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Filinvest City is the gold standard in sustainable and future-ready community

People have been forced to reconsider their way of life by recent extreme events, such as pandemics and climate change. The way that real estate firms create properties needs to be reviewed. Living sustainably is now a necessity, assuring a higher standard of living for future generations.

Gold standard in sustainable developments

Forward-looking Filinvest has pioneered in green and sustainable planning for its development projects. Future-proof elements for sustainability were incorporated into the masterplan for its crown jewel, Filinvest City in Alabang, Muntinlupa.

The first and only central business district in the Philippines with LEED-Gold Certification for Neighborhood Development from the United States Green Building Council and a 3-Star rating for the Pilot Version of BERDE Districts (Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence) from the Philippine Green Building Council, every part of the City is designed for people’s health and well-being.

From parks to transportation, every component of the City is convenient, accessible, and refreshing. It is designed to make pedestrian access easy.

The self-sustaining community’s residents have the convenience of lifestyle and essential establishments within easy reach, such as a variety of retail establishments, restaurants and entertainment venues. Police and fire stations, hospitals and other critical facilities, as well as strategically located closed-circuit television (CCTV) and 24/7 security, ensure round-the-clock security and safety. Free Wi-Fi is available for the community in selected areas.

Utilities and facilities support the goal of cost and energy efficiency. The largest District Cooling System in the Philippines saves offices as much as 40 percent in energy costs. The Sewage Treatment Plant recycles water for the greenery. A fully-integrated electric-powered 360 Eco-Loop vehicles are available to residents and visitors.

Festival Mall, a core component of the City, has switched to sustainable power with 2.8 megawatt-peak solar power on its rooftops. The project will save about 41,000 tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to removing around 9,000 cars from Metro Manila’s roads.

Green beyond the Metro South

Developers of Filinvest City are now bringing its trademark best practices in green, sustainable developments to other Filinvest townships, such as the 201-hectare Filinvest Mimosa Plus in Clark, Pampanga; and the 288-hectare Filinvest New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. Both townships are accessible through local expressway networks and an international airport.

Achieve the live-work-play lifestyle at Filinvest Mimosa Plus

Filinvest Mimosa Plus is known for its 128-hectare Mimosa Golf Course, Quest Plus Conference Center and Golfridge Private Estate.

The New Clark City is the future eco-tech hub Filinvest New Clark City, designed to be an eco-friendly, world-class development with scenic mountain views. Opening soon is the Filinvest Innovation Park, a top-notch industrial hub.

Filinvest New Clark City aims to be an eco-tech-ture hub that is eco-friendly, world-class development surrounded by scenic views. Artist’s perspective.

In Cebu City’s prime South Road Properties is City di Mare, which offers views of the sea and mountains. This 58-hectare development, envisioned to be the next premier residential, commercial, and economic center of Cebu, features IL Corso Lifemalls, a redefined lifestyle destination for conventional shopping and specialty dining.

Enjoy alfresco dining by the sea and redefine leisure at IL Corso Lifemalls at City di Mare.

Green investment is the future

Filinvest’s smart and green cities are expected to draw clients who care as much for the future of the planet as for the value of their investment.

With the care put into ensuring people’s health and well-being, and the sustainability of communities, Filinvest development projects are ideal places to live, work and play in.

Additionally, green cities present good investment opportunities. With the cost- and energy-efficient features incorporated into the masterplans, costs will be kept to a minimum even though land values will increase over time.

To explore Filinvest townships, visit filinvestcity.com and filinvest.com

Online entrepreneur and content creator Sharmane Coquilla creatively curating her paper making kits for her online shop So She Gathers (www.soshegathers.carrd.co and soshegathers on Instagram)

In early 2020, when the pandemic hit the nation, hundreds of thousands of internet retailers had trouble sending their goods. Digital entrepreneurs of all sizes were searching for simple and dependable alternatives to continue delivering their orders and running their businesses due to movement constraints and the associated health hazards that come with it.

“I had two main concerns when dispatching internationally while the pandemic was (still is) looming: price and delivery time. As ports threatened to shut down with little to no warning, courier prices rose and shipping time estimates doubled. My shipping fees when I started my shop were very unreasonable where the shipping rates cost more than the products I sell,” tells Sharmane Coquilla, Founder of So She Gathers, an online creative shop with customers in the US and Europe. “Although my handmade papers sold out and I received orders for my paper making kits regardless of the absurdity of the shipping rates, the business model I was building my shop upon was far from sustainable.”

The growing opportunity for underserved internet businesses was identified by total logistics company In-Line Forwarder. As one of Southeast Asia’s Internet economies that is currently experiencing the fastest growth, the Philippines, Inline began developing services specifically for them, including same-day Metro Manila delivery, international shipping, convenient pick-ups, no minimum weight requirements for small items, and even 24/7 customer service hotlines.

“As a leading brand in the logistics and shipping industry for the past 17 years, we deliver to over 200 locations around the world, whether express, postal, or by sea. We are growing fast and continuously innovating,” said Lindee Yu, the Founder of In-Line. “Our operating strategy is flexible and we are upgrading our e-commerce capabilities. It’s a really a concerted effort among all our employees as we take care of our customers.”

Inline Forwarder expands it operations to address the growing e-commerce market by operating multiple hubs across the Philippines: Caloocan, Malabon, Paranaque, Manila, San Fernando, and Cebu

Founded in 2005, In-Line Forwarder started with only one motorcycle and a humble office in Malabon. With exposure in the airline industry, the company was offering only international shipping service to individuals and small businesses back then.

Today, it has grown its fleet to include multiple trucks, 6 operating hubs across the archipelago, and manages a portfolio of big corporate accounts such as Aggreko and a well-known Philippine publisher. It also proudly caters to the thriving community of Amazon and eBay sellers in the country.

The business emphasizes that they are currently starting a project to fully digitize and automate many In-processes. Line’s It will open the In-Line Wholesale Online Store for social merchants in the fourth quarter of 2022, serving both domestic and international clients.

“In-Line was able to offer my customers better shipping rates with a more than acceptable delivery time. Since moving to them, I received more international orders because the product cost to shipping rate ratio became more reasonable. Thankfully, shipping concerns is one less thing that I worry about and it gave me time and energy to focus on other aspects of my online shop,” adds Coquilla.

In advance of the spike in e-commerce purchases during these gift-giving months, online businesses may now take advantage of In-holiday Line’s discounts at https://www.facebook.com/InlineForwarders.

MOA Complex night shot

Leading conservation organization World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines and SM Prime Holdings, Inc., one of Southeast Asia’s top integrated property developers, have teamed up to establish a more robust reporting structure to solve the climate problem. This significant collaboration between WWF and a Philippine business will help them create a customized decarbonization program. At SM Prime, sustainability is key to the company’s identity. In addition to breaking ground on groundbreaking programs to actively safeguard the environment and place a strong emphasis on resilience in its developments, SM Prime is at the forefront of promoting sustainable practices.

Under the partnership, SM Prime will adopt the Corporates for a Better Planet Initiative (CBPI), WWF-Philippines’ flagship program that provides an actionable framework for organizations to operate sustainably within the paradigm of the climate crisis.

“We are delighted to work with WWF Philippines on this sustainable journey. Focusing sustainability within the context of the Philippines ensures that our strategies and projects are highly material, efficient and more responsive in addressing local concerns surrounding resilience and adaptation. We need to be one with the worldwide community to achieve this and we need to work with global experts to get this right,” SM Prime President Jeffrey C. Lim said.

Climate change is one of the most pressing and defining global issues today. The Philippines currently ranks third globally when it comes to climate change vulnerability. In relation to its geographical location, it is more exposed to altering intensities of climate change manifested through erratic weather systems and natural calamities.

These risks are rife with complexity and uncertainty and organizations typically fail to properly assess their implications. The CBPI program takes a holistic approach towards this pivotal issue, addressing these risks from a custom-built, science-based perspective.

By partnering with the WWF, SM Prime will be able to enhance and determine climate change solutions that will be reflected through responsible and transparent reporting.

The first phase of CBPI involves gauging where SM Prime stands in its sustainability initiatives and setting a science-based target in line with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels. SM Prime published its first Integrated Report in 2021 under the Integrated Reporting Framework which provides an overview of our value creation model — how we seek to create value for our stakeholders by contributing to national progress through investments and interventions critical to the country’s socio-economic growth.

As a champion of climate action in the Philippines, our partnership with WWF adds another enhancement to transparent reporting by ensuring greenhouse gas (GHG) computations are accurate and use appropriate methodologies.

With the need to broaden efforts to protect the environment, this partnership forms part of group-wide efforts under the SM Green Movement that aims to improve the quality of life of communities through sustainable solutions to promote a green planet, green living and a green culture.

The relationship between SM Prime and WWF began in 2007 under the Hamilo Coast project, a recreational resort being built in Nasugbu, Batangas.

The Pico de Loro, Etayo, and Santelmo are three of the coves on the Hamilo Coast that have been classified as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and WWF closely monitors their health and viability.

Hamilo Coast was recognized by WWF-Philippines in 2020 as its longest-standing Sustainability Partner in appreciation of their conservation efforts.

Find out more about SM Prime and the SM Green Movement

School is finally back in session as the Department of Education has declared August 22 as the first day of classes. While blended learning is still the mandate, schools have kicked-off their preparations for face to face classes through Brigada Eskwela, inspiring community-wide effort and collaboration to prepare the schools in time for resumption of classes.

Brigada Eskwela 2022 held its national kick-off last August 1 at the Imus Pilot Elementary School, where Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte shared that “the collaboration between the parents, the teachers, local governments, and the entire community on Brigada Eskwela opens a deeper and meaningful collaboration even until after the school year closes”.

With the theme “Tugon sa Hamon ng Ligtas na Balik-Aral”, this year’s Brigada Eskwela focuses on the collective effort to create a safe learning environment for the students, teachers and school community while ensuring the delivery of quality education.

Answering this call to support our public schools and create a safe return to face to face classes, Unilever Philippines has partnered with the Department of Education to help provide access to clean school toilets and to promote proper hygiene in the community. Powering this effort from Unilever Philippines is Domex: a brand of disinfectants proven to kill 99.9% of germs while helping remove visible stains and eliminate odors (based on lab tests against representative germs).

For Brigada Eskwela 2022, Unilever Philippines successfully provided over Php 300,000 worth of Domex products to more than 40 schools nationwide, along with deploying cleaning tools and dedicated Domex clean-up teams to 7 partner schools across Metro Manila. The partner schools include Batasan Hills National High School, Quezon City Science High School, Comembo Elementary School, Palanan Elementary School, Santolan Elementary School, Santolan High School, and Gat Andres Bonifacio Elementary School.

Unilever employees volunteer to clean bathrooms inGat Andres Bonifacio Elementary School

Domex Brand Manager Regina Ocampo further explains, “As a brand, we believe access to clean and safe toilets should be a right, not a privilege, and that clean, safe toilets contribute to better learning and ultimately, better futures for our students. This commitment is why Brigada Eskwela is only the start of an exciting new partnership with DepEd.”

Ocampo shares that later this year, Domex and DepEd will be launching the Domex Eskwelang Unstoppable Awards, a program built with implementing partner Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) that empowers and distinguishes outstanding school division offices and schools in implementing DepEd’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Schools (WinS) program. She adds, “Essentially, it recognizes the commitment and effort of schools and school divisions in providing clean toilets for the students.”

And to further promote public health and environmental hygiene, Domex has also extended product provision to various local institutions. Philippine Red Cross vaccination hubs and laboratories, and local hospitals received their share of Domex disinfectants as part of the goal to curb rising cases of COVID-19.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/DomexPhilippines, to learn more about Domex’s advocacy of making clean comfort rooms accessible to all Filipinos

DigiCon Logo

The flagship event for the Philippine marketing, advertising, and digital industries, DigiCon, organized by the Internet & Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines (IMMAP), will return this year with the new theme: DigiCon Valley, and will be held from October 10 to 14, 2022.

An increase in investments for Philippine businesses in the next three years, much higher compared to what industries received over the past five years combined, will be a tipping point in the country’s start-up scene, according to DigiCon Valley, which celebrates innovation, problem-solving, and the entrepreneurial spirit. I’m so grateful as I attended their event, I acquired so much knowledge from it and was glad to be part of this important affair.

(L-R) DigiCon Ways and Means Head Janelle Barretto, After Hours Head Ritz Tan, IMMAP President Digs Dimagiba, DigiCon Co-Chairs Denise Haak and Trish Esteban.JPG

Four program tracks will set the digital agenda for brands, and, in turn, open doors for those in the digital space to connect with Philippine businesses.

1. Launchpad that will discuss the tools and techniques for digital excellence
2. Hypergrowth that will level-up digital skills and showcase stories of growth from the most successful start-ups
3. Breakthrough that will teach digital strategy and how to think like an innovator
4. Enterprise that will chart what it means to be a digital-first organization.

(L-R) Denise Haak, Trish Esteban, Janelle Barretto, Ritz Tan during the Q&A.JPG

To give a preview of the upcoming conference, the IMMAP DigiCon Committee was present at a press launch held at The Astbury in Poblacion, on August 31. IMMAP DigiCon Co-Chair, Denise Haak, officially unveiled the theme and program tracks to media guests and sponsors.

IMMAP DigiCon Co-Chair, Trish Elamparo-Esteban, also covered the Program Tracks and introduced this year’s Keynote Speakers, which include Huffington Post founder, Arianna Huffington; Rappler Founder and the first Filipino Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Maria Ressa; internationally acclaimed marketing expert and academic, Mark Ritson; Design Sprint inventor, Jake Knapp; and Award-winning Global CMO of Dole Sunshine Company, Rupen Desai.

Ritz Tan, who is heading one of IMMAP DigiCon’s programs, also discussed a new addition to this year’s event, After Hours. While the conference itself will be virtual, After-Hours will be night-set face-to-face networking sessions that will allow attendees to meet each other and make business connections.

Please visit our official website at  www.digicon.com.ph and follow their social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.for additional details about IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022.

IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022 is co-presented by Angkas, and would like to thank the following:

Platinum Sponsors: Manulife Philippines, Share Treats, and TikTok;

Gold Sponsors: Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian Government, Grab Ads, Kroma Entertainment, McDonald’s Philippines and Meta Philippines; and

Silver Sponsors: Digital Turbine, Hepmil Philippines, and Metrobank.

 

IMMAP DigiCon would also like to thank its media partners:

Platinum Media Partners: Manila Broadcasting Company and Rappler;

Gold Media Partners: CNN Philippines, Manila Bulletin, AGC Power Holdings, Podcast Network Asia, The New Channel, and The Asian Parent;

Silver Media Partners: Business World, Inquirer.Net, Kroma Entertainment, and The Philippine STAR; and

Event Partners: Creators and Influencers of the Philippines (CICP), Endeavor, and Kickstart Ventures.

PHINMA Inc Director and Foundation President Mr. Roberto Laviña extended help and volunteered during the Brigada Eskwela activity in San Isidro National High School in Makati City.

PHINMA Corporation, a conglomerate with operations in education, building supplies, real estate development, and hospitality that is authentically Filipino, recently marked its 16th year of dedication and support to the Department of Education’s (DepEd) annual Brigada Eskwela. Before Brigada Eskwela was institutionalized in 2008, The PHINMA Group was encouraging its staff, scholars, and their families to take part in DepEd’s Adopt-A-School Program. Volunteers from all around the organization’s network have participated in a variety of projects, including restoring classrooms, constructing walkways and sheds, improving gardens, and providing school supplies. In the last ten years, PHINMA has supported at least 10,907 public school pupils, 247 teachers, and planted at least 280 native trees.

Each of PHINMA’s strategic business units (SBUs) individually launched its own yearly Brigada Eskwela activities. For instance, the education division of the PHINMA Group, PHINMA Education Holdings Inc., has been organizing all of its charitable activities under its Helping Hands program, including Brigada Eskwela, tree planting, and typhoon assistance. As part of the conglomerate’s “1PHINMA” initiative, PHINMA Hero, the organization’s employee engagement program, coordinated this year’s group-wide initiatives.

Roberto M. Laviña, PHINMA Foundation’s President and Director of PHINMA Inc., credits the PHINMA employees’ strong spirit and culture of volunteerism as reason for the group’s 16-year commitment to and noteworthy achievements during the annual Brigada Eskwela. “Brigada Eskwela is a hands-on experiential event that gives everyone a chance to be part of the solution. I have joined Brigada Eskwela many times and everyone I have worked with in this volunteer activity have confirmed that they are extremely satisfied with the experience. Volunteers will certainly get their hands dirty, literally, when they join Brigada Eskwela. But that’s okay, because you know that through this activity you’re making lives better for students and their families,” added Laviña.

PHINMA’s participation in the annual Brigada Eskwela encourages employees along with their families to volunteer. PHINMA Property Holdings Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and President bonded with his daughter Martina as they helped repaint the halls of San Isidro National High School in Makati City.

This year alone, over 800 volunteers from the PHINMA Group participated in the Brigada Eskwela. The school improvement initiative this year involves repairing and cleaning 40 public schools across the country. PHINMA also donated masks, gloves, alcohol, cleaning materials and school supplies in preparation for the resumption of face-to-face classes.

“They say that it takes a village to raise a child. We are all here because we all believe that alone we can do so little, and together we can do so much. And with the theme ‘Tugon sa Hamon ng Ligtas na Balik-Aral,’ we are thankful that we have the PHINMA Group continuously supporting Brigada Eskwela. With our theme this year, we would like to highlight the country’s collective efforts from various partnership engagements in creating a conducive learning environment for the students, teachers, and non-teaching personnel,” said Dr. Medarlo De Leon, Principal of Dagupan City National High School, one of the Group’s Brigada Eskwela school beneficiaries this year.

PHINMA Property Holdings Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Rafael Felix is joined by his daughter as they volunteer during the Brigada Eskwela activity in San Isidro National High School in Makati City.

We thank the employees, the volunteers, the scholars and their families, and the different communities who devoted their time wholeheartedly for our participation in the annual Brigada Eskwela. Peter Perfecto, PHINMA Corporation Vice President for Public Affairs and PHINMA Foundation Vice President, praised the volunteers across their different strategic business units. Their commitment to improving lives through our businesses and by collaborating with and working for the communities we serve is what drives the PHINMA family’s involvement. The same culture is what gave rise to “1PHINMA” and the generations of improvements it has brought about.

On Thursday, August 25, 2022, the first-ever Real Estate Salespersons Congress will take place in Cebu City with over 700 participants, the majority of whom are PRC-registered salespersons from across the nation. The Accredited Real Estate Salespersons in the Philippines (ACRES Philippines), which is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), will host the congress to bring together professionals in the real estate selling industry to formally introduce ACRES Philippines and its Vision and Mission, recognize its interim officers across the country, honor charter members, and raise awareness of and address current issues in real estate selling. The first and biggest association for accredited real estate salespeople in the nation is ACRES. It was established in 2021 to promote salespeople’s efforts to advance their knowledge, ethical standards, protection of their rights to free and fair practice, improvement of their well-being, and appropriate representation and inclusion on issues affecting their trade and success.

Founded in 2021, it supports the endeavors of salespersons in furthering their learnings, ethical standards, protection of their rights to free and fair practice, upliftment of their well-being, and due representation and inclusion on matters of their trade and prosperity. At present the association has already set up nationwide chapters with interim officers in Metro Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong, Camarines Sur, Cavite, Bicol, Sorsogon, Legaspi, Pampanga, Palawan, Tacloban, Ormoc, Bohol, Dumaguete, Bacolod, Kabankalan, Iloilo, Roxas, Aklan, Calbayog, Samar, Leyte, Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Northern Cebu, Southern Cebu, Talisay, Mandaue, Catbalogan, Davao, General Santos, Caraga, Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Surigao, Ozamis, Dipolog, Pagadian, Digos, Iligan and Gingoog.

These interim officers will take oath during the congress. Cebu was picked as the host for this year’s Congress to showcase the city’s progressive real estate industry whose vibrance could only be kept and achieved by proactive industry practitioners, including real estate salespersons. According to Anthony Gerard Leuterio, president of A Better Real Estate Philippines (ABREP), the advisory group of ACRES, the formation of ACRES came timely as the real estate sector experiences a rebound from the economic stresses brought about by Covid-19 pandemic.

He said unifying all the salespersons involved in real estate will further advance the country’s real estate sector and make it one of the strongest economic pillars amid the headwinds. “Since real estate is a selling business, we also need to get the salespersons onboard and actively involved them in advancing the sector alongside the brokers,” he said. Leuterio stressed that since real estate salespersons are significant contributors in the continued expansion of the sector, they must be well represented. “These practitioners need to have a voice too, especially when policies and laws are crafted. We need to include them so we could really a ‘Better Real Estate’,” he said.

Real estate salespersons comprise the biggest number of professionals in the real estate service. Moreover, ACRES seeks to work harmoniously and collaboratively with the professionals in the real estate service, regulatory agencies, real estate organizations, property companies, policy makers and advocacy groups.

In order to take part in campaigns against unauthorized developers and salespeople, Leuterio stated that the association is eager to collaborate with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD). The group also hopes to encourage accreditation for all salespeople engaged in real estate selling operations by collaborating with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

From left to right – Mr. Bong Abela (Business Consultant), Mr. Ermelo Rañola (COO of eDRIS Inc.), Mr. Joshua Wahiman (Subway Marketing Manager), Dr. Annabelle S. Alob (Public Schools District Supervisor – Bantayan II), Mr. Victor S. Ungod (School Head of Patao National Highschool), Mr. Lorenzo Cañares

One school in Bantayan Island, Cebu, is a step closer to achieving Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte’s goal of modernizing the educational system by utilizing technology.

Patao National High School in Bantayan Island, Cebu received the School in a Box digital system from Subway® Philippines in collaboration with e-DRIS Inc. One of Bantayan, Cebu’s remote barangays is Patao. One of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) last mile schools, it takes four hours by land, an hour by ferry, and an additional hour by car to get to it from Bantayan’s main port.

The School in a Box system is a micro-cloud system that can provide for the creation, selection, curation and distribution of tens of thousands of updated relevant content to thousands of users at a time. For teachers and students alike, it is also embedded with the Foundation Learning Management System to make the e-learning process a productive and quantifiable process. Moreover, these e-learning content and modules are made accessible to students and teachers online or with intermittent connection or no internet connectivity at all. This innovative platform is definitely a game changer for the last mile schools and those located in internet – challenged areas.

EDRIS emphasize that the program will allow access to educational modules, interactive lessons, simulated videos, reference materials comprising of a vast array of knowledge for Grade 1 to Grade 12 students through online and offline connectivity.

From left tp right – Joana Gersale ( Project Coordinator – Estrat ), Mr. Bong Abela (Business Consultant), Mr. Ermelo Rañola (COO of eDRIS Inc.), Mr. Joshua Wahiman (Subway Marketing Manager), Dr. Annabelle S. Alob (Public Schools District Supervisor – Bantayan II), Mr. Victor S. Ungod (School Head of Patao National Highschool), Mr. Lorenzo Cañares, Ms. Elisa Sarabia (Teacher of Patao National Highschool)

 “Content in the form of texts and other resources can be centrally curated in the C3 Cloud Control portal by those responsible for curriculum and distributed to any authorized C3 Micro-Cloud, “ explained Ermelo Ranola COO of e-DRIS Inc.

During the turnover ceremony, Patao National High School Principal Victor S. Ungod said the arrival of the system was very timely and that it would help fill in the gaps for students who are behind in their lessons.

“The School in the Box program can enhance the learnings of the students and in fact we or the students have benefitted from this because we are in the process of exploring the contents of this device. We are very thankful for this because we are the very first recipient of this program,” Ungod said.

For his part, Subway® Philippines Marketing Manager Joshua Wahiman reaffirmed Subway’s promise of being the better choice for everyone, not just in serving fresh and healthy foods but also in amplifying the importance of education and how a healthier approach in learning can maximize the potential of students regardless of their location.

“We are delighted that we are able to empower the community and this last mile school with this School in a Box device. As we want to highlight all the better for your meals from Subway, we also want to highlight or bring about a healthier approach and, in terms of their studies, would be better in their field before they go out into the real world,” he said.

The following people should be contacted for more details about the project: Through [email protected], contact Mel Ranola, COO. [email protected]

SM Foundation and Maxeon Solar Technologies formally held the community launch of the Sinag Schools Program at Lemery Pilot Elementary School in Batangas.

Through the Sinag Schools initiative, the SM Foundation (SMFI), the SM group’s corporate social responsibility division, and Maxeon Solar Technologies recently powered up the Lemery Pilot Elementary School (LPES) in Batangas. This socially beneficial partnership between SMFI and Maxeon intends to install solar panels on an SM school building, especially to those that have low operating expenses, in order to deliver clean and renewable energy to schools in grassroots areas.

In addition to the solar panel installation which intends to power positive change in the way energy is consumed in public schools, the program also aims to enhance the understanding of students in terms of energy management and the need to transition to cleaner energy alternatives with lower environmental impacts.

Through the Sinag Schools program, SMFI and Maxeon installed 21 solar panels— estimated to produce 6510 watt-p—on an SM school building in Batangas.

“Through this program, we want to power up the learning and development of young people. We want to help teach young people about solar energy, about renewable energy. We want to power up the next generation to help save our planet,” Maxeon Fab4 General Manager Glenn Everett said.

The SM school building at the LPES, which was donated by SMFI in partnership with SM Prime Holdings (SMPH) in 2017, now boasts 21 solar panels—estimated to produce 6510 watt-p. With the savings on electricity, the school may realign their budget to more efforts and other innovations that will give the students an environment more conducive to learning.

It takes a village to raise a child

SMFI executive director Debbie Sy underscored the importance of collective efforts in advancing the learning experience of every student in the country: “We believe that collaboration can drive growth and become a force for good in addressing societal challenges. CSR partnerships can create solutions that improve society by fostering learning, promoting innovation and gaining access to new technologies, such as the Sinag schools program. CSR collaboration can pool resources, both financial and human resources – between multiple organizations which can amplify social good impact.”

“The establishment of an ever-evolving CSR strategy and partnerships will help companies and non-government organizations in developing and implementing crucial social good programs over decades while having procedures in place that integrate social and environmental priorities into CSR core strategy – all in close collaboration with stakeholders,” she further added.

Moreover, Everett mentioned how SMFI and Maxeon share the similar set of values and interest when it comes to helping Filipino learners: “We have this concept of powering positive change in the world. We are happy to be working together with SM Foundation to power up the Lemery Pilot Elementary School.”

“Individually, we can do so much. But together we can do actually more. For us to bring our solar technology and SMFI to bring in their schools, these things are much better together than they would be apart,” he concluded.

Spreading social good all the way

SM Supermalls employee volunteers led the distribution of donations from SM Foundation to the students of Lemery Pilot Elementary School.

SM Foundation made sure to truly touch the lives of the learners and teachers of LPES as it donated eight desktop computers, 200 bags with school supplies, and more than 160 pcs brand new kinder and elementary books to further promote the love for reading among the students. Clothing items for parents were also distributed.

For more information about this initiative, follow SM Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube: @SMFoundationInc.

The headquarters of Maxeon are in Singapore. Maxeon® and SunPower® brand solar panels are created, produced, and sold by the business. Maxeon operates sales activities in more than 100 nations, some of which operate under the SunPower brand outside of the United States. With products that cover the global rooftop and solar power plant markets, Maxeon is a leader in solar innovation. It does this through a network of more than 1,700 reliable partners and distributors. Maxeon, a leader in environmentally friendly solar manufacturing, benefits from a +35-year heritage in the sector and multiple accolades for its innovation.

Through its School Building Program, the SM Foundation actively participates in DepEd’s Adopt-a-School initiative. By constructing classrooms across the country, this social good program seeks to promote high-quality public education. It has handed over more than 100 school structures to local communities thus far.