Mindanao Daily News – BPI Foundation adopts 4 communities to mark its 40th anniversary

BPI Foundation adopts 4 communities to mark its 40th anniversary

Posted 6 months ago May 10, 2018 Business 0

(L-R:) BPI EVP Simon Paterno, BPI EVP Antonio Paner, Msgr. Jose Clemente Ignacio (Vicar General and Moderator Curiae of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila), BPI President Cezar “Bong” Consing, BPI Foundation Executive Director Maricris San Diego, BPI Foundation Associate Director Tessa Calalang, BPI EVP Ramon Jocson, Dr. Bernardo Villegas (UA&P Director of Center for Research and Communications), Daniel Montecillo (International Care Ministries Board Member), and Fred Ayala (CEO of Ayala Education)

Manila, Philippines – BPI Foundation, the social innovation arm of Bank of the Philippine Islands, recently marked its 40th anniversary with the launch of Adopt-a-Community, an initiative that will replicate sustainable solutions from the foundation’s four program pillars - entrepreneurship, education, environment, and employee-volunteerism - in four underserved towns across the country.

“Building on our wealth of experience as the social innovations platform of BPI, we are scaling up our efforts by adopting communities – a first in the 40-year history of the foundation,” said Maricris San Diego. “By strengthening their communal capacity and cultivating their potential, we are getting closer to our vision of a nation of self-reliant and financially healthy communities.”

BPI Foundation will support entrepreneurship promotion in up-and-coming surfing hotspot Gubat, Sorsogon by holding various TESDA-accredited training seminars and mentoring sessions to help preserve culture and propel the thriving ecotourism in the area. It has partnered with Gubatnon Adventourism, an eco-tourism social enterprise, to help implement this.

Its adopted community for its education pillar is Cagayan de Oro, the youth capital of Mindanao, by bringing BPI SHAPE, a program that empowers senior high school students to become more employable. To implement this, it has partnered with youth consultancy social enterprise YGOAL.

Meanwhile, BPI Foundation will adopt Agta/Dumagat-Remontado communities in General Nakar, Quezon and Tanay, Rizal for its environment pillar by assisting them in livelhood projects that will enable them to protect their surrounding forest areas.

Lastly, it will replicate its 5-year BPI BAYAN project in Brgy. Tuburan, EB Magalona, Negros Occidental to Brgy Batea, Bacolod, also in Negros Occidental. It will engage BPI volunteers to work with communities in mangrove reforestation efforts, financial wellness training, and livelihood augmentation opportunities.

Learn more about the programs of BPI Foundation by following its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/BPIFoundation) or visit the official website (www.bpifoundation.org/).

ABOUT BPI FOUNDATION

The story of empowerment is at the center of BPI Foundation’s work. Through our programs in Education, Entrepreneurship, and the Environment, we build the Filipinos’ ability to participate in a dynamic economic landscape. Where there are gaps in knowledge and a lack of access to the right opportunities, we build bridges, ensuring that no one is left out of progress, that quality of life improves, and that everyone is able to meaningfully contribute to the continued development of the country.

In order to create innovative ways of solving development challenges, we take BPI’s experience as the country’s most established financial institution and infuse it with fresh perspectives, collaboration with strategic partners, and a deep understanding of the needs of communities.

By investing in the Filipino today, we make the best happen for the country tomorrow.

Learn more at www.bpifoundation.org.