League of Corporate Foundations

Touted as one of the most outstanding in Asia, a corporate citizenship initiative of BDO Foundation aimed at securing the financial well-being of Filipino fishers clinched four prestigious accolades.

The financial education program for fisherfolk—the foundation’s partnership project with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)—earned international acclaim from Asian Banking & Finance (ABF), Asiamoney, and Enterprise Asia. In the Philippines, the program was also awarded by the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF).

The awards were officially conferred at the ABF Retail Banking Awards, Asiamoney Banking Awards, Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards and LCF CSR Guild Awards, events witnessed in person and online by hundreds of audiences across the continent. They acknowledged BDO Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of BDO Unibank, for developing and implementing the financial education program for fisherfolk in the Philippines.

The award-winning initiative aims to help improve the financial literacy, productivity and income-generating capability of 1.9 million fishers all over the country.

Supportive of Sustainable Development Goals in the area of financial inclusion, the ongoing partnership project contributes to the achievement of the BSP’s National Strategy for Financial Inclusion and the Department of Agriculture’s goal to attain a food-secure and resilient Philippines with empowered and prosperous farmers and fisherfolk.

“The recognition we received is a testament to the concerted efforts of the BSP, BFAR and BDO Foundation to help fishers and their families improve their financial literacy, break the cycle of poverty and learn ways to sustain their source of livelihood,” BDO Foundation president Mario Deriquito said. “Moving forward, we will continue to support the nationwide deployment of the financial education program, mindful of our commitment to sustainable development and nation-building.”

The aforementioned awards also cited the foundation for its contributions to the creation of Fish N’ LEarn, a gamified teaching tool designed to make financial literacy lessons engaging for the target audience. Co-developed by the partners, the training intervention shares lessons on the conservation of marine resources, saving, budgeting and financial planning, entrepreneurship, insurance, and debt management.

PHINMA Foundation, Inc. (PFI) on Friday, June 23, celebrated 34 years of making lives better with the announcement of a new partner school in its scholarship program and the formal launch of the PHINMA Group’s disaster fund. 

PFI signed a memorandum of agreement with the Technological University of the Philippines – Manila, as represented by its president, Engr. Reynaldo P. Ramos, PhD., EnP, and Dr. Margaret S. Aquino, the dean of the Office of Student Affairs, to herald the new partnership between the two institutions. This year, PHINMA Foundation will welcome students of TUP-Manila as it reaffirms its commitment to provide better opportunities to more Filipinos. This will increase this year’s intake of students to 70.

“Through this assistance, our college students in need of regular allowances will be able to pursue their dreams of becoming engineers. I am sure that with the generosity of PHINMA will return to them a hundredfold as the beneficiaries become instruments of social transformation, progress, and development,” said TUP-Manila President Ramos.

The PHINMA National Scholarship Program has produced over 250 licensed teachers, engineers, and accountants together with the 4 schools it has partnered with since 2006: University of the Philippines, Philippine Normal University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and PHINMA University of Pangasinan. The schools signed during the ceremony a memorandum of agreement to continue their partnership with PHINMA Foundation.

TUP-Manila will also benefit from the expansion of PHINMA Foundation’s Science and Engineering Education Fund (SEEF), along with Caloocan National Science and Technology High School. SEEF provides support to high school students from esteemed institutions and engineering students from universities recognized as Centers of Excellence. 

SEEF’s reach extends to 9 universities, including Cebu Institute of Technology, Central Philippine University, Mapua Institute of Technology, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, St. Louis University, University of San Carlos, University of the Philippines-Los Banos, Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, and PHINMA University of Pangasinan. The program also supports 11 high schools, including the Philippine Science High Schools (PSHS), GUSA Regional Science HS, Manila Science HS, Muntinlupa Science HS, Caloocan National Science High School, PSHS Cagayan Valley Campus, PSHS Central Mindanao Campus, PSHS Central Visayas Campus, PSHS Eastern Visayas Campus, PSHS Southern Mindanao Campus, PSHS Western Visayas Campus, and PSHS Ilocos Region Campus. 

Through strategic partnerships with these institutions, SEEF aims to enhance the learning experiences, provide financial assistance, and foster a culture of scientific inquiry and innovation among the students.

PHINMA Foundation also operationalized the newly instituted 1PHINMA Disaster Fund, starting with a signing of a memorandum of agreement with representatives of the PHINMA Construction Materials Group, PHINMA Education, PHINMA Properties, and PHINMA Hospitality for the prepositioning of relief goods, which will empower them to take the lead in calamity preparedness and response within their respective communities. Among those that will be prepositioned are food, hygiene items, medicine, modular tents, and blankets for over 240 families.

The 1PHINMA Disaster Fund was established earlier this year as the PHINMA Group responded to the need for a long-term disaster response by putting together the efforts of all the business units and mobilizing them to help when calamities occur.

“The presence of PHINMA in many communities across the country not only allows us to serve them with our products and services; we also get to know these communities thoroughly and we are able to identify their needs. With the 1PHINMA Disaster Fund, we can now be better equipped to help swiftly and adequately when calamities strike,” said PHINMA Foundation Vice President Peter V. Perfecto.

Employees from Security Bank Area 27 Mindanao participated in Security Bank Foundation, Inc.’s (SBFI) school painting volunteerism activity in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte on August 26, 2023.

Ahead of the start of classes on August 29, 50 Security Bank employees from Area 27 Mindanao lent their helping hands to paint the classrooms donated by Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI) to Tambo Central School in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte. The two-story, six-classroom building will be officially turned over this November as part of SBFI’s “Build a School, Build a Nation” classrooms donation initiative.

“Camaraderie, teamwork, and the spirit of volunteerism—these are the traits that I hope motivate our Security Bankers to excel further, especially knowing how generous the Bank is when it comes to supporting education,” said Francisco L. Santos, Security Bank Area 27 Branch Banking Group Head.

A total of 400 volunteer hours were contributed by the group which helped accelerate the construction of the building. Upon the building’s official turnover in October, SBFI will reach its 721st classroom donation.

“This school painting activity shows the collaboration of Security Bank and its stakeholders. We wholeheartedly thank the Bank for its tireless support to the educational community not just for our school, but also for the whole country,” said John Ryan dela Cruz, Principal of Tambo Central School.

The school painting activity in Iligan, Lanao del Norte followed one that was held at Lapu-Lapu, Cebu on August 19. Another school painting activity was also held last September 9 at Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.

“The school painting activity is an opportunity for Security Bank’s employees to give back to the communities they serve and to be personally involved in our social responsibility programs,” said Rafael Simpao Jr., Chairman of SBFI.

To learn more about Security Bank Foundation’s projects and how you can contribute, visit http://www.securitybank.com/foundation.

Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI) receives Certificate of Appreciation after conducting an industry visit at Canva Philippines as part of its training program for thirty (30) school leaders nationwide. From left to right: Project Officer for Programs of The HEAD Foundation Singapore Michelle Leong, Ateneo Center for Educational Development Juvyleth Vinarao, Associate Professor with the Centre for Research in Educational Leadership and Management (CRELM) of University of Nottingham Dr. Vicente Reyes, Security Bank Foundation Executive Director Louie de Real, and Canva Philippines Social Impact Program Manager Camille Armas

Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI) held its first face-to-face session of its three-year training for school leaders from July 25-28, 2023, under its “Mentoring Future Leaders for Nation-Building” program. It uses the International Certificate in Educational Studies in Leadership (CESL) modules implemented in partnership with Ateneo De Manila University, University of Nottingham (United Kingdom), and The HEAD Foundation (Singapore).

Thirty school leaders from public schools across the nation attended the CESL training at the Faber Hall of Ateneo De Manila University. Many come from schools where the SBFI has donated classrooms.

Participants also visited the facilities of Arete Ateneo Creativity and Innovation Hub in Quezon City, Accenture Philippine Hub for Innovation in Bonifacio Global City, and Canva Philippines in Makati City. These industry visits are intended to open the minds of school leaders to the practical application of innovation and customer centricity which are crucial in the transformation of their schools.

“The school leaders will be embarking on contextualized Transformational Action Plans in an attempt to redress contemporary challenges in Philippine education,” said Dr. Vicente Reyes, Associate Professor in Educational Leadership and Management from University of Nottingham, the main trainer for the CESL modules.

The SBFI’s three-year training program, inclusive of CESL, is designed to be sustainable and aimed at improving the leaders’ skills. It aims to improve instructional leadership, contextual problem solving, and stakeholder engagement.

After the first face-to-face training, participants will draft and implement Transformational Action Plans (TAPs) to directly address issues faced by their schools. They will also receive close monitoring and mentorship by five former CESL graduates to ensure the feasibility and innovativeness of their projects.

“We, school leaders, can make or break our organization depending on how we manage our stakeholders and resources. We should ‘walk the talk,’ and set standards for our school team to follow,” said Benjamin Ongteco, Jr., Principal of Caingin Elementary School from Sta. Rosa, Laguna, an SBFI classrooms construction beneficiary school.

To learn more about SBFI’s projects and how you can contribute, visit http://www.securitybank.com/foundation.

From left to right: Amelia Dycoco, Ateneo Center for Education Development Program Officer; Rafael Ilarde, Security Bank Solano Branch Business Manager; Corazon Mendoza, Alicia Branch Security Bank Business Manager; Roulin Cortez, Security Bank Cauayan Branch Business Manager; Sheryl Plaza, Security Bank Santiago Branch Channel Manager; Agnes Alcid, Security Bank Santiago Branch Business Manager; Ferdinand Uy, Security Bank Branch Banking Group North Luzon Area Head; Melissa Aquino, Security Bank Foundation Corporate Secretary, Leslie Cham, Security Bank Branch Banking Group Head; Rafael Simpao, Security Bank Foundation Chairman; Hon. Joseph Tan, 4th District of Isabela Congressman; Dr. Benjamin Paragas, DepEd Region II Director; Dr. Flordeliza Gecobe, DepEd Division of Santiago Schools Division Superintendent; Jonathan Fronda, DepEd Division of Santiago Assistant Schools Division Superintendent; Dr. Leilanie Dominia, DepEd Santiago School Governance and Operations Division Supervisor; Simeona Dalloran, Santiago South Central School Principal

Education serves as a lasting legacy for many. Living proof is the story of Rhona Alma Bello, a customer advisor from Security Bank Santiago Branch, who witnessed Security Bank Foundation’s turnover of a school building to her and her daughter’s alma mater, Santiago South Central School. “Having our Bank’s foundation donate classrooms to the public school where I graduated made me even prouder. It is an honor to be part of an institution that invests in the construction of much-needed classrooms for our public schools”, said Bello.

Among the partners of Security Bank Foundation for the implementation of its classroom construction projects are the branch business managers who coordinate with community stakeholders. With over 37 years of dedicated service to the bank, Security Bank Santiago Branch Business Manager Agnes Alcid looks at the 12 classrooms donated to Santiago as one of her most memorable legacies upon retirement. “I hope the community will always remember the Bank and its endeavors for improving the quality of education,” said Alcid.

Security Bank Foundation recently turned over 12 classrooms to Santiago City, Isabela consisting of a 2-storey, 4-classroom building for Santiago North Central School SPED Center and a 2-storey, 8-classroom building for Santiago South Central School, among the most populated public schools in the city.

After turning over 675 classrooms and benefiting 120 schools in 69 Philippine cities and municipalities, Security Bank Foundation Chairman Rafael F. Simpao Jr. hopes that “the legacy that Security Bank shall leave behind, through our Classrooms Project, is that we have been instrumental in the improvement of the learning conditions in the country’s public schools and in the academic performance of students nationwide.”

Santiago City Mayor Atty. Alyssa Sheena Tan also believes that education is an important legacy to leave for the people of her city. “It is imperative to invest in our people, especially the youth, for their education so they can succeed in the 21st-century economy,” said Mayor Tan.

“Security Bank Foundation has bestowed to the Department of Education an invaluable asset that will help shape the lives of generations to come,” added Dr. Flordeliza Gecobe, Department of Education Division of Santiago City Schools Division Superintendent.

To learn more about Security Bank Foundation’s projects and how you can contribute, visit www.securitybank.com/foundation.

LCF congratulates Smile Train on having achieved 75,000 cleft surgeries in the Philippines, and for successfully organizing its Art Impact for Health initiative!

From the Smile Train Newsletter for September 2023:

Art has the power to heal and uplift the spirit. As it celebrates supporting more than 75,000 cleft surgeries in the Philippines, Smile Train – the world’s largest cleft-focused organization – is bringing the transformative power of art to the Philippine cleft community through Art Impact for Health.

Held in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Philippine Band of Mercy, the event featured the unveiling of a special mural created by Filipino artist Jesse Camacho, a live painting session by WHO representative and artist Isabelle Wachsmuth, and an art workshop where young patients shared their creativity in painting masks.

Attending the event were patients and families affected by cleft, and Smile Train partners and ambassadors, including runners-up of Miss Universe Philippines 2023 and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach.

Partnership for Youth Employment. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Philippine Business for Education (PBEd), Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF), Jollibee Group, and Career Builder Skills Training and Assessment Center for the YouthWorks PH project, which seeks to provide employment opportunities to out-of-school youth. Signing for JGF is Gisela Tiongson, JGF President (seated, 2nd from R), while Ruth Angeles, Vice President and HR Head for Philippines (seated, 3rd from R) signed for the Jollibee Group. With them in photo are Jose Chan, Founder/Chair, Career Builder (seated, 3rd from L), Justine Raagas, PBEd Executive Director (seated, 4th from R), Thomas LeBlanc, USAID Office of the Education Director (standing, second from L), Rhea Peñaflor, YouthWorks PH Chief of Party (standing, first from R), as well as other YouthWorks PH partners.

Unemployment remains an issue to many underprivileged Filipino youth, especially during a challenging economic climate. Most of them have lost their jobs or failed to secure stable jobs due to the impacts of the pandemic. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), youth unemployment rate in the Philippines as of May 2023 is at 10.6%.

To help address youth unemployment, the Jollibee Group, and its social development arm Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) recently partnered with the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) and Career Builder Skills Training and Assessment Center on the YouthWorks PH project.

Launched in 2018, YouthWorks PH is a private sector-led initiative which aims to increase access of unemployed and out-of-school Filipino youth to quality training and employment opportunities. This project is implemented by PBEd in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

PBEd is the business community’s response to the need for sustained and strategic education reform in the Philippines. Career Builder Skills Training and Assessment Center is a TESDA accredited skills training and assessment center established in 2020 to help provide employment opportunities to unemployed Filipinos through skills training.

For its part, the Jollibee Group will co-develop the technical-vocational school-based curriculum with Career Builders, in coordination with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). JGF will also provide scholarship assistance to youth scholars and provide them with practicum training in select JFC stores. A pilot training program will be done this year to optimize the design and mechanics that can be used to scale to more youth trainees across the country beginning 2024.

“We are happy to partner with PBEd, USAID, TESDA, and Career Builder on providing the marginalized youth sector with the opportunity to empower themselves with technical and leadership skills. This initiative will enable them not only to find jobs, but also to unlock their potential so they can achieve a better life for themselves and their families,” said Jollibee Group Foundation President Gisela Tiongson.

Sustained program for youth employment

This is not the first time JGF has undertaken an initiative for the marginalized youth sector. In 2005, JGF launched the Access, Curriculum, and Employability or ACE Scholarship Program, which provides two types of educational support to underprivileged youth: college scholarships for degrees in Hotel and Restaurant Management or Business Management, and technical skills training scholarships, in partnership with Don Bosco Technical College.

In 2018, JGF partnered with the Anihan Technical School for the development of the Quick Service Restaurant Operations course, which includes both in-school and in-store training for scholars, improving not only their skills set, but also their employability in the food service industry.

Since the ACE Scholarship Program started in 2004, JGF has given scholarships to 2,397 students, which includes 1,117 students for agriculture and 139 for technical-vocational skills training.

“We continue to work towards reducing barriers to education for the marginalized Filipino youth. With new partners like PBEd and USAID, we are strengthening our ACE Scholarship Program even further and helping provide more young people with better chances at succeeding in life and improving their quality of life,” said Tiongson.

To learn more about JGF’s ACE Scholarship Program, visit https://foundation.jollibeegroup.com/access-curriculum-and-employability/