by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 15, 2022 | Advocacy
Leading digital solutions platform Globe and SM Advantage Card (SMAC), the loyalty card of retail giant SM, have come together to help put meals on the table of those in need through the Hapag Movement, Globe’s technology-driven program against involuntary hunger.
With every purchase of a SMAC card and every checkout, shoppers can now help support a family in need.
“We are excited to partner with SMAC at the most joyful time of the year so we can bring cheer to our fellow Filipinos who continue to suffer due to involuntary hunger. Now, it’s easier for shoppers to share their blessings with the needy, bring food to the table, and get assistance for decent livelihood as we mark this Christmas season post-pandemic,” said Globe Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer Yoly Crisanto.
“Our collaboration with Globe for the Hapag Movement is a pioneering partnership for us as it aligns with the SM brand’s goal of providing support to Filipinos in every way we can. This is the time for us to rally behind this cause to help those who continue to reel from the impact of the pandemic and challenges due to rising living costs. Ibalik natin ang sarap ng Pasko,” said Jay Beltran, SMAC SAVP Head of Sales and Marketing.
Through the partnership, P50.00 will be donated to the Hapag Movement and other SM Foundation programs for every purchase of a new SMAC card.
On top of this, SMAC members who purchase select items at the SM Store, SM Beauty, SM Appliance, Kultura, Surplus, Our Home, Baby Company, Crate and Barrel, Levi’s, The Body Shop, Forever21, Ecco, and Miniso will earn up to 1,000 EXTRA SMAC Points, and half of the EXTRA points they earn will be donated to the movement starting December 15, 2022, until January 15, 2023, in time for this season of giving.
“We celebrate the season of giving with our SMAC members with the gift of giving— letting them share blessings with our most vulnerable kababayans,” Beltran said.
Globe’s Hapag Movement leverages technology and collaboration to help 100,000 families experiencing involuntary hunger through supplemental feeding and livelihood support.
Globe initiated the program to help Filipinos severely affected by the pandemic, with its effects still felt today. An estimated 2.9 million individuals reported suffering from involuntary hunger as of October this year, largely unchanged from the quarter before, according to a Social Weather Stations Survey.
To learn more about the Hapag Movement, visit its official page. You may also visit SMAC.PH or download the SMAC app to know more.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Nov 4, 2022 | Advocacy
Illiteracy is a key issue that hampers an individual’s ability to function in society. It limits employment opportunities and perpetuates the cycle of poverty. In the Philippines, pockets of illiteracy remain despite having a basic literacy rate of more than 95%.
Recognizing the crucial role literacy plays in uplifting lives, Globe has partnered with NABU, a reading app and mother tongue publishing platform that makes literacy accessible to children globally. Based in New York, NABU is a nonprofit organization focused on eradicating poverty through increased literacy.
The partnership is in line with Globe’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including UN SDG No. 4 on the provision of quality education, and UN SDG No. 17, which highlights the value of partnerships in achieving sustainable development goals.
“Globe is always looking for ways to empower Filipinos. We believe that literacy is a fundamental right that should be accessible to everyone. This partnership with NABU will help us make reading more accessible to Filipinos, so they can learn, appreciate local culture, and reach their full potential,” said Yoly Crisanto, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer of the Globe Group.
“We are excited to be partnering with Globe on this project. This is the first time that we are venturing into the Philippine market. We are confident that this partnership will help us solve the imbalance in children’s book creation and distribution,” said Tanyella Evans, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Creator of NABU.
According to a joint report released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the World Bank titled “Where are we on Education Recovery?” the Philippines is currently experiencing “learning poverty” where an estimated 70% of 10-year-olds in low and middle-income countries are unable to read or comprehend a simple story.
Their findings also showed how learning has become further exacerbated by the global pandemic, driven by the disruption to in-person schooling.
Through this partnership, Globe will serve as a distribution unit for NABU’s e-books throughout the Philippines to complement students’ learning. Anyone can access the Nabu.org mobile app for free.
Together, the two organizations are bringing more than a hundred Filipino books, with some translated into regional languages such as Hiligaynon, Bicolano, Ilokano, Cebuano, and Maranao. NABU believes that helping children read in their local language first allows their confidence to grow. Having culturally represented, original, and relatable stories in the bilingual text increase the child’s motivation to read.
Over the next two years, Globe and NABU will seek to expand the platform’s reach by partnering with schools and learning facilities. NABU is also excited to hone the skills of Filipino creatives such as writers and illustrators to continue telling and creating more stories that reach a wider audience.
The NABU: Multilingual Kids Books app may be downloaded for free on Google Play Store and App Store. For further details, visit https://www.nabu.org/read/ or https://www.nabu.org/tl/philippines.
Globe has always been a strong advocate of reading and comprehension. It has the Globe eLibrary mobile app and website, which contain hundreds of English classic titles, age-appropriate storybooks, eLearning videos, and other resource materials that can be viewed online or downloaded for later use.
To learn more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 29, 2022 | Advocacy
To help the Filipinos devastated by the torrential rains and fierce winds brought about by Typhoon Karding across Central, Northern, and Southern Luzon, Shopee launches its Shopee Bayanihan: Typhoon Karding Support initiative wherein users can buy donation vouchers from Shopee’s partner charities on the app. This initiative is part of Shopee Bayanihan, the company’s umbrella CSR arm that seeks to provide support for communities in need through partnerships with various humanitarian organizations.
From September 28, 2022, to October 9, 2022, Shopee users can purchase the donation e-vouchers that will be used for water kits, health, and sanitation stations, and other essentials such as food and clothes from partner charities GMA Kapuso Foundation, UNICEF, Habitat for Humanity, and Waves for Water. Users can view Typhoon Karding Support vouchers through https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-bayanihan and purchase them via Shopee’s integrated mobile wallet, ShopeePay.
Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “We are incredibly saddened by the immense devastation that Typhoon Karding has brought to our fellow Filipinos across Central, Northern, and Southern Luzon. Shopee remains committed to using our platform and resources to benefit the local communities we operate in. Through this initiative, we hope to support our kababayans in times of need.”
To donate to those affected by Typhoon Karding, users may:
- Head to the microsite https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-bayanihan.
- Choose the e-voucher of your preferred charity.
- Click “Buy Now” to purchase the donation vouchers using ShopeePay.
Typhoon Karding is the 11th tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this 2022 affecting major areas in Central, Northern, and Southern Luzon such as Quezon, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and more. With Shopee Bayanihan, Shopee is committed to making e-commerce accessible for everyone by helping communities benefit from the power of digital transformation wherever they are in the Philippines.
To know more about Shopee Bayanihan: Typhoon Karding Support, visit https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-bayanihan.
About Shopee
Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee promotes an inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem by enabling businesses to digitalize and grow their online presence, helping more people access and benefit from digital services and uplifting local communities.
Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping homegrown brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.
Shopee is part of Sea Limited (NYSE: SE), a leading global consumer internet company. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology through its three core businesses: Shopee, Garena, and SeaMoney.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 2, 2022 | Advocacy
Doing beauty differently is what Avon has been advocating for 135 years. This year, the #1 direct-selling beauty brand strengthens this movement during this year’s Pride Month, which annually celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community, alongside their stories and experiences.
Avon Philippines, in partnership with comic artist Hulyen (@hulyen), produced a three-part comic series that illustrates Beauty for All, Avon’s advocacy that puts the spotlight on democratic beauty not just for women, but for everyone – regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or expression.
“I think everyone deserves to celebrate their own version of beauty especially if it makes them feel good about themselves,” shares Hulyen. “It’s really great that a major beauty brand like Avon is rallying behind this advocacy because it encourages you to be yourself and celebrate what makes you you.”
Each strip depicts issues faced by the LGBTQIA+ community. The comics were distributed to hundreds of thousands of Avon representatives in more than 190 branches across the Philippines, encouraging them to learn more and understand better the LGBTQIA+ community.
SOGIE 101
In this scene, an individual struggles to remember the various labels in the queer spectrum. A friend reassures her that it’s important to be open about learning new things.
It also provides context that Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (or SOGIE, for short) go beyond just the girl, boy, bakla, and tomboy that most Filipinos are more familiar with.
Marla
Another comic depicts a queer person who “magically” transforms into her true self when she’s with her friends. This has become a common experience with LGBTQIA+ individuals all over the world. According to Stonewall, only 46 to 47% of queer-identifying individuals feel open and confident to share their sexual orientation or gender identity with their families. Likewise, allies of the community should help create safe spaces where queer individuals can open up and express their true selves.
Beauty for All
The last comic visualizes Avon’s commitment when it comes to promoting Beauty for All. It depicts an Avon representative who managed to provide quality beauty and self-care products for her customers, allowing them to truly enjoy their version of beauty no matter what their SOGIE.
“I have learned so much about Pride and how times are changing. It’s something new to me, but we have family and friends who are LGBTQIA+. Understanding them is a great way to show how much we respect them, and through these, I understand them even more,” Avon Representative Jennifer Limyu shares after reading the comics about the LGBTQIA+ community.
Max Closa, Avon Philippines’ Business Development Manager, welcomes Avon’s efforts to rally behind its employees in causes that involve them. “I’m so proud and thankful to be a part of a company that supports the LGBTQIA+ community. The changes might be gradual but it’s already a huge step for us,” Closa shares.
Miss Trans World 2020 Mela Habijan
In line with the advocacy, Avon Philippines also recently held a SOGIE Sensitivity Seminar for Associates at their main office. Miss Trans World 2020 Mela Habijan spoke at the event where she discussed SOGIE, the different issues the community is facing, and how one can be a better ally. The trans beauty queen, host, and actress also made a SOGIE explainer video.
To further extend its efforts in inclusivity, Avon Philippines also supported members of Manila’s Drag community with various products like the Limitless collection (the first gender-free intimate apparel in the country). The company also reached out to the Home for the Golden Gays, which provides support and care facilities for elderly LGBTQIA+ people.
“Avon continues with its commitment to creating a better world for everyone. With Avon, everyone can be brave, brazen, and beautiful all at the same time because Beauty is for All — and that is how it should be in the years to come,” Avon PR and Communications Lead Marion Limlengco says.
Visit www.avon.ph or like and check out Avon Philippines on Facebook and Instagram.
About Avon
Avon has been doing beauty differently for 135 years. Avon is a company that connects people, using the power of beauty to transform lives for the better. Millions of independent sales Representatives across the world sell iconic Avon brands through their social networks, building their own beauty businesses on a full- or part-time basis. Avon stands for gender equality, and we believe in listening to women’s needs, speaking out about issues that matter, and creating positive change. Through Avon and the Avon Foundation, we’ve donated over $1.1billion, with a focus on tackling gender violence and breast cancer. Avon is part of the Natura & Co Group. Learn more at www.avonworldwide.com.
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by Penny Angeles-Tan | Mar 10, 2022 | Advocacy
Leading building solutions provider Holcim Philippines, Inc., continues to make progress in helping the country sustainably manage wastes through unit Geocycle.
In 2021, Holcim Philippines’s waste management unit, Geocycle, converted almost 200,000 tons of biomass and industrial and municipal wastes into alternative fuels and raw materials for cement production through co-processing, a significant increase from the previous year. The addition of 11 local government partners in 2021 from three in 2020 was the driver in the improvement in the co-processing of qualified municipal solid wastes.
Geocycle also ramped up efforts to raise public awareness about waste management and co-processing through webinars, broadcast interviews, and social media campaigns. It opened 2022 with a webinar for Zero Waste Month on January 19 featuring Senator Cynthia Villar, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change and one of the primary sponsors of an extended producer responsibility bill to address the plastic waste challenge in the country. Atty. Joseph Roco Fabul, Country Manager for Corporate and Government Affairs of leading snacks maker Mondelez Philippines, discussed how the extended producer responsibility is aligned with the company’s sustainability journey as it steps up waste reduction initiatives related to its manufacturing and post-consumer waste. This is part of Mondelez Philippines’ sustainability strategy which includes sourcing of ingredients, looking at the environmental impact of its operations, packaging innovation, and creating positive social impact. Michikazu Kojima from the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia gave a snapshot of how the region is handling expanded producer responsibility and the journey Japan took since 1995.
Geocycle also partnered with Calapan City, Department of Education, and Oriental Mindoro’s Federation of Parents-Teachers Association, to increase awareness and active involvement of students, educational groups, and families in eco-friendly practices and sustainable waste management as part of its Zero Waste Month activities. The project called “Makiisa, Makisama at Makibaka: Basura ay Ating Solusyunan Upang Kalikasan ay Mas Mapag-ingatan”, was launched through webinars on January 26 and 27. The event drew over 1,300 participants from Calapan.
Holcim Philippines President and CEO Horia Adrian: “Aside from our innovative building solutions, we are proud to help build progress in the country by helping partners in managing their wastes sustainably through our Geocycle and co-processing operations. We made huge strides in this area in 2021 and we are determined to build on these further this year to help in making a Zero Waste Philippines a reality.”
In September 2021, the Company completed storage and processing facilities at its Bulacan plant to increase usage of alternative fuels and raw materials in cement production through its waste management arm Geocycle.
Using alternative fuels and raw materials in producing cement is a key focus of Holcim Philippines to lower the carbon footprint and consumption of non-renewable resources in its operations. This is aligned with the goals of the global building materials leader Holcim Group to further make operations sustainable.
Holcim Philippines is a pioneer in using qualified wastes such as non-recyclable plastics and biomass as alternative fuels in cement manufacturing through co-processing technology since 2003. Qualified waste materials are pre-processed for conversion into alternative fuel and raw materials suitable for co-processing in cement kilns. During co-processing, the mineral value inherent in the waste is recycled, while the energy value is recovered. The technology is recognized globally and is approved by the Philippine authorities due to its proven environmental advantages and safety performance.
About Holcim Philippines
Holcim Philippines, Inc. (Philippine Stock Exchange: HLCM) is one of the leading building solution companies in the country. The Company has a deep portfolio of innovative solutions fostered by a full range of products from structuring to finishing applications that can help local builders execute with high performance and efficiency a wide range of projects from massive infrastructure to simple home repairs.
With cement manufacturing facilities in La Union, Bulacan, Batangas, Misamis Oriental, and Davao, as well as aggregates and dry mix business and technical support facilities for building solutions, Holcim Philippines is a reliable partner of builders in the country.
Holcim Philippines is also committed to the highest standards of sustainable operations and manufacturing excellence with its plants certified under ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management System), ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management System), and OHSAS 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System).
Holcim Philippines is a member of the Holcim Group, the world leader in the building materials industry present in 70 countries with over 70,000 employees.
About Holcim
Holcim builds progress for people and the planet. As a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions, Holcim is enabling greener cities, smarter infrastructure, and improving living standards around the world. With sustainability at the core of its strategy, Holcim is becoming a net-zero company, with its people and communities at the heart of its success. The company is driving the circular economy as a world leader in recycling to build more with less.
Holcim is the company behind some of the world’s most trusted brands in the building sector including ACC, Aggregate Industries, Ambuja Cement, Disensa, Firestone Building Products, Geocycle, Holcim, and Lafarge. Holcim is 70,000 people around the world who are passionate about building progress for people and the planet through four business segments: Cement, Ready-Mix Concrete, Aggregates, and Solutions & Products.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 10, 2021 | Advocacy
This holiday season, AXA Philippines, one of the leading insurance providers in the country, is giving Filipinos the opportunity to share the joy and protection of having health insurance through its new initiative, Emma Gives Back: Gift of Hope. AXA will donate 200 health insurance policies to Enfants Du Mekong scholars on behalf of those who will sign up for the Emma by AXA app from November 15 to December 15. Enfants Du Mekong is a French charity organization that helps disadvantaged children finish their studies by sponsoring education programs. It has been in the Philippines since 1997, operating facilities in the cities of Tuguegarao, Dumaguete, Cebu, and Butuan with over 3,600 sponsored Filipino scholars.
Existing AXA customers who want to support the scholars just need to download and register on the Emma by AXA app, available via the App Store, Google Play Store, or Huawei App Gallery. Along with the health plans, AXA will also donate holiday gift baskets to the scholars. Emma Gives Back: Gift of Hope is led by the company’s corporate social responsibility arm, AXA Hearts in Action, which is dedicated to making a positive impact on social inclusion, climate change, health, and disease prevention.
Rahul Hora, President, and CEO of AXA Philippines
“We launched this initiative to inspire everyone to embrace the spirit of gift-giving this holiday season, especially to the vulnerable communities. With just a few taps on their smartphone, you can give joy and the gift of health to deserving Enfants Du Mekong scholars during these challenging times,” said Rahul Hora, President and CEO of AXA Philippines.
Aside from being an avenue for social causes, the Emma by AXA app also offers free access to the AXA Rescue Line for 24/7 emergency assistance, including police, fire, ambulance, and roadside assistance. The app feature, which is available to the public, also allows the user to contact their loved ones in cases of emergencies. AXA customers can also easily purchase or monitor their insurance policies online through the app.
Previously, AXA Philippines also launched an Emma by AXA app promo in partnership with Plastic Credit Exchange (PCEx) wherein AXA donated recyclable plastic materials to PCEx for every new customer sign-up, turning over 16 tons of plastic. Aside from that, the leading insurance company also partnered with Communities Organized for Resource Allocation (CORA) for the “Adopt a Mangrove Seedling” in-app promo wherein AXA planted mangrove seedlings on the customers’ behalf to help the environment.
AXA also implemented more socially responsible initiatives, such as the office-wide launch of paperless communications in 2020 wherein tons of paper will be saved every year since all transactions with customers are now sent electronically. Notifications are also sent via the Emma by AXA app or accessed via the Emma by AXA website.
For more information, visit https://www.axa.com.ph/emma.
The NABU: Multilingual Kids Books app may be downloaded for free on Google Play Store and App Store. For further details, visit 
In this scene, an individual struggles to remember the various labels in the queer spectrum. A friend reassures her that it’s important to be open about learning new things.
Holcim Philippines, Inc. (Philippine Stock Exchange: HLCM) is one of the leading building solution companies in the country. The Company has a deep portfolio of innovative solutions fostered by a full range of products from structuring to finishing applications that can help local builders execute with high performance and efficiency a wide range of projects from massive infrastructure to simple home repairs.
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