Author: Sharon Mutuc

#BrigadangAyalaKaakay: Eric Francia, President & CEO of Ayala’s listed renewable energy platform ACEN, visited #BrigadangAyalaKaakay beneficiaries in Rolling Hills, Payatas.

MANILA – Raquel Catena was still mourning her husband’s death when Metro Manila was placed under strict lockdown.

“Wala po akong mahanap na trabaho dahil maraming negosyo ang nagsara,” the widow said. “Double pasakit sa pamilya namin dahil kamamatay lang ng asawa ko, tapos nag-lockdown naman.”

Giving up was not an option for Catena, a mother of two. Inspired by her neighbors, she oiled her sewing machine and started making rags out of surplus garments from Taytay, Rizal.

“Twenty five years na po akong nakatira dito sa Rolling Hills sa Payatas. Noong hindi pa gumuguho ‘yong tambakan, marami talaga dito ang nangangalakal ng basura,” she recalled. “Ngayon po, pagtatahi naman ng basahan ang aming pinagkakakitaan.”

On a good week, the single mom makes P700 from sewing rags. This, in addition to the pension she receives from SSS, is what she uses to keep her children in school.  

“Magic po na napagkakasya namin iyong kita. Dalawa po ang anak ko, at parehong nag-aaral pa,” she proudly noted. “Malaking bagay po talaga para sa amin iyong natatanggap naming tulong na bigas, gulay, tinapay, at gulay mula sa Ayala.”

#BrigadangAyalaKaakay

Eric Francia, President & CEO of Ayala’s listed renewable energy platform ACEN, visited Catena and other #BrigadangAyalaKaakay beneficiaries in Rolling Hills, Payatas on Monday.

Kaakay is a 12-week food distribution program that provides rice, fresh vegetables, canned goods, and bread to 10,000 families across Metro Manila.      

“The stories of our beneficiaries affirm our decision to launch Kaakay and target those who lost their livelihood because of the pandemic. A lot of our beneficiaries here in Payatas earn less than P200 a day, and some of them must stretch that amount to cover the needs of a family of four. I am inspired by their resourcefulness and creativity, making use of available resources in the area to earn a little extra,” Francia said.

ACEN, in its solar plant in Alaminos, Laguna, runs a sustainability hub that upcycles solar panel packaging materials into eco-bricks. Aligned with Ayala’s commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, ACEN plans to expand this program by forging partnerships with local communities through garbage segregation and setting up collection points in sari-sari stores, groceries, and wet markets.

Albeit on a much smaller scale, Kaakay beneficiary Leonora Francisco is also promoting upcycling within the Rolling Hills community. In a community that is mostly occupied by informal settlers, 50-year-old Francisco said responsible waste management is crucial. 

“Sabihin mo nang iskwater kami rito dahil hindi naman sa amin itong lupa,” she said. “Pero hindi naman ibig sabihin noon na dapat pabayaan namin ang paligid. Katulad ko, 35 years na ako rito, parang may obligasyon din akong panatilihing maayos ang paligid.”

“Dati po akong nangangalakal sa tambakan ng basura, kaya alam kong may pera sa basura,” Francisco added. “Sa upcycling or recycling, malinis na ang paligid, may konting kita ka pa. Hindi na rin masama, ‘di ba?”  

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For more information:

YLA ALCANTARA
Head, Brand and Reputation Management
Ayala Corporation
e-mail – publicaffairs@ayala.com

CEL AMORES
Head, Corporate Communications
Ayala Foundation
e-mail – amores.cr@ayalafoundation.org

MANILA — Everyday, for the last 15 years, Nerissa Punzalan would ply the busy streets of Makati to sell kakanin, palabok, and the ubiquitous banana cue. Despite her meager earnings, Punzalan took pride in what she does for a living. It’s what kept her family from losing everything during the most challenging years of their lives.

“Eto pong pagtitinda ko ang talagang bumuhay sa amin ngayong pandemic,” she said. “Masaya po ako na nakapag-provide ako para sa pamilya ko. Kahit papano, naitawid namin.”

Prior to the pandemic, selling merienda used to be a mere side job for Punzalan. But her husband, a carpenter, lost his job when construction activities halted during the nationwide lockdown in 2020.

“Bilang asawa, hindi naman po ako puwedeng magreklamo na nawalan ng trabaho ang mister ko. Kaya nga kami magkatuwang sa buhay, ‘di ba? So noong wala siyang hanapbuhay, ako ang dumiskarte para sa pamilya,” she said.

One of Punzalan’s regular customers is 61-year-old Lydia Abalos, a mother of five and wife of a jeepney driver who also lost his job during the lockdown. To provide for her family, Abalos meanwhile dusted off her old kawa and began selling lutong ulam to her neighbors.

“Diskarte po talaga ang importante para makaraos tayo,” Abalos said. “Kung ano ‘yong skills mo–parang ako, marunong akong magluto–iyon ang gamitin mo para makatulong sa pamilya mo. Samahan mo na rin ng tiwala sa Diyos. Araw-araw akong nagro-rosary.”

#BrigadangAyalaKaakay

On Monday, AC Health President and CEO Paolo Borromeo led the #BrigadangAyalaKaakay food distribution at Our Lady of La Paz Parish in Flordeliz, Makati. With him were Generika Drugstore President & CEO Yet Abarca and QualiMed Health Network President & CEO Jimmy Ysmael.

#BrigadangAyalaKaakay provides 12-week’s supply of rice, fresh vegetables, canned goods, and bread to 10,000 families across Metro Manila.      

“AC Health is delighted to support #BrigadangAyalaKaakay, which targets those who lost their jobs and sources of income during the pandemic. We are inspired by the stories of resilience we heard from our beneficiaries today. We are very happy that we were able to augment their needs through this program,” Borromeo said.

Punzalan, a beneficiary of Kaakay, said the weekly food supply enabled her to save up and buy time as her husband was looking for a job. “Ngayon kasi, nagbubukas na uli ‘yong mga construction site. Sobrang laking pasasalamat namin sa Kaakay dahil hindi kami nagutom noong mga panahong walang trabaho ang asawa ko,” she said.      

“Masaya po talaga kami dahil parang nabigyan kami ng fresh start,” she added.

Abalos, also a Kaakay beneficiary, meanwhile said senior citizens like herself are thankful for drugstores like Generika, where they can buy affordable yet effective medicines, vitamins, and food supplements. 

“Hindi naman kailangang mahal ang gamot. Ang importante, abot-kaya at mabisa,” she said. “Dahil sa sariwang gulay mula sa Kaakay at sa vitamins ng Generika, malusog kami sa pamilya. At siyempre, nandiyan palagi iyong dasal, kaya walang nagkakasakit.” 

“Sabi ko nga, ‘di ba? Rosary at vitamin C,” she quipped.     

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For more information:

YLA ALCANTARA
Head, Brand and Reputation Management
Ayala Corporation
e-mail – publicaffairs@ayala.com

CEL AMORES
Head, Corporate Communications
Ayala Foundation
e-mail – amores.cr@ayalafoundation.org

MANILA — Amidst the holiday rush, #BrigadangAyala conducts relief operations in areas severely affected by Typhoon Odette.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Typhoon Odette has caused approximately P22 billion in agriculture and infrastructure damage.

With Ayala Foundation at the helm, #BrigadangAyala rallied business units across the Ayala Group of Companies to deliver food packs in affected areas. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Ayala Foundation distributed much needed aid to at least 2,000 affected families in different towns in Cebu province as well as Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte. In addition, sacks of rice were delivered and distributed to families living in Dinagat Islands and El Nido, Palawan.

While restoring its services in the affected areas, Globe set up libreng tawag, text, and Wi-Fi stations. ACEN also set up charging stations powered by its solar plates in Islasol in Negros Occidental and conducted relief operations in Montesol in Negros Oriental. Ayala Land distributed grocery items to its essential workers as well as affected residents in communities near their Ayala Malls.   

Meanwhile, AC Health’s Generika P1 million worth of medicines and potable water are in transit for Siargao LGU’s distribution. Patsy Zobel donated canvas materials and tents for temporary shelter as well as water filters for families who lost their homes to the typhoon.

#BrigadangAyala will continue its relief distribution in Cebu, Negros Oriental, Surigao del Norte, Siargao, Dinagat Islands, and Palawan. More than 13,000 food packs are expected to be distributed under this collective effort.    

Ayala Foundation’s disaster response efforts fall under #BrigadangAyala, the Ayala group’s unified initiatives in support of communities in need all over the country. #BrigadangAyala, serves as the umbrella campaign for various social development and corporate social responsibility initiatives across the Ayala group of companies—ranging from disaster relief and response, assistance for public education, championing of social enterprises, and public health advocacy, among others. #BrigadangAyala serves as an expression the Ayala group’s commitment for the greater good.

To help move essential goods, Ayala Foundation coordinates with various Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices, and works closely with the Ayala group, as well as various donors and partners. Among those who have partnered with the foundation’s relief efforts are BPI Foundation, Base Bahay Foundation, Globe Telecom, IE Medica/MedEthix, and Kickstart, while the Ayala Business Clubs, Entrego, and Makati Development Corporation are providing support for operations and logistics.

Ayala Foundation has also opened its donation channels for those who wish to contribute to its relief efforts. To access the donation page, visit https://afi.ph/DisasterResilience.

Donations are also accepted through Lazada and GCash, and by donating Globe Rewards Points through the new Globe One App.  

Meanwhile in Metro Manila, #BrigadangAyala has been implementing “Kaakay,” a supplemental food distribution program serving 10,000 families since November 2021. Heads of these families have lost their jobs due to extended lockdowns to arrest the Covid-19 pandemic.  Each #BrigadangAyalaKaakay beneficiary family receives a 12-week supply of rice, fresh vegetables, canned goods, and bread that will cover four square meals for a family of five. The food distribution program will last until February 2022.

About Ayala Foundation

As the social development arm of the Ayala group of companies, Ayala Foundation envisions communities where people are creative, productive, self-reliant, and proud to be Filipino. Ayala Foundation is committed to community development, working closely with communities in identifying compelling developmental needs and providing suitable solutions with measurable outcomes. It implements programs under the following themes: Education, Sustainable Livelihood, and Love of Country.

In 2021, Ayala Foundation celebrates its 60th year, affirming its Faith in the Filipino through partnerships and programs for community development.

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For more information:

YLA ALCANTARA
Head, Brand and Reputation Management
Ayala Corporation
e-mail – alcantara.ypg@ayala.com

CEL AMORES
Head, Corporate Communications
Ayala Foundation
e-mail – amores.cr@ayalafoundation.org

MANILA – San Beda Law graduate Michelle Hatol did not have second thoughts when her father asked her to take on the family business New Isabela Grains Milling, a supplier and advocate of local rice since 1982. Hatol is currently #BrigadangAyalaKaakay’s supplier for its 12-week food distribution program to 10,000 families in Metro Manila.

“Farming is deeply rooted in me since I grew up in Isabela. Bata pa lang ako, nagtitimbang na ako ng palay. Every summer, ang aking vacation is to work with the farmers,” the 36-year-old lawyer said.  Hatol is currently in charge of the company’s sales, marketing, and business development in Manila, while her two brothers oversee their operations in Isabela and Mountain Province. Currently, they have around 200 staff working with over 500 farmers across the region. 

“We were given an opportunity to import rice—a lot of times, actually. But we always declined. Because if we do that, we will no longer be able to help our farmers. Karamihan sa kanila have been with us since 1982,” she added. “Ang priority talaga namin ay local rice.”   

Apart from buying rice directly from the farmers, they also provide holistic support programs, including giving out short-term loans and introducing modern farming techniques.  

“Madalas binabagyo sa Isabela. Minsan inaabot talaga ng Signal No. 5. And lately, because of tree cutting activities, talagang binabaha iyong mga palayan. Unprecedented ‘yong lalim ng baha,” Hatol said.   “Talagang nalulugi ang mga magsasaka. Kailangan, tulong-tulong talaga ang community para makabangon.”    

Hatol eventually recruited her college buddy Sandra Aquino to join the family business. Together, they set up an R&D division that reinvents rice. They’re now producing rice flour, bread, and cookies.  This, according to Hatol, increases the value of rice and helps farmers find an alternative source of income during typhoon season.  

“Ang gusto namin ay umangat ang morale ng mga farmers — kaya nilang lumevel sa mga professional. Kapag kinausap mo sila, hindi nila sasabihin na ‘farmer lang ‘yong tatay ko.’ Gusto ko proud sila because what they do is very essential to our daily lives,” Aquino said.  

#BrigadangAyalaKaakay  

On Monday, BPI President & CEO TG Limcaoco led the distribution of food packs to over 200 families in Navotas.  This is part of the #BrigadangAyalaKaakay food distribution program scheduled weekly from November 2021 to February 2022.  A total of 10,000 heads of families will receive 12-week’s supply of rice, fresh vegetables, canned goods, and bread that will cover four square meals for a family of five.

“Being able to help feed badly affected families in Metro Manila and at the same time, support local food suppliers and farmers from the provinces is truly a blessing,” said Limcaoco.  “At BPI, we look forward to collaborating with the rest of the Ayala group for more meaningful Kaakay projects.”

BPI Foundation, the social development arm of BPI also donated 6 wheelchairs, adult diapers, alcohol, and wipes for 11 abandoned elderlies housed in the compound of Tulay ng Kabataan. 

According to Limcaoco, BPI has always been supportive of the underserved communities, including the farming community. BPI Foundation’s “Farm to Table” program aims to help increase local farmers’ produce through the latest climate-adaptive technologies to uplift and advance the country’s agricultural sector. Since its launch in 2019, the Farm to Table program has already provided positive impact to over 2,600 farming families with around 13,500 members.  

As a rice supplier for Kaakay, Hatol said they now buy over 12,000 sacks of palay from Isabela farmers. “We accept even ‘yong mga naka-motor, naka-tricycle, naka-kuliglig lang na pumupunta sa amin para ibenta ‘yong mga palay nila. Tinatanggap namin kahit 5 or 10 sacks lang. We don’t discriminate,” she said. 

“Kaakay has not only helped the marginalized communities, but also those who are currently working pero hirap pa rin dahil nabawasan ang work week nila. To me, it’s a very good program because it also supports the local farmers by buying local produce. Double whammy ‘yon ‘di ba?” she added.  

#BrigadangAyala serves as the banner under which social development and corporate social responsibility initiatives across the Ayala Group of Companies are implemented. The initiatives covered under #BrigadangAyala range from disaster relief and response, assistance for public education, championing of social enterprises, and public health advocacy, among others.    

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For more information:

YLA ALCANTARA
Head, Brand and Reputation Management
Ayala Corporation
e-mail –publicaffairs@ayala.com

CEL AMORES
Head, Corporate Communications
Ayala Foundation Inc.
e-mail – amores.cr@ayalafoundation.org

MANILA – In the midst of the pandemic, former sales agents Mike Carlos and William Coloma took the plunge and pursued their long-cherished dream—starting their own business.  

Carlos and Coloma, now in their 40s, were armed with four decades of combined experience at Honda Cars Makati, Inc., a business unit under Ayala-led AC Industrials. According to Carlos, it was their frequent visits to farming communities in Benguet, Nueva Ecija, and Bulacan that brought them to a lightbulb moment.  

“Nakita naming maraming gulay ang nasisira. Kapag hindi na kayang kunin ng mga middlemen, natatambak nalang doon at nabubulok. Sayang, dahil marami dito sa Metro Manila ang nagugutom o hindi nakakatikim ng sariwa at masustansiyang pagkain,” Carlos said.

“When we started this business, helping farmers talaga ang advocacy namin. We were never after huge profits. Kapag may konting kita, happy na kami basta makatulong ma-i-ahon ang farmers,” Coloma added.  

Carlos and Coloma source vegetables directly from farmers, eliminating the need for middlemen and enabling them to buy the produce at fair market price. Carlos said most farmers have had problems with middlemen who purchase their produce at a very low price.

“Kinukuha namin ‘yong gulay nila sa tamang presyo, at pinapasa ko sa mga consumers sa presyong tama rin. Para at least, parehong nabibigyan natin ng value ang farmers and consumers,” he added.  

“Ang pangarap namin ni Mike ay maibalik ‘yong dignidad ng farmers. Gusto naming kunin ‘yong mga gulay sa tamang presyo—’yong sapat para mapag-aral ang mga anak, mabigyan ng desenteng tahanan ang pamilya, at ma-secure ang kinabukasan nila,” Coloma added.  

#BrigadangAyalaKaakay

Carlos and Coloma are currently supplying fresh highland and lowland vegetables for #BrigadangAyalaKaakay, a 12-week food distribution program that aims to reach 10,000 families or about 500,000 individuals across Metro Manila. According to the National Economic and Development Authority (website post on Nov 3, 2021), Metro Manila is among the hardest-hit regions in the country due to the extended lockdowns that forced many businesses to close and let go of their employees.   

Each #BrigadangAyalaKaakay beneficiary receives a weekly supply of rice, fresh vegetables, canned goods, and bread that will cover four square meals for a family of five. The food distribution program is scheduled weekly from November 2021 to February 2022.        

“Noong binalita sa amin itong project, talagang overwhelmed kami. Siyempre napalaking honor ang mag-supply para sa Ayala, lalo na sa programang katulad ng Kaakay,” Carlos said.

Carlos, who personally delivers the vegetables to the distribution sites, said he enjoys seeing the reactions of the beneficiaries when they see the fresh produce being offloaded from the vehicles.  As such, in their own way, they try to help out by giving away extra bags of vegetables so Kaakay can give more to the beneficiaries.

“Malaki ang pasasalamat namin sa training namin sa Ayala. Lahat ng values na natutunan namin, na-a-apply namin ngayon sa sarili naming negosyo. ‘Yon bang kapag kumita ka, you also give back sa employees, sa customers, at sa community,” Coloma said.

On Tuesday, Ayala Corporation President & CEO Fernando Zobel de Ayala led #BrigadangAyalaKaakay’s food distribution at Sto. Rosario de Pasig Parish in Pasig City together with Senior Managing Director and Public Affairs Group Head Rene Almendras.

Zobel distributed Noche Buena packs to 600 heads of families, who are part of the 500,000 beneficiaries of Kaakay. “I am delighted to hear the stories of former Ayala colleagues Mike Carlos and William Coloma, and how they are helping farmers who have been struggling to sell their produce at a fair market price,” Zobel said.

“We are happy to be able to help in our own way particularly those who lost their jobs during the pandemic. We thank our partners, suppliers, and beneficiaries for making Kaakay possible,” he added.

#BrigadangAyala serves as the banner under which social development and corporate social responsibility initiatives across the Ayala Group of Companies are implemented. The initiatives covered under #BrigadangAyala range from disaster relief and response, assistance for public education, championing of social enterprises, and public health advocacy, among others.  

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For more information:

YLA ALCANTARA
Head, Brand and Reputation Management
Ayala Corporation
e-mail – alcantara.ypg@ayala.com

CEL AMORES
Head, Corporate Communications
Ayala Foundation Inc.
e-mail – amores.cr@ayalafoundation.org

MANILA – Ayala group’s #BrigadangAyala continues to reach out to vulnerable communities greatly affected by the extended lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic following a similar group-wide effort last July.  

Dubbed Kaakay, the Ayala group kicks off a 12-week food distribution program in select locations across Metro Manila, targeting some 10,000 families. Kaakay comes from the Filipino word akay, which literally means to lead by the hand.    

“I personally find it hard to celebrate the Christmas season knowing we have fellow Filipinos barely able to eat.  None of us can solve the problem by ourselves, but each one in his own small way can help,” said Rene Almendras, Ayala Corporation’s Senior Managing Director and Public Affairs Group Head.    

“We hope to support breadwinners who lost their source of income or who has been on job rotation due to the pandemic. Many of them now have less than P200 pesos a day to survive on, and they are forced to stretch that to support a family of five. These are the people we want to help rebound by being their kaakay,” Almendras added.    

Each #BrigadangAyala Kaakay beneficiary receives a weekly supply of rice, fresh vegetables, canned goods, and bread that will cover four square meals for a family of five. The food distribution is scheduled every week from November 2021 to February 2022, and has a projected reach of at least 500,000 individuals.    

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country’s unemployment rate rose to 8.9 percent—equivalent to 4.25 million Filipinos—in September 2021, the highest since January this year. Meanwhile, 6.18 million out of the 43.59 million employed Filipinos were considered underemployed. Some Filipino employees, who remain under skeleton workforce, are forced to stretch a day’s worth of salary to last for three days. Others settled for day jobs with incomes that are much lower than what they used to make pre-pandemic. These vulnerable groups, Almendras said, are the target beneficiaries of #BrigadangAyala Kaakay.         

#BrigadangAyala Kaakay also runs an inclusive eco-system of on-ground implementing partners like Virlanie Foundation, Caritas Manila, National Council for Social Development, and host barangays, while boosting the recovery and growth of local businesses by sourcing goods from rice farmers in Isabela (covering Regions 2 & 3), and vegetables from Benguet and CAR-based farmers. In addition, the bread included for food packs is produced fresh by a group of urban poor mothers who trained under TESDA’s community-based bread-baking project through Virlanie Foundation, as well as The Bread Project PH, which produces mingo bread, which contains monggo and malunggay.     

“The Ayala Group through Ayala Foundation will provide food for 10,000 families for the next three months to help them get through the present difficulties and hopefully go back to regular working schedules or other means of livelihood thereafter. Working together with our business units and local communities for the good of the country is part of Ayala Foundation’s DNA. This is why #BrigadangAyala Kaakay provides us a wonderful opportunity to assist families through supplemental feeding. We hope that through this program, we are able to help thousands of Filipino families in a practical and meaningful way,” said Ruel Maranan, Ayala Foundation President.    

“Ayala has and will always be the Filipinos’ kaakay for the greater good. We live up to our purpose of improving lives by responsibly responding to the needs of all our stakeholders and make a lasting impact to communities, to our country, and to the environment. That’s Ayala’s core, a promise we strive to fulfill with every project and decision we make. In fact, Kaakay is not just an effort among Ayala’s business units. Even employees are chipping in from their own pockets and volunteering so we can do more and reach more people,” he added.  

#BrigadangAyala serves as the banner under which social development and corporate social responsibility initiatives across the Ayala group of companies is implemented. The initiatives covered under #BrigadangAyala range from disaster relief and response, assistance for public education, championing of social enterprises, and public health advocacy, among others.   

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For more information:

YLA ALCANTARA
Head, Brand and Reputation Management
Ayala Corporation
e-mail – alcantara.ypg@ayala.com

CEL AMORES
Head, Corporate Communications
Ayala Foundation
e-mail – amores.cr@ayalafoundation.org