s Making Lives Better Award is given to a graduate of the PHINMA National Scholarship (PNS) Program who has demonstrated exceptional academic performance, leadership skills, and commitment to PHINMA’s core values.

This year’s awardee is John Paulo Aniceto, who graduated magna cum laude from the Philippine Normal University (PNU) in 2022.

PHINMA and PNU have been partners for the last 17 years in providing scholarships to deserving students with great leadership potential. Out of the 253 graduates of the PHINMA National Scholarship Program since 2006, 189 were from PNU. Sixty-five PHINMA scholars are also currently enrolled in PNU.

Jollibee Group Foundation has announced that it has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) to further help Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP) farmers in Benguet.

According to the Foundation, BPI’s expertise in research and development, crop production and protection, and technology promotion and transfer, will allow the partnership to explore the feasibility of growing onions in Benguet province.

To help unemployed women from Metro Manila and nearby provinces to gain a source of income and become self-reliant, Ang Hortaleza Foundation Inc is running the Ganda Mo, Hanap Buhay Ko program–a free four-day comprehensive skills training course on basic cosmetology.

Participants are taught basic hair cutting and coloring, manicure and pedicure, and nail art and foot spa techniques.

To join, those interested must be aged 19-45 years, should hold at least an elementary degree, need to attend all sessions without being absent, and can bring models.

Those who successfully finish the course will receive a certificate of completion and a starter kit to enable them to earn a living as homeservice beauticians.

As part of its contributions to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal no. 3 to ensure healthy lives and promote the well-being of all people at all ages, BDO Foundation continued to rehabilitate rural health units (RHUs) in underserved communities across the country.

The corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank recently completed the rehabilitation of Agoncillo Health Center and San Luis RHU II in Batangas, Sibonga Municipal Health Office in Cebu, and Rural Health Unit Buenavista and Tubigon Municipal Health Office in Bohol. The foundation has successfully upgraded 131 health centers since 2012.

The corporate citizenship initiative is in line with the foundation’s advocacy to help improve the healthcare delivery system in the country. The program is made possible by officers of BDO and BDO Network Bank branches, who recommend health centers that need assistance.

Guided by municipal health officers, BDO Foundation improved the aforementioned health centers’ layout and interior design, lobbies and waiting areas, offices, birthing clinics, consultation and treatment rooms, facilities, furniture and fixtures. Using available space, the foundation also built play areas for children.

With the projects completed, health workers are now better equipped to provide primary and maternal healthcare services to their constituents. BDO Foundation’s projects in Batangas, Bohol and Cebu are expected to benefit more than 192,000 people in 126 barangays.

“There are no words to express our happiness,” Agoncillo municipal health officer Dr. Richard Landicho shared. “We are happy that we will be able to serve our patients in a facility that promotes their healing and well-being. We are truly grateful to BDO Foundation for renovating our rural health unit, enabling us to continue our health programs and helping our community.”

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, LA UNION – Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI), the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of Security Bank Corporation, augmented its support for the Department of Education (DepEd) by equipping schools in the Ilocos region with much-needed learning resources for school year 2022-2023.

SBFI donated eight Knowledge Channel Portable Media Libraries (PMLs) and 306 Makeroscopes (keychain microscope sets) to eight SBFI Classrooms Project beneficiary schools in Ilocos Region which were received by DepEd Region I Director Dr. Tolentino Aquino.

“While at first we were worried as to how to jump start classes given our region’s situation, we are thankful that Security Bank Foundation’s donation allows for learning to continue within or outside the four walls of the classroom,” says Dr. Aquino.

The learning resources will allow students to learn offsite if there are limited classrooms. Students can also enrich their knowledge through the home videos and experiment at home with the portability of keychain microscopes.

The Knowledge Channel PMLs are external hard drives containing over 1,500 Knowledge Channel-developed video lessons, e-games, and e-session guides aligned with the Department of Education K-12 curriculum.

The beneficiaries are: Ayusan-Paoa Elementary School (Vigan City, Ilocos Sur) Balatong Integrated School (Laoag City, Ilocos Norte), Dagupan City National High School (Dagupan City, Pangasinan), Ilocos Norte National High School (Laoag City, Ilocos Norte) Ilocos Sur National High School (Vigan City, Ilocos Sur), Lingsat Integrated School (San Fernando City, La Union), San Fernando North Central School (San Fernando City, La Union), and Vigan Central School (Vigan City, Ilocos Norte).

The Makeroscopes, invented by Filipino engineer Jeremy De Leon, are keychain microscopes attached to mobile device front cameras to enable the viewing of microscopic samples up to x265 zoom. Each set comes with sample slides of animal and plant cells. The schools that received the keychain microscopes were Dagupan City National High School, Ilocos Norte National High School, and Ilocos Sur National High School.

SBFI’s provision of learning resources is part of its holistic approach to provide access to quality education through its flagship program, the Build A School, Build A Nation: The Classrooms Project.

“Our program was designed to have a holistic approach. Security Bank Foundation would finance the construction of the classrooms. The Department of Education and the Local Government Units would provide various counterpart support. Our academic institution partners, the Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle Philippines, would design training and support programs that will help improve the teaching expertise of the teachers and subsequently, the academic performance of the students,” says Rafael F. Simpao, Jr., SBFI Chairman.

To learn more about SBFI’s initiatives and how you can help a scholar, visit www.securitybank.com/sustainability or Security Bank’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SecurityBank.

DAVAO CITY, PHILIPPINES – Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI), the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of Security Bank Corporation, responded to the call of the Department of Education (DepEd) to provide multi-sectoral support for the opening of classes through the agency’s Brigada Eskwela initiative.

SBFI supported the DepEd Brigada Eskwela regional kick-off week by turning over Knowledge Channel Portable Media Libraries (PMLs) and 306 Makeroscopes (keychain microscope sets) to 11 SBFI Classrooms Project beneficiary schools in the Davao Region.

“True partners are those who come and immediately heed the call. We thank Security Bank Foundation for being a true partner of the region as it provided innovative and digital learning resources for our students,” says DepEd Region XI Director Dr. Allan G. Farnazo.

SBFI’s initiative to donate learning resources in Davao Region complements its flagship program, Build A School, Build the Nation: The Classrooms Project. The 11 beneficiary schools were recipients of SBFI’s classroom donation since program inception in 2011. Aside from new classrooms, SBFI provides major repair support, regular training for teachers and principals, and other learner support interventions.

“We focused our advocacy on education because we believe that education is the greatest equalizer in life. It will give every person the opportunity to succeed, no matter what his or her social and economic background may be,” says Rafael F. Simpao, Jr., SBFI Chairman.

The Knowledge Channel PMLs are external hard drives containing over 1,500 Knowledge Channel developed video lessons, e-games, and e-session guides aligned with the Department of Education K-12 curriculum.

The schools that received portable media libraries were: Catalunan Pequeño Elementary School (Davao City), Crossing Bayabas National High School (Davao City), Davao City National High School (Davao City), Digos City National High School (Digos City, Davao Del Sur), JV Ferriols Elementary School (Davao City), Matina Central Elementary School (Davao City), Panabo Central Elementary School-SPED Center (Panabo City, Davao Del Norte), Panabo National High School (Panabo City, Davao Del Norte), Ramon Magsaysay Central Elementary School (Digos City, Davao Del Sur), Tagum National Trade School (Tagum City, Davao Del Norte), and Visayan Village Central Elementary School (Tagum City, Davao Del Norte).

The Makeroscopes, invented by Filipino engineer Jeremy De Leon, are keychain microscopes attached to front cameras of mobile phones to enable the viewing of microscopic samples up to x265 zoom. Each Makeroscope set comes with sample slides of animal and plant cells. The schools that received the keychain microscopes were Davao City National High School, Digos City National High School, and Panabo National High School.

To learn more about SBFI’s initiatives and how you can help a scholar, visit www.securitybank.com/sustainability or Security Bank’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SecurityBank.

Manila, Philippines, October 1, 2022 – TELUS International Philippines (TIP), a leading digital customer experience (CX) innovator that designs, builds and delivers next-generation solutions for global and disruptive brands, including AI and content moderation, recently held its 15th annual TELUS Days of Giving (TDOG), supporting the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Brigada Eskwela program, where volunteers renovate and clean public schools for the upcoming school year. This is the eighth consecutive year TIP has supported the program.

Empowered by the company’s “we give where we live” philosophy, more than 1,250 volunteers, including TIP employees from the six TIP sites in Metro Manila and their family members, helped transform 52 classrooms at Tondo High School in Metro Manila in support of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Brigada Eskwela program. Volunteers also built four temporary classrooms to address the school’s classroom shortage. “We owe the success of our TELUS Days of Giving to our team members who have shown their tremendous support and dedication, and who have invested tens of thousands of volunteer hours since 2014 to refurbish and renovate public schools across the region. By keeping the Filipino spirit of bayanihan alive, their presence today enabled us to transform Tondo High School into a vibrant, conducive learning environment through volunteer activities such as painting classrooms and hallways, painting mural designs in staircases, chair refurbishment, gardening and landscaping, and the construction of makeshift classrooms. This is a meaningful way for our team members to share their time and effort, in giving back to the communities where we live and work,” said Rajiv M. Dhand, Regional Vice-President for Asia Pacific at TELUS International.

Since 2014, TIP’s support of DepEd’s Brigada Eskwela program has helped more than 40,000 grade school and high school students across Metro Manila.

“With Filipino youth and students set to return to the classrooms in November 2022, we wanted to make sure schools are ready to welcome these students back by providing resources and our team member volunteers’ helping hand,” said Warren Tait, Brand, Marketing and Facilities Vice-President at TELUS International.

In addition to helping schools through DepEd’s Brigada Eskwela program, TIP is also committed to empower Filipino youth through company initiatives, including the company’s internship program for IT students in partnership with schools called ‘Code Your Career,’ and several CSR activities including the creation of e-learning modules, translating children’s books to local dialects, providing training on anti-bullying online, and raising funds for school kits and learning modules.

#

About TELUS International Philippines TELUS International Philippines, Inc. is a leading Philippines-based provider of digitally-enabled customer experience and business process solutions and is a proud member of the global TELUS International family. Today, TELUS International Philippines has six sites strategically located throughout Metro Manila, and two new sites in Iloilo, which supports some of the world’s top brands.

About TELUS International TELUS International (NYSE & TSX: TIXT) designs, builds and delivers next-generation digital solutions to enhance the customer experience (CX) for global and disruptive brands. The company’s services support the full lifecycle of its clients’ digital transformation journeys, enabling them to more quickly embrace next-generation digital technologies to deliver better business outcomes. TELUS International’s integrated solutions span digital strategy, innovation, consulting and design, IT lifecycle including managed solutions, intelligent automation and end-to-end AI data solutions including computer vision capabilities, as well as omnichannel CX and trust and safety solutions including content moderation. Fueling all stages of company growth, TELUS International partners with brands across high growth industry verticals, including tech and games, communications and media, eCommerce and fintech, banking, financial services and insurance, healthcare, and travel and hospitality.

TELUS International’s unique caring culture promotes diversity and inclusivity through its policies, team member resource groups and workshops, and equal employment opportunity hiring practices across the regions where it operates. Since 2007, the company has positively impacted the lives of more than one million citizens around the world, building stronger communities and helping those in need through large-scale volunteer events and charitable giving. Five TELUS International Community Boards have provided $4.8 million in funding to grassroots charitable organizations since 2011. Learn more at: telusinternational.com

In line with its disaster response advocacy, BDO Foundation immediately extended assistance to disaster-affected Filipinos in provinces placed under a state of calamity due to Super Typhoon Karding. The corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank organized relief operations for more than 12,000 families from 45 barangays in Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Quezon and Zambales. The initiative was made possible by volunteers from BDO and BDO Network Bank branches, non-governmental organization Ako Ang Saklay, partner parishes and social welfare offices. Volunteers visited underserved communities and distributed relief packs containing food, rice and drinking water to affected families.

About BDO Foundation

BDO Foundation is the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank. Founded in 2008, the foundation aims to contribute to nation-building by addressing the needs of underserved sectors of society through its disaster response and financial inclusion advocacies. Supported by the BDO Unibank community and in partnership with local government units and non-governmental organizations, BDO Foundation mounts relief operations, rehabilitates rural health units, constructs school buildings, implements financial education programs and undertakes COVID-19 response programs across the country. Its corporate citizenship initiatives have been recognized at the Retail Banking Awards of Asian Banking & Finance magazine and Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards of Enterprise Asia. For more information, visit www.bdo.com.ph/foundation/home, e-mail bdo.foundation@bdo.com.ph or call 8840-7000 local 36046.

BDO Foundation, Inc.

10^th Floor BDO Corporate Center Ortigas

12 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center

Mandaluyong City 1550