Ayala Foundation launches ‘Magiting Face Mask’
Ayala Foundation, in partnership with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, officially launched on May 28 the Magiting Face Mask, which bears the colors of the Philippine flag and the eight-rayed sun.
The face mask serves to honor our Filipino frontliners and essential workers who are making a huge sacrifice for the nation to contain the spread of the pandemic.
The Magiting Face Mask was one of the key features of the commemoration of the Battle of Alapan in Imus, Cavite. All guests, including the honor guards from the Philippine Navy, wore the mask to commemorate the first unfurling of the Philippine Flag in 1898.
The mask was also simultaneously launched at the First Digital Magiting Conference organized by Ayala Foundation, the Department of Education, and the NHCP on the same day. The conference, which gathered 200 Araling Panlipunan and Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao teachers from Region III, discussed teaching tools, methods, and other resources to teach history and love of country, as the education system prepares for the “new normal.” The conference was also viewed by over 1,500 participants through Facebook Live.
The Magiting Face Mask is part of Ayala Foundation’s Maging Magiting program, which calls on Filipinos to express their love of country by giving our national symbols, especially the Philippine flag, the respect they deserve.
The foundation and its partners seek to distribute the face mask to community front-liners and essential workers.
GBF–URC face shields get seal of approval
The Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) and Universal Robina Corp. (URC) completed the distribution of over 100,000 reusable face shields to 33 hospitals, as the country ramped up its response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Health workers in the frontlines gave a thumbs-up to these face shields.
URC’s face shields are made from just three basic materials, making mass production easier: a polypropylene strip that is 14mm thick and about a meter long; an 8-by-13-inch PET sheet; and some staples.
The company buys the PET sheets and staples, but it produces the PP strips in its facility in Calamba, Laguna.
Because it does not have foams that absorb a lot of microbes, URC’s face shields can be dipped in a sterilizing solution and reused.
GBF distributed the face shields to, among others, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Philippine General Hospital, Lung Center of the Philippines, Philippine Heart Center, San Lazaro Hospital, Rizal Medical Center, East Avenue Medical Center, The Medical City and Chinese General Hospital.
SME business protection in the new normal
Malayan Insurance Co. Inc. has rolled out a business insurance product available for as low as P1,000.
Malayan’s Business Protect was redesigned for small and medium business owners, currently struggling with the new business operating climate brought about by the Covid19 pandemic.
For a minimum premium of Php2.75 per day, with no required minimum sum insured, the business establishment of the policyholder is insured with property insurance which provides coverage against damages to the business premises incurred due to fire and lightning, typhoon and flood, sprinkler leakages, and bursting or overflowing of water tanks, apparatus, and pipes, among others.
It also covers built-in extensions namely debris removal, professional fees and fire-fighting expenses in the event of fire to the business
Malayan Insurance also provides SME’s with the Comprehensive General Liability (CGL) cover under its Business Protect product. This provides protection against third party claims as a result of property damage or bodily injury arising from the operations of the business.
As a standard feature, the newly restructured product also provides Accident insurance coverage for four named employees of the business establishment with ages not exceeding 69 years, and also provides monetary compensation for revenues lost due to burglary or robbery inside the premises or while in transit. Malayan Insurance also provides options for coverage of motorcycle delivery fleet and company motorcar units assigned to employees, officers.
Mobile lab turned into rapid test truck
Republic Cement recently launched the Antibody Rapid Testing on Wheels (ARAW) truck to help provide easy access to COVID-19 Rapid Testing to its customers, contractors, and communities.
Designed as a public service, the ARAW Truck provides a safe and convenient testing facility by bringing the testing straight to Republic stakeholders. Republic coordinates and partners with the chosen health care and testing provider of the customer, contractor, or community and provides transportation and logistics support free of charge in order to get the tests where they need to be as quickly as possible.
By implementing additional stringent health and safety precautions, the truck allows for the increased protection of health workers, minimal PPE wastage, easy disinfection, organized unidirectional flow for entry and exit supporting social distancing, and provides an area separate from offices or public areas for testing.
Nutritious kalabasa for Araneta City frontliners
J. Amado Araneta Foundation (JAAF), the social arm of Araneta City, has provided additional nourishment to all frontliners of the City of Firsts to keep them healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Close to a thousand security, sanitation, and maintenance personnel received squashes and vitamin boosters — all donated to JAAF — last May 31 and June 1 as a gratitude for their relentless effort on keeping Araneta City safe and secured.
The vegetables came from pharmacist Kay Jonatas of the Kalabasa Project, which helps squash farmers in Nueva Ecija to have their produce sold during the crisis.
Meanwhile, the vitamin-booster juice drinks were donated by Theresa Vialu and family.
Kalabasa Project aims to promote a sustainable Philippines where farmers are given due compensation and more opportunities to easily bring their produce to consumers’ plates. It was featured in JAAF’s #LivingHeroes — a series of stories regarding ordinary people with extraordinary hearts shown during the pandemic — on Facebook last May 21.
Mindful snacking from Mondelez, partners
Mondelez Philippines has partnered with 44 various organizations, including Rise Against Hunger, the Philippine Red Cross and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) in sharing P12 million worth of snack products to Metro Manila and other provinces’ front liners and communities.
Mondelez Philippines said it is committed to fostering the growth of the Mindful Snacking movement by providing people with the right snack, for the right moment, and made the right way.
The Mindful Snacking campaign aims to transform perceptions about eating as a mechanical response to hunger by focusing on the how’s and whys of eating. This mindset isn’t about resistance or restriction, it’s about bringing awareness into the aspect of eating.
Globally, the company has announced significant progress with its 2020 Impact Goals, including achieving its target of growing portion control snacks to 15 percent of its net revenue, two years ahead of target. Locally portion control options include the Cadbury Dairy Milk and Cadbury 5Star 15g bar, Oreo 3-piece 28.5g cookie packs, and Mini Oreo pouches, which all contain less than 200 calories per pack. In the Philippines, the company has also expanded its well-being offerings with belVita breakfast biscuits. It has also improved the nutrition profile of its biggest selling brands.
P2M donation to SOS Children’s Villages
The Grundfos Foundation responded to the needs of eight SOS Children’s Villages around the Philippines by donating food, cleaning supplies, and personal protective equipment that will last these orphaned children and childcare frontline workers for a month.
SOS Children’s’ Villages is home to 957 children and 145 childcare frontline workers, who are located across Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila; Calbayog City, Samar; Cebu City, Cebu; Davao City, Davao del Sur; Lipa City, Batangas; Tacloban City, Leyte; Zarraga, Iloilo and Mariveles, Bataan.
Relief via MFIs
Grameen Foundation announced the launch of COVID-19 RELIEF (Response to Enhance Livelihoods of Individual Entrepreneurs and Families) in the Philippines.
Supported by J.P. Morgan, the program will provide immediate relief and longer-term recovery support to 3,500 women entrepreneurs running microenterprises.
Grameen will target vulnerable individual female microentrepreneurs and their families located in Metro Manila and Cebu City.
In Phase I of the program, lasting three to four months, Grameen will facilitate delivery of non-cash vouchers for pharmacies and supermarkets or in-kind packages of goods distributed through microfinance institution (MFI) centers.
Grameen will also employ a text campaign to send actionable advice on financial coping mechanisms and healthy behaviors related to COVID-19 to loan officers and microentrepreneurs.
In Phase II, lasting eight to nine months, Grameen will deliver its Resilient Life, Resilient Business curriculum to MFIs oto enhance their capacity to address member needs and promote financial resilience during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.
