The Members of the PBSP Visayas Executive Committee, Fiscal Year 2007-08

The Members of the PBSP Visayas Executive Committee (VIXCOM)

Fiscal Year 2007-08:

Sitting, from left:

1. Mr. Jose Levi S. Villanueva, Vice Chairman

Union Bank of the Philippines

2. Ms. Madeira R. Vestil

SGV & Co.

3. Mr. Jose Antonio Miguel Y. Aboitiz, Chairman

PILMICO Foods Corporation

Standing, from left:

4. Mr. Tomas S. Yap

Citi Philippines

5. Ms. Melanie C. Ng

Ng Khai Development Corporation

6. Mr. Rito Apas

Petron Corporation

7. Mr. Philip N. Tan

Wellmade Motors Development Corporation

8. Ms. Eileen G. Mangubat

Cebu Daily News

9. Mr. Hernando O. Streegan

Rhine Marketing Corporation

10. Ms. Romelinda C. Garces

San Miguel Corporation

11. Mr. N. Tolentino Gallares

First Consolidated Bank

12. Atty. Hidelito S. Pascual

Organization Performance Associates, Inc.

Not in the picture:

13. Ms. Marissa N. Fernan

SM Investments Corporation

14. Mr. Rogelio Q. Lim

East Asia Utilities Corporation

15. Mr. Ricardo G. Santiago

PASAR Corporation

Join us in our 20th VAMM!

The 20th VISAYAS ANNUAL
MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Theme:
20/20: Looking Ahead

Date & Venue:
February 20, 2008 . 11AM - 2PM
Salon de España, Casino Español de Cebu, Cebu City

Keynote Speaker:
MRS. NILEEMA NOBLE
Resident Coordinator
United Nations

20 Years Photo Exhibit
The Northwing at SM City Cebu
February 20- 25, 2008
Opening is on February 20 at 2.30PM

See you there!

PBSP exhibits Christmas inspired artworks at SM City's The Northwing

100 Christmas-inspired artworks adorned The Northwing at SM City Cebu last December 6-9, 2007. PBSP further expanded its 17-year old Christmas Cards Fund Campaign by selling the artworks that inspire the Christmas cards annually produced by the foundation. The timeless artworks were created by Visayan students who have participated in PBSP’s Christmas Cards Design Contest.

To date, PBSP’s Christmas Cards Fund Campaign has generated over P2 million, planting over 200,000 trees in the Cebu hillylands, Metro Cebu’s water source. Meanwhile, PBSP’s partnerships with the business sector, government and people’s organizations have reforested 4,000 hectares of the Cebu Hillyland’s 30,000-hectare expanse.

For more information about the Christmas Cards Fund Campaign, visit www.pbsp-christmascards.blogspot.com. For a closer look at the artworks, you may drop by Sandee’s at The Northwing at SM City Cebu or the PBSP Visayas Regional Office located at the 4th Floor of PLDT Building, Mabolo, Cebu City.




Ms. Marissa N. Fernan, Vice President of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. and member of the PBSP Visayas Executive Committee (VIXCOM), together with Mr. Jose Antonio Y. Aboitiz, Chief Finance Officer of Pilmico Foods Corporation and Chairman of the VIXCOM, opened the artworks exhibit.


Internationally reknowned Mandaue City School for the Arts Children's Choir serenanded the exhibit opening with classic Christmas carols and home-grown Christmas songs.



The exhibit centerpiece, a 10-foot Christmas tree adorned with PBSP Christmas cards, was provided by Premium Concepts. The furniture and scupltures that sprawled in the The Northwing's hallway were provided by Tabok Worker's Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Cebu Eastern Furniture Producers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CEFPMPC). The two organizations are PBSP assisted furniture exporters.




The hardwood frames that enacase the artworks were done by CEFPMPC. The sturdy metal frames that support the artworks were provided by Ad Venture.

Rotarians spread joy in Olango

Singapore-based members of the Rotary and Rotaract Club visited Olango Island last December 14, 2007. The team was led by Mr. Philip Tan, Chair of the Rotary Club Cebu West and Member of the PBSP Visayas Executive Committee.

The trip to Olango was part of the Rotarians exposure to various Metro Cebu communities. They provided school supplies to the pupils of Candagsao Elementary School. They also planted mangroves in San Vicente.

Olango Island is one of the three priority ecosystems of PBSP’s Metropolitan Cebu Area Resource Management Program. The other two focus areas are the Cebu Hillylands and the highly urbanized communities in Metro Cebu. PBSP’s agenda in Olango are environmental rehabilitation, access to basic services such as health and water, and economic empowerment of the fisher folks.

PBSP partners with PEZA for the Buhisan watershed rehabilitation

PBSP sealed an agreement with the Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA) for the Buhisan Watershed Integrated Development Program on December 7, 2007. The other parties of the engagement are the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD), Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water (CUSW) and Visayas Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Business and Environment Cluster led by Lexmark International Philippines.

Buhisan is one of the five watersheds within the Central Cebu Protected Landscape. It is one of MCWD’s major water sources. MCWD, in turn, supplies half of Metro Cebu’s household and industrial water requirement.

Buhisan was identified as a priority site of the Business and Environment cluster because of its prime importance to Metro Cebu’s development. The Buhisan Watershed Integrated Development Program aims to revitalize the degraded watershed through conservation and education or advocacy campaigns.

Specifically, the program focuses on: ecology and biodiversity conservation; economic empowerment of the families living in Buhisan; health and sanitation; ecological governance and law enforcement; eco-cultural tourism development; and information, communication and education.

The MDG is a covenant ratified by 189 member states of the United Nations (UN) to eliminate poverty and worst forms of human deprivation in 2015. PBSP, as the UN and the Philippine government’s partner, is tasked to rollout the MDG among the members of the private sector. PBSP created four Business and the MDG clusters so that private sector response is more strategic. These are the Business and Poverty, Business and Health, Business and Education, and Business and Environment.

PBSP turns over a multi-purpose building

The Angelo King Foundation, Inc. (AKI), through PBSP, donated a two-storey multi-purpose building to the Tayuranon Multi-Purpose Cooperative (TMPC). The turnover was held on November 29, 2007.

TMPC, based in Barangay Tayud, Municipality of Consolacion, Cebu, is composed of furniture producers and subcontractors. PBSP’s engagement with TMPC began in 2004 through the Project Access funded by San Miguel Corporation. The packages of assistance for TMPC are organizational development, capability building, marketing and product development.

The multi-purpose building will serve as business and training center for TMPC. It will also house the future Barangay Tayud Community Resource Center.

Since 1991, AKFI’s partnership with PBSP has resulted in the establishment of 150 buildings for community-based organizations nationwide. Over P45 million has been channeled by AKFI for the construction of warehouses, livelihood, technology, training and multi-purpose centers.

There are more than 92,000 landless rural workers, sustenance fisherfolks, marginal upland farmers and urban poor workers who benefit from the projects.

Mr. Macario P. Balali of East Asia Utilities, member of PBSP in the Visayas' Workforce and Education Committee, represented PBSP during the turnover.

Seaweeds farming in Guimaras

PBSP implements a seaweeds farming project in the Municipality of Sibunag, Province of Guimaras. The project was funded by PHINMA Foundation Inc. and Trans Asia Oil and Energy Development Corporation.

The project will benefit the families in the fishing communities of Alegria, Bubog, Sabang, San Isidro and Sebaste. They are among the over 4,000 households affected by the August 2006 oil spill in Guimaras.

Christmas Cards Artworks Showcase

This Yuletide season, PBSP will showcase
100 Christmas-inspired artworks
by young Visayan artists.

And these timeless artworks can be yours!

Since 1991, the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)
has collected numerous artworks and produced thousands
of Christmas cards to raise funds for the reforestation
of the Cebu Hillylands - Cebu's source of water.

Be with us this December 6 to 8, 2007
at The Northwing at SM City Cebu

(Entrance 8 Hallway, Upper Ground Floor, fronting Swiss Gear)
The opening will be this December 6 at 2:00 P.M.

For more information, you may reach the PBSP Visayas Regional Office
at +6332 2325270 or 2325283. Please look for Olive or Malu.

Art inspires.
Nature inspires.
Christmas inspires.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

See all the Christmas cards artworks at
www.pbsp-christmascards.blogspot.com

ADVISORY

Dear PBSP Members, Partners and Friends,

Good day!

We are currently updating the PBSP Visayas blog. This is in line with our goal to better inform you about the latest activities and engagements of the foundation, as well as to keep you posted on emerging priorities that PBSP is looking into. This is also in preparation for the celebration of PBSP’s 20th Year in the Visayas this coming February 20, 2008.

Kindly email your comments or suggestions to Jessie at jmcubijano@gmail.com. We hope that the PBSP Visayas blog will be part of your daily habit. Have a nice day!

Sincerely,
The PBSP Visayas Regional Office Team

Sibunag Seaweeds Project Launched

(Left. The guests and beneficiaries during the launching. Right. The billboard during the unveiling.)

“Hope floats after the oil spill disaster”.

This was the general feeling when the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and its partner, the Trans Asia Oil and Energy Development Corporation, launched the Sibunag Seaweed Farming Project last June 1, 2007. This was done in the Municipality of Sibunag, Province of Guimaras.

The project is a part of the Guimaras Area Resource Management Program (GARMP), which is PBSP’s response to the August 11, 2006 MT Solar 1 oil spill disaster in the province. PBSP with its member companies aim to help the affected communities have access to livelihood opportunities. One of these companies is the Trans Asia Oil, which is a subsidiary of the Phinma Group of Companies, an active PBSP Member Company, based in Makati City, Philippines.

On May 31, 2007, one day before the launching, PBSP met the community leaders of the five participating coastal barangays in the Municipality of Sibunag, namely: Bubog, San Isidro, Alegria, Sebaste and Sabang, which was also co-facilitated by the Municipal Agriculture Office of Sibunag. During this orientation attended by more than 30 beneficiaries and guests, the Sibunag Municipal Agriculture Officer, Mr. Paciano Opelario, welcomed everybody and encouraged the beneficiaries to participate actively. Mr. Danilo Cerence, Manager of PBSP Visayas, discussed the project briefly.

(Left. Consulting the beneficiaries during the site selection. Right. During the project orientation.)

Further, PBSP, through its Technical Officer, Mr. Rey Oliver Perez, conducted a basic orientation on the farming practices or monoline seaweed farming. There was an open forum conducted which discussed various issues pertaining to the project.

To close the one-day orientation, Engr. Arlon Menchavez, Plant Superintendent of Trans Asia Oil, Guimaras Plant, thanked the beneficiaries for their involvement and challenged the stakeholder to implement the project to the best of their ability.

The following day, June 1, 2007, the project was officially launched, attended by more than 50 beneficiaries and guests.

PBSP, with Trans Asia Oil and the Municipality of Sibunag signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the five participating barangays, for their participation on the Sibunag Seaweeds Project. Engr. Danilo Panes, Vice President of Trans Asia Oil and Engr. Arlon Menchavez, Trans Asia Oil Guimaras Plant Superintendent, were present. Also represented were the government line agencies, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, the Guimaras Provincial Planning and Development Officer (PPDO), and the representative of the Mayor of Sibunag, Councilor Fe Segovia.

(Left. During the MOA signing with participating barangays. Right. Engr. Panes giving his speech.)

Engr. Panes delighted the guests with his speech saying his hopes for more progressive communities now with the seaweed projects. The Mayor’s representative delivered a rousing speech saying how glad the Municipality is to have received such assistance from Trans Asia Oil and PBSP. Engr. Corpuz, Guimaras PPDO delivered a short but inspiring message to the farmers. Mr. Rebecca De la Cerna, the Senior Provincial Agriculturist, delivered the closing message by telling the history leading towards the organization of the Sibunag Seaweeds Growers Federation.

Part II of the project launching was held in Brgy. Sabang, Sibunag. Guests and beneficiaries traveled to the coastal site where the project billboard was unveiled led by Engr. Panes of Trans Asia Oil. Afterwards was a ceremonial planting of seaweeds on a monoline and representatives from the participating beneficiaries placed the monoline on the sea. This showed how the project is being done.

(During the ceremonial seaweeds planting; with community leaders and guests.)

Beneficiaries and the local officials appreciated the successful two-day activities, as they consider the project a blessing after the oil spill tragedy that could help the affected communities generate additional income.

(The monoline launched to the sea after the ceremonial planting.)