CORPORATE

Pangilinan being awarded the prestigious Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice

Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman, president, and CEO of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., has been honored with the esteemed “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” commendation by the Pope, the highest papal honor bestowed upon a lay person for their exemplary work contributing to the betterment of the lives of the poor and the needy.

This commendation serves as a testament to Pangilinan’s outstanding service to the Church and his philanthropic efforts. As the leader of MPIC, his commitment to supporting Caritas Manila and his exceptional leadership have set him apart, showcasing his dedication to making a positive impact in our community.

In his acceptance speech,  Pangilinan expressed gratitude for the recognition, emphasizing the collective effort of the Caritas Manila community and the committed individuals within the MPIC Group’s foundations. He stated, “This award acknowledges not just our personal work but endorses the collective contribution carried out by the Caritas Manila community, as well as the committed individuals behind them–such as the dedicated individuals in our group’s foundations.”

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Within the corporate social responsibility consortium alliance of foundations and companies under the leadership of Manuel V. Pangilinan, several impactful initiatives attest to their commitment to community welfare.

The CSR alliance forged by Metro Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF), One Meralco Foundation (OMF), Alagang Kapatid Foundation Inc (AKFI), PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), and Maynilad collaborates on various initiatives.

Maynilad wins eight Philippine Quill Awards

Maynilad president and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez (15th from left) pose with company employees at the 20th Philippine Quill Awards.

West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. bagged three Excellence and five Merit Awards at the 20th Philippine Quill Awards, held recently at the Marriot Grand Ballroom in Pasay City.

Excellence Awards were given to Maynilad’s “NEW WATER Program” or its initial foray into water reuse for drinking (Marketing, Advertising and Brand Communication category), the “Ceremonial Launch of Maynilad’s NEW WATER” (Media Relations category), and the company’s management of a pipe breakage incident at Pureza (Issues Management and Crisis Communication category).

Maynilad also brought home accolades for its Sobriedad Pipe Realignment Information Campaign (Issues Management and Crisis Communication category); “Mayni-LAD to the rescue!” Wastewater Video Episode 5, and “Sagot ni Kuya Dong: Maynilad NEW WATER

Facebook Videos” (Communication Skills/ Audio Visual); and “Alab CXRO Mid-year Rally 2022” (Employee Engagement category, and Communication Skills/ Special and Experiential Events).

“We are humbled and grateful for this acknowledgement of the effectiveness of our various communications initiatives. It will certainly serve as inspiration for us to continue implementing effective communications tools and programs that engage and benefit our valued stakeholders,” said Maynilad Corporate Affairs and Communication head Marie Antonette  De Ocampo.

BDO Foundation completes rehab of  healthcare facilities 

The newly rehabilitated rural health units (RHUs) in the municipalities of Sagñay, Camarines Sur, and Trinidad, Bohol, have recently been turned over by BDO Foundation (BDOF) and are expected to expand accessibility to the medical needs of affected communities.

With these initiatives completed, nearly 40 barangays and over 70,000 people will access primary and maternal care, including consultation, laboratory and dental services, family planning, immunization, pre- and post-natal services, and tuberculosis treatment.

According to the BDO Foundation, the rehabilitation efforts on the RHUs focused on refurbishing and upgrading the facilities and waiting areas, play areas for kids, offices, clinics, consultations rooms, and treatment rooms. These improvements seek to elevate the standard of healthcare delivery and positively impact the lives of individuals relying on RHUs for medical assistance.

To date, the BDO Foundation has already rehabilitated160 RHUs since it started to improve healthcare facilities and access in different communities of the country in 2012.

Home Credit marks 10th anniversary 

Home Credit Philippines (HCPH), in celebration of its 10th anniversary, has recently hosted festive events for its 14,000-strong employees.

For the first time in the leading consumer finance company’s history, nationwide celebrations in various resorts and convention centers were organized for its employees, their families, and friends.

To ensure maximum enjoyment, over 6,700 employees from Metro Manila and nearby provinces were treated to a magical day at the Enchanted Kingdom. The rest of the employees from HCPH’s 30 local offices from 12 regions celebrated in nearby resorts and convention centers to enjoy various outdoor and water activities.

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The Home Credit family has grown significantly since our first year of operation here in the Philippines.

It started with 158 employees and have now reached an impressive number of 14,000 in just 10 years.

Bayad powers bills payment of GoTyme

Bayad, the pioneer brand in the outsourced payment collection system in the Philippines, officially sealed its partnership with GoTyme Bank, one of the country’s fastest growing digital banks.

GoTyme Bank is a joint venture between the Gokongwei group of companies and the multicountry digital banking group Tyme. This time, through its partnership with Bayad, GoTyme App enables bills payment services covering household utilities, tollway RFID load, e-loading, telco, internet, government contributions, and many others.

Tailor-made for the increasingly e-payment savvy Filipino market, GoTyme App provides the convenience of one-stop-digital-shopping experience.

Once customers open a GoTyme Bank account, they can also avail of a free GoTyme Bank Visa debit card in kiosks that are located within the retail footprint of the Robinsons group such as Robinsons Supermarket, The Marketplace, Robinsons Department Store and more across the country.

These GoTyme Bank Visa cards can be used for over-the-counter payments such as shopping and cash withdrawals.

With GoTyme Bank, customers can take advantage by having access to a variety of biller brands powered by Bayad. GoTyme and Bayad App users are also able to transfer funds with each other.

Palawan Group-PVB partnership 

Palawan Group of Companies and the Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) have sealed a partnership where both PVB depositors, Palawan Group of Companies sukis, and other BancNet ATM cardholders gain expanded access to cash withdrawal services using BancNet ATM cards initially at over 300 company-owned Palawan Pawnshop – Palawan Express Pera Padala branches, ensuring swift access to funds for a wide range of financial transactions.

PVB depositors can conveniently utilize the extensive network, strategically located near residential areas, and have the flexibility to visit Palawan branches during holidays and weekends, enhancing accessibility for their convenience.

This will enable ATM cardholders to do cash withdrawals from Palawan Pawnshop – Palawan Express Pera Padala branches with the use of Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals, commonly used for payroll and regular cash withdrawals, pension and 4Ps payouts. Both companies have plans to further increase the number of branches with POS terminals in the future.

Support to animal shelters

Pilmico’s dog food brand “Woofy” joined Kuna Foundation during the “Forever Home” animal adoption drive last January 20 to 21 at Ayala Malls Marikina.

Pilmico and Gold Coin is committed to nourishing the lives of people and animals. Through its pet food brands “Maxime” and “Woofy,” the company demonstrates its dedication to fostering the well-being of pets.

“Woofy” dog food supported the “Forever Home” animal adoption drive at Ayala Malls Marikina. This event aims to help Kuna Foundation animal shelters find homes for their pets in need.

This served as an avenue for Pilmico to partner with like-minded organizations that uphold the same values, particularly animal welfare.

During the event, adoptees received free pet food from “Woofy,” helping them achieve their first step to better nutrition.

Representatives from the pet food team of Gold Coin Malaysia, headed by Pet Food Marketing Manager Wei Li Chuor (rightmost), delivered 208 bags of “Woofy” dog food to an animal shelter in Ipoh, Malaysia.

Marko Valencia, the Marketing Supervisor for Pilmico Pet Food, expressed his enthusiasm about the initiatives. “Pilmico’s support for initiatives like ‘Forever Home’ and ‘Project Hero’ reflects our commitment to creating a meaningful impact on the lives of animals. Through events like these, we hope more people, especially those who aspire to own pets, are encouraged to adopt and provide these animals with a new and loving home,” said Valencia.

Education forum

The Business Forum of the International Day of Education 2024 (IDE 2024) Forum and Side Events, brought together leaders from businesses, foundations, and other private organizations committed to education advocacy to explore innovative ways to improve outcomes in early grade learning (EGL) in the Philippines and discuss the private sector’s role in addressing gaps in EGL.

Organized by the Department of Education in partnership with USAID through the ABC+ (Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines) project and The Asia Foundation, the Business Forum highlighted the importance of investing knowledge and resources in early-grade education.

The forum commenced with DepEd Assistant Secretary  Alma Ruby Torio providing insights into DepEd’s perspective on the indispensable collaboration between public and private sectors in early grade learning. She noted that the winning combination is a strong partnership between the Department of Education and other partner government agencies, development partners, communities, NGOs, and all private sector and businesses joining forces to support early grade learning initiatives as one team. “

This was followed by a keynote message from Tony Lambino, president of the Ayala Foundation, who underscored the importance and urgency of partnerships that support the DepEd priorities because “our national development story must be marked by a graduation to upper middle-income status to maximize our demographic dividend and education is critical to its realization.”

A subsequent panel discussion delved into forging impactful collaborations between the public and private sectors for early-grade learning.

Philex CBA signed

(Philex Mining Corp., one of the oldest and largest copper and gold producer in Southeast Asia, recently signed a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for salary increase with its Philex Mines Supervisory Employees Union (PMSEU) of its Padcal mine, in simple ceremonies at the Baguio Country Club. On hand to sign the CBA are (from left) Ricardo S. Dolipas II, Philex VP; Eulalio B. Austin Jr., Philex president and CEO; Dominador C. Sotelo, PMSEU president; and Alex PCardinez, PMSEU VP.

Globe’s innovations head wins award

In recognition of professional excellence, Gerhard Tan, senior director and head of Technology Strategy and Innovations at Globe, has been distinguished with two prestigious awards in the field of engineering.

Tan won the 2023 Professional Regulatory Commission’s Outstanding Professional of the Year Award in Electronics Engineering (ECE), and the 2023 Honorary Fellow Award from the Asean Federation of Engineering Organisations .

The PRC Award acknowledges Tan’s exceptional proficiency and leadership in ECE. It is a nod to his innovative work, particularly for pushing early adoption of new technologies in Globe in the areas of 5G, design and implementation of innovative network solutions that addresses localized pain points, and helping the professional organization achieve its goals and aspirations through community extension works.

The 2023 Honorary Fellow Award, which Tan received at the 41st Conference of the Asean Federation of Engineering Organisations (CAFEO 41) in Bali, Indonesia, celebrates his extraordinary service to the engineering profession and his significant contributions to the Asean community.

A graduate of the University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao with a Bachelor’s degree in ECE, Tan also holds a Master of Science degree in ECE from the PUP

Top employer 

Boehringer Ingelheim has been awarded “Global Top Employer” for the fourth year in a row, and one of the 17 globally certified companies by the Top Employers Institute.

This recognition has extended across the Asean, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand (ASKAN) region. The 2024 certification reflects the impact of the organization’s comprehensive learning and development opportunities.

Boehringer Ingelheim received particularly high scores in the categories “Develop” and “Steer”, highlighting a link between individual development and the company’s purpose of transforming lives for generations.

“We understand that our people are vital to our commitment to improve the health of humans and animals in the Philippines. As such, it is crucial we future-proof our employees with the right skills and career development opportunities while ensuring that their contributions are celebrated,” said Clare Burrows, general manager and Head of Human Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim (Philippines).

PAGEONE claims 3rd AOY plum from the PH Quill Awards 

Outperforming other public relations firms, PAGEONE Group clinched the coveted Agency of the Year  (AOY) Award at the 20th Philippine Quill Awards of the International Association of Business Communicators – Philippines.

This is the agency’s third consecutive AOY recognition from the Philippine Quill Awards.

The agency, along with its roster of clients, brought home a total of 28 trophies – 15 Awards of Merit and 13 Awards of Excellence. It even earned a top award finalist citation in the Communication Skills category.  One of its clients, SM Foundation, was also declared 2nd runner up in the hotly contested Company of the Year after it won several awards of merit and excellence.

The Philippine Quill Awards also recognized the best campaigns of the agency clients namely, Nestlé Philippines, GSK Philippines, STI Education Services Group, Inc., SM Foundation and energy firm, Raslag Corporation.

“We are both humbled and honored to receive these awards. Not only do they affirm our commitment to excellence but also continue to validate the genius of the men and women of PAGEONE Group. We share our AOY award to our clients, partners and supporters for their continued trust and confidence in our agency in helping them deliver business results,”  said Vonj Tingson, PAGEONE president.

For his part, Dr. Ron Jabal,  APR, PAGEONE Group CEO and Chair said, “This is truly a great example of excellence recognized and  innovation celebrated. Winning Agency of the Year is not just an achievement; it’s a testament to our team’s unwavering commitment, tireless creativity, and the collective spirit that propels everyone in the Group beyond boundaries. This recognition is proof of the enduring impact of our successful work with our brand partners”.

Transformative partnership

Foundever, a global leader in the CX industry, has inked a partnership with Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) to provide growth opportunities for Filipino youth. Pictured are representatives from Foundever and PBEd during the MOA signing held at the Foundever hub in Technopoint, Ortigas.

Foundeverâ„¢ Bats for Youth Education and Empowerment

MANILA — Foundeverâ„¢, a global leader in the customer experience (CX) industry, has partnered with the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) under its commitment to provide opportunities for the youth through education and empowerment.

The partnership will enable PBEd to work with Foundever, specifically the company’s Language Academy program, which will provide specialized skills training for youth taking on digital and customer service roles in the organization.

This collaboration will enhance PBEd’s programs and create meaningful opportunities for students to gain practical insights and experiences that align with industry needs.

NCC Group launches new office in PH

Global cyber security expert, NCC Group, has announced the launch of its office in Manila, with plans to develop local tech talent and nurture a community of future cyber leaders in the region as it continues to enhance global cyber capability for clients.

The Group formally opened its new office at the Seven/NEO building in the Bonifacio Global City  on January 17 .

Established in 1999, NCC Group has become a global leader in cyber security, trusted by the world’s leading businesses and governments to protect them from cyber threats.

Manila is NCC Group’s second office location in Southeast Asia and builds on the Group’s strategy of developing its capability to deliver quality, world-class services at scale, be more competitive in the market and continue to deliver cutting edge services to protect clients.