COVID-19

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AboitizPower Wins Stevie Award For COVID-19 Response

Banking and Financial Services

Project Agile Supports DepEd’s Learning Continuity Plan

Sustainability

Aboitiz Cleanergy Park Cited As Birdwatching Haven

One Aboitiz

Aboitiz Partners With DAP, NUCESO For Groundbreaking C.L.I.C.K. Executive Course

Aboitiz Group Advisory to External Stakeholders regarding COVID-19

2019 Bankers’ Night

2019 Brigada Eskwela Cebu

Victor Silva

AboitizPower bagged a Silver Stevie award for its Integrated Response and
Awareness towards COVID-19 Hazards (I-REACH) program in the Most Valuable
Corporate Response category in this year’s International Business Awards. 

The International Business Awards are the world’s premier business awards
program. All individuals and organizations worldwide—public and private,
for-profit and nonprofit, large and small—are eligible to submit nominations. 

The 2020 IBAs received entries from organizations in 63 nations and territories.
Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 250
executives worldwide who participated in the judging process from July through
early September.

The I-REACH campaign is a testament to the commitment of the company to its
stakeholders in the time of the pandemic. The program’s objective was to provide
support for customers, especially for critical institutions such as hospitals
and other healthcare facilities.

A key component of the I-REACH campaign is AboitizPower’s collaboration with its
partner hospitals in Luzon and Visayas to provide healthcare heroes with
surgical masks, as well as sanitation and food supplies, in support of their
fight against COVID-19.

It also covers a series of webinars to engage customers and keep them informed
of the impact of COVID-19, especially on their business operations. The webinar
topics focus on business continuity and recovery practices, COVID-19 as an
accelerator of digital transformation, and the government’s economic outlook and
initiatives to support key industries, among others. 

Through the campaign, AboitizPower is able to support its customers in their
transition to the new normal. With the timely information drive oriented towards
key customer concerns such as sanitation and virus prevention, work-from-home
best practices, online employee training, and government advisories, customers
are equipped to maneuver their way through the challenges brought about by the
pandemic.

> We are grateful that our customer efforts have been recognized by the
International Business Awards. The real victory here is seeing our partners rise
toward recovery. This accolade reminds us that we are on the right track and
inspires us to do even better for our partners.

–Sandro Aboitiz, Head of Commercial Operations, AboitizPower
For this campaign, AboitizPower partnered with hospitals such as the PNP General
Hospital, Perpetual Help in Binan and Las Pinas, Mary Mediatrix in Batangas,
Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu, and Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod. The company
is also looking to conduct a roundtable discussion with key representatives from
the retail segment in the next run of the webinar series entitled: “The Next
Normal: Harnessing insights from customer experiences and challenges to sustain
the future of work.”

The I-REACH campaign is one of the many COVID-19 response initiatives of
AboitizPower for its various stakeholders. The company, despite the challenging
times, endeavors to fulfill the Aboitiz Group’s promise of Advancing Business
and Communities.

Aboitiz Eyes

by Manuel “Bobby” Orig
(Continued from Part 1
[https://aboitizeyes.aboitiz.com/post/solid-principles-to-a-meaningful-life-and-a-good-life-part-1]
)

In sharing with you my fifth and sixth principles for a meaningful life, let me
explain the situation that led me to embrace it.

Among my three children, the more strong-willed and vocal is my daughter
Vanessa. She had the courage to tell me in my face that I’m wrong when I watch
television during mealtimes, because she maintains it is the only time that we
can converse and pay attention to each other as a family.

Vanessa also pointed out to me that I was wrong when I opted to join an urgent
meeting with company executives who came from Manila instead of joining her
birthday celebration. She believes that family members should treat each other's
birthday celebrations as a sacrosanct event.

She also bared to me my family’s frustration at my being animated and engrossed
with events and conversations having to do with my co-workers and friends, but
businesslike when it comes to interacting with the members of my own family. 

I have always thought of myself as a caring and solicitous head of my family. I
never realized that this was just my perception and that, viewed from their
perspective, the reality is totally different. They see me as a person who
considers my work as the be-all and end-all of my existence.

Belatedly, I had to agree with Vanessa. I had to experience pain in order to
realize that I am not the man I thought I am.

This photo of my family was taken in July 2019 at the Tagbilaran airport. From
left to right are Tiara my granddaughter -daughter of Sue Ann; Joy, Dino’s wife,
granddaughters Nikka and Dana - children of Dino and Joy; my eldest daughter Sue
Ann, granddaughter Ysabel – daughter of Sue Ann; my wife Joy; my daughter
Vanessa and her husband Robin Pacheco; my youngest son Dino.My painful
experience has led me to adopt these two principles:
“My family is my life, and everything else comes second as far as what’s
important to me.” 
– Michael Imperioli, American actor
“Think of your life as a house, with a bedroom for your personal life, a study
room for your professional life, a family room for your family life, and a
living room to share with friends for your social life. Can you knock down the
walls between these rooms and be the same person in each of them?”
– Bill George, Author, ‘Authentic Leadership’
Finally, I would like to share with you the principle that is guiding my quest
for the good life.

How would you answer this question, “What makes a good life?”

If it makes perfect sense to you as it did for me, what your answer should be
will become clear if you come to know about the findings of a 75-year old study
on Adult Development conducted by the Harvard Medical School. 

A page from the Study of Adult Development at Harvard Medical SchoolWhat follows
is a verbatim but abridged quotation of this study as shared by the author
during a TED Talk. The author is the current director of the study,
psychologist, psychoanalyst and Zen priest, Robert Waldinger. 

“There was a recent study conducted on millennials asking them what their most
important life goals were? Over 80 percent said that their most important goal
was to get rich. Another 50 percent said that it is to become famous.

These millennials gave us the impression that these are the things we need to go
after in order to have a good life. That we should lean in to work, push harder,
and achieve more. But pictures of how these choices worked out for these
millennials later in their lives are impossible to get.

 * But what if we could watch entire lives as they unfold through time? 
 * But what if we could study people from the time they were teenagers all the
   way into old age to see what really keeps them happy and healthy?

That is precisely what the Harvard Study on Adult Development set out to do. It
is the longest study of adult life that has ever been done. 

For 75 years, the study tracked the lives of 724 men. Year after year, asking
about their work, their home lives, and their health. And asking all along the
years without knowing how their lives were going to turn out.

Sixty of the original 724 men are still alive today, still participating in the
study. Most of them in their 90s.

Studies like this are exceedingly rare. Almost all projects of this kind fall
apart after a decade because too many people drop out of the study, or funding
for the research dries up, or the researchers get distracted or they die. But
through a combination of luck and the persistence of several generations of
researchers, this study has survived and is still ongoing today. 

To get the clearest pictures of these mens’ lives, the researchers did not  just
send them questionnaires. They interviewed them in their living rooms. They got
their medical records from their doctors. They draw their blood and they scan
their brains. And they videotape them talking with their wives about their
deepest concerns.

Dr. Robert Waldinger, current director of the 75-year Harvard Medical School
Study of Adult DevelopmentSo what have the researchers learned? 

What are the lessons that come from the tens of thousands of pages of
information that were generated on the lives of these men?

The lessons learned will surprise you. They are not about wealth, or fame, or
working harder and harder.

The clearest message that the researchers got from this 75-year study is this:
Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period!
And the researchers learned three big lessons about relationships.

The first is:

 * Social connections are really great for people. Loneliness kills.

The experience of loneliness turns out to be toxic. People who are isolated from
others than they want to be found that they are less happy. Their health
declines earlier in midlife. Their brain functioning declines sooner. And they
have shorter lives than people who are not lonely. 

The second big lesson that the researchers learned is:

 * It’s not just the number of friends you have. And it’s not whether or not you
   are in a committed relationship. But it’s the quality of those relationships
   that matters.

It turns out that living in the midst of conflict is really bad for our health.
High conflict marriages, for example, without much affection turns out to be
very bad for our health.

And living in the midst of good warm relationships is protective.

The researchers had followed these men into their 80s. They wanted to look at
them at midlife and see if they could predict who was growing to grow into a
happy, healthy octogenarian and who was not.

When the researchers gathered everything they knew about these men at age 50, it
was not their middle age cholesterol levels that predicted how they were going
to grow old but how satisfied they were in their relationships. The people who
were the most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at
age 80.

The third big lesson that the researchers learned about relationships is:

 * Good relationships don’t just protect our bodies, they protect our brains. 

It turns out that being in a securely attached relationship to another person in
your 80s is protective. 

That the people who are in relationships where they really feel they could count
on the other person in times of need, those people’s memories stay sharper
longer.

And the people in relationships where they feel they really cannot rely on the
other, those are the people who experience earlier memory decline.

Just like the study on millennials mentioned earlier, many of the 724 men when
they were starting out, really believed that wealth and fame, and high
achievement were what they needed to go after to have a good life. 

But over and over, the study has shown that the people who fared the best were
the people who leaned on relationships with family, with friends, and with
community.”


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Conclusion
In essence, the above are the findings of the study. While the subject of the
study are 724 American men, I believe that the findings are not influenced by
culture and are therefore universal. 

So what is the answer to the question “What makes the good life?” The answer is
simple and can best be explained by this principle:

The good life is built with good relationships.
This is the principle that I have adopted to guide my quest for the good life.

I submit that my learnings and experiences, and the findings of the Harvard
study on adult life have given me a justifiable basis to make these assertions:

One, a man’s and woman’s reason for being is to lead a meaningful life and to
lead a good life.
Two, you can only achieve a meaningful life and a good life if you anchor your
quest for them on solid principles. 
I invite you to consider these two assertions and the seven principles I have
shared from my personal and professional life to help and encourage you, if you
have not done so already, to develop your own set of crystal clear principles,
upon which you should anchor your own quest for a meaningful life and a good
life.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Solid Principles To A Meaningful Life And A Good Life – Part 2

Pilmico Brand Helpdesk

Pilmico Foods Corporation (Pilmico) celebrated its 58th founding anniversary
last September 7 and despite the limitations brought by community quarantines,
the Food Group did not let this hamper the day’s celebrations.

To commemorate Pilmico Food Corporation's 58th founding anniversary, online
celebrations were conducted last September 7 across One Food Group channels.From
its humble beginnings in 1962, Pilmico has grown to become an integrated food
and agriculture business with international presence in the ASEAN. This is why
every year, the anniversary celebration has always been something to look
forward to as it commemorates the long and storied history of the Food Group
Philippines.

This year, however, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected how businesses operate
not just in the Philippines, but on a global scale. Thanks to Pilmico’s and the
Aboitiz group’s adaptability to digital transformation, the group was able to
find ways to celebrate in the virtual.

> In our efforts to ensure future success for Pilmico and the Food Group, it is
essential that we don’t forget the WHY behind what we do - that is to advance
business and communities. We are a Company with diverse identities, and working
with a united, single goal in mind is what will allow us to capitalize on these
differences. 

–Tristan Aboitiz, President & CEO, Food Group Philippines
In his message for the 58th Anniversary of Pilmico, he also highlighted the hard
work and dedication of the team members as a key to the success despite the
challenges faced by the group.

Activities such as a virtual quiz contest and The Price is Right were held last
September 7 to commemorate the history of Pilmico, and recognize its top quality
products available in the Philippine market.Partners showed support to the Food
Group’s e-commerce platforms by sharing their celebratory selfies with Pilmico’s
Lazada and Shopee pages.“I am grateful for everyone’s past and present
contributions, which have enabled Pilmico to serve Filipino communities, and a
wider ASEAN network over the years.It is with great excitement that I look
forward to our continued work together, as we achieve our greater purpose of
feeding humanity,” Aboitiz concluded in his message to the Food Group. 

As part of its virtual celebrations and to give back to its consumers, the Food
Group also participated in Shopee’s recently-concluded 9.9 Super Shopping Day.
Read more about this engagement here: Pilmico partners with Shopee to make
feeds
and pet food more accessible online.
[https://www.pilmico.com/pilmico-partners-with-shopee-to-make-feeds-and-pet-food-more-accessible-online/]

Food

Pilmico Goes Virtual To Celebrate 58th Founding Anniversary

By Milch Fidelis and Angela Justo, UnionBank HR Group

UnionBank’s Go Beyond Communities Program produced two purely digital corporate
social responsibility initiatives designed by its student interns who aim to
help their fellow students struggling with virtual learning and jeepney drivers
who lost income because of the pandemic.

What started out as conversation topic has led to a design thinking workshop
that allowed a motley crew of young UnionBankers to fully develop purely digital
corporate social responsibility projects, now fully launched as Ad Astra per
Aspera and UBP PasaHERO under the auspices of Go Beyond Communities, the
employee volunteerism program of the Bank. 

Ad Astra per Aspera is a youth-focused online support initiative that assists
students from various colleges and universities from Luzon as they shift from
traditional schooling to the virtual mode of learning when classes resume this
year. An essential component of Ad Astra is the support network aimed at shaping
up mental wellness via online conversations with experts from the Youth for
Mental Health Coalition and professors of psychology from the University of Sto.
Tomas. 

UBP PasaHERO uses UnionBank’s digital platform to raise funds for the jeepney
drivers in the national capital region who lost their source of income when
strict quarantine measures were implemented. UnionBank’s subsidiary UBX has an
e-commerce platform and online shop-builder called Sentro, which was used by the
volunteers to run an online selling campaign as well as an online garage sale to
raise funds that have so far benefited three drivers’ associations in Quezon
City. The campaign continues on social media and targets to raise more funds for
the other jeepney drivers in the metro.

“PasaHERO is a good initiative where my time and talent could help our community
of jeepney drivers. Truly, their livelihood has been greatly affected by this
pandemic. I’ve been wanting to extend help to them and was unsure how until I
saw the UBP Pasahero call for volunteers,” says Car Rigo, one of the employee
volunteers who agreed to donate proceeds from baking, her new found hobby during
the community quarantine. 

Nico Lozano, one of the student interns, expressed fulfillment about his
internship experience in UnionBank. “Truly, we got a taste of the UnionBank DNA,
culture and core values. I learned so many things and not just the technical
aspects of our on-the-job training. Being able to leave a positive impact on the
lives of fellow students is a fulfilling experience, one that made me feel good
about myself and one that I will remember even after my internship.”

UnionBank’s digital transformation is proving that a crippling crisis like the
COVID-19 pandemic will not hamper its commitment to provide banking and
financial services to its clients as well as continue to uplift communities. 

> We are delighted that our young UnionBankers are bringing to life the Bank’s
sustainability commitment to co-create innovations for a better world by
pursuing innovative corporate social responsibility projects that uplift the
lives of people and elevate communities especially during this health crisis.

–Dave Devilles, VP Head of Sustainability, CSR, and Employee Relations,
UnionBank 
The Go Beyond Communities program is UnionBank’s social sustainability thrust
that pursues projects on inclusion, education, environment, and employment and
livelihood opportunities. Since its inception in 2015, the program has benefited
at least 2.1 million individuals. Today, the program has partnered with
HEROES2021 where UnionBank volunteers use their digital skills to train a target
of 800,000 DepEd teachers nationwide.

UnionBank Blends Innovation And Sustainability To Create Social Good During Pandemic

Jomes Kemuel Ibanez

By Mayren Cogtas

As the country prepares for the opening of classes in October, educators whether
in the private or public sector are faced with challenges to ensure that
learning progresses in the new normal through various modes of learning.

With this, City Savings Bank (CitySavings) recently launched Project Agile, a
learning series for teachers to build the capability of educators and to support
the Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Composed of several virtual training modules, Project Agile is CitySavings’
newest Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative that aims to equip
teachers with tools and skills to efficiently collaborate and conduct classes
online.

The Bank tapped Vilma Clerigo, MAEd, Integrated Basic Education Department
Principal of San Beda College Alabang to conduct the first module which is
“Managing Virtual Classes”. Since its pilot run, CitySavings was able to reach
more than 1,000 participants from various divisions and regions nationwide. It
taught methods to elicit active participation from students and manage virtual
classrooms while conducting an online class.

> It is indeed a novel and innovative endeavor of CitySavings in sharing resources
to capacitate teachers in the new normal come the opening of classes.

–Dr. Reymond A. Mosquito, Master Teacher I of Caraga Regional Science High
School in San Juan, Surigao City
Jovelyn Piring, a teacher from San Vicente Integrated High School in San Pablo
City, Laguna shared her key takeaway and impression about the virtual training.
“I attended several webinars about online teaching but Project Agile was
different thanks to our commendable speaker and the relevance of the module to
the new normal. It made me realize that the interaction of teachers and learners
is possible. Even the authenticity of learning can be manifested and reflected
to our learners during an online class”, she mentioned.

> As the DepEd community adapts to the new normal of teaching and learning,
CitySavings will continue to actively support this through Project Agile. We
envision that this will help teachers find new ways to extend their classrooms
beyond the constraints of traditional walls.

–Paula Ruelan, Assistant Vice President - Reputation and Brand Management Head,
CitySavings
CitySavings hopes to launch the second module soon which will train teachers to
use and maximize G-Suite, the productivity and collaboration tool of Google, as
the demand for virtual communication and teaching rises.

By Fatima Mateo [https://aboitiz.workplace.com/profile.php?id=100026119641637]

‘Innovation in Governance Academy’ is a special capability development program
launched AEV Corporate External Relations in 2017. It focuses on promoting a
culture of innovation and excellence in governance and public management. In
2020, as COVID-19 disrupted workplace settings, the team continued to hold the
program virtually to adjust to the new normal way of doing things. 

Last May 27, the first virtual version of the workshop was launched as
‘#NewNormalReadyPh Digital Learning Series 1: Shaping Our New Normal’, an
8-module series aimed at contributing to the individual development of its
participants by equipping them with the right mindset, knowledge, and skills to
articulate policy challenges, develop innovative solutions and interventions,
and ensure effective execution with the end goal of delivering greater value to
the country and the Filipino people especially in these trying times.

Promotional social media posts for Innovation in Governance Academy's virtual
learning sessions.Aboitiz & NUCESO Virtual Fora 
Three virtual workshops were also conducted for the National Union of Career
Executive Services Officers (NUCESO). Another successful collaboration towards a
#NewNormalReadyPH. Aboitiz is the first institutional member of NUCESO from the
private sector.

> The NUCESO Board of Trustees, thru the undersigned, would like to express its
profound gratitude and appreciation to Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc., and to its
officers for the successful holding and conduct of NUCESO webinars. 

We have received commendations and acclamations from various
agencies-participants on the contents and timeliness of the webinars. Hence, we
take this opportunity to share with you, as well, this success and the
exuberance brought about by our continuing partnership and commitment to deliver
pro-active services in the face of the present difficulties and challenges.

–AES Atty. Lynn Danao-Moreno, CESO II, National President, NUCESO
#NewNormalReadyPH: A Promising Program for the Public Sector
The #NewNormalReadyPH Learning Series 1 gathered 370 registrants representing 27
government agencies nationwide. In a time when all of us must adapt to the new
normal way of doing things, the Aboitiz Innovation in Governance Academy heeded
the call by providing an 8-week program that delivered purposive and relevant 12
online courses to assist our partners in the public sector. We are one with the
national government in shaping positively our new normal, innovating to find
ways to drive change for a better and new normal-ready Philippines. This is a
commitment of the Aboitiz Group to nation building and our corporate social
responsibility, in line with our brand promise of advancing business and
communities.

Corporate Center

Sharing Expertise For Government Partners To Be “New Normal” Ready

Jill Ison

Aboitiz Construction is looking to hire approximately 1,200 skilled workers,
including medical professionals, as it resumes construction in various project
sites.

Among the jobs needed are project managers, engineers, safety and quality
inspectors, pipefitters, welders, fitters, scaffolders, crane operators, and TIG
(tungsten inert gas) welders for ongoing works, shutdowns, and acceleration
projects in Surigao, Cebu, Iligan, Davao, Sarangani, and Subic.

Also included in the required job pool are medical professionals such as nurses
and nurses’ aides who will strictly monitor workers’ health, wellness, and
overall well-being as part of ACI’s stringent COVID-19 health and safety
protocols.


Workers at Aboitiz Construction are given the right amount of experience and
extensive training> Amidst the massive disruption in the labor market caused by
the global pandemic, we are still fortunate to be able to offer jobs to a sector
of Filipino workers who need livelihood the most.

–Nina Ylagan-Pedro, Vice President for People, Reputation & Corporate Social
Responsibility, Aboitiz Construction
ACI is providing livelihood in rural areas as it prioritizes the hiring of local
residents from nearby communities. The company is looking to add more to this
number toward the end of the year, depending if there are additional projects.
ACI provided jobs to more than 2,000 new workers in 2019.

To ensure the hiring of appropriate skilled workers, all shortlisted candidates
will go through standard trade proficiency exams and rigorous health and safety
protocols aligned with the Aboitiz Group’s safety guidelines and policies, as
well as those imposed by the national and local government units.

Aboitiz Construction team members following safety protocols in the sitesOnce
hired and mobilized to the assigned project areas, new hires are then received
in designated areas ready for a mandatory 14-day quarantine period where daily
essentials are provided.

Aboitiz Construction project sites strictly observe physical distancing in the
work areas (service vehicles, offices, canteens, barracks, and staging areas)
and are equipped with preventive and control measures such as disinfection and
wash bays, proper personal protective equipment, and constant health and
temperature checks. In addition, project sites have also set up isolation areas
for use if needed.

A construction employment contract starts upon project mobilization and ends
with project turnover. With this, ACI provides project-based team members with
valuable experience and training for jumpstarting future employment.

Interested applicants may contact the Aboitiz Construction's human resource
department through aci.hr@aboitiz.com or follow @Careers.ACI on Facebook for job
openings.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About Aboitiz Construction, Inc.
Aboitiz Construction, Inc., together with its international arm, Aboitiz
Construction International, Inc., is the construction arm of the Aboitiz Group
of Companies, with a 45-year track record in delivering projects for its local
and international customers in the industrial, infrastructure, energy, utilities
and commercial industries.

Construction

Aboitiz Construction Needs Over 1,200 Skilled Workers

Krizia Rafaella Bumanglag

By Franz de la Fuente
[https://aboitiz.workplace.com/profile.php?id=100026684951792]

Its wide variety of animal habitat types combined with the area’s relative
isolation and secure environment have made the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park in Davao
City an excellent site for birdwatching, a local expert said. The park’s total
recorded bird species is already nearing 100, 10 to 15 of which are endemic to
the Philippines.

Around 20 bird species in the park are considered migratory
[https://haribon.org.ph/migratory-birds-flock-to-philippine-wetlands/], and a
number can be found in other parts of the Philippines and throughout Southeast
Asia. Some of them are rare birds that were only seen onsite once.

“In terms of urban bird-watching sites, Cleanergy [Park] is, by far, the best in
Davao City, and I would say it's one of the best urban birdwatching sites in the
whole Philippines,” said Davao-based birdwatcher Pete Simpson who himself has
already spotted a total of 98 bird species at the park since 2016.

(1) an Asian Emerald Dove with its young; (2) a Pied Imperial Pigeon (Photo
Credits: Pete Simpson)The Aboitiz Cleanergy Park, around 46 to 48 minutes or 20
kilometers from the Therma South baseload power plant, is an eight-hectare
ecological preserve located in Punta Dumalag, Davao City. Known as an
urban-based biodiversity conservation site, it is home to the
critically-endangered hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), endemic and
migratory birds, and marine species.

> The existence of nearly 100 bird species at the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park is a
remarkable achievement that reflects the Aboitiz Group’s strong commitment to
sustainability and the preservation of an environmentally-vital site in Davao
and Mindanao. We will continue to work hard to ensure that the succeeding
generations will also be able to appreciate the natural environment of the
Aboitiz Cleanergy Park.

–Sabin M. Aboitiz, President & CEO, Aboitiz Group
Local birdwatchers enjoy taking in the rich biodiversity of the Aboitiz
Cleanergy Park.A hawksbill turtle or pawikan being taken care of at the Aboitiz
Cleanergy Park> It’s good for bird watching because there is a range of habitats
within a small area—the sea, the beach, mangroves, other trees, and recently, a
small grassland area. A range of habitats, and each habitat has different birds
specialized to live in these habitats. So, to be approaching nearly 100 bird
species in such a small area and to be surrounded by an urban environment is
excellent.

–Pete Simpson, Wild Bird Club of the Philippines
The imperial pigeon, photographed here in August 2020, is described by
birdwatcher Pete Simpson (Wild Bird Club of the Philippines) as a large and
endemic pigeon usually found in forested areas in Mindanao (Photo Credit: Pete
Simpson)‘Better for birds’
Simpson is a member of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, a nationwide club
of birdwatchers interested in the wild birds of the Philippines, has described
the country on its website as “both a rewarding and difficult place to
bird-watch”. He studied environmental biology and, having been a birdwatcher
since aged 11, considers Aboitiz Cleanergy Park to be one of Davao del Sur’s top
five birdwatching sites, which is remarkable considering its relatively urban
location.

“Throughout the Philippines, there are just 90 birding sites that have reached
the milestone of 100 birds recorded and Aboitiz Cleanergy Park will join that
group soon. To be approaching 100 species in a site only a few hectares is
excellent. To have that, and to be surrounded by an urban environment, is
great,” Simpson explained. 

A sustainable new fixture at the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park: a new playground made
out of used log polesBirds thrive and flourish at the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park,
thanks to its rich biodiversity including trees that serve as ideal bird
habitats.“The level of protection—which Cleanergy [Park] has got is absolutely
right and must be continued forever—but the way things are at the moment in the
Philippines, it (Aboitiz Cleanergy Park) needs to be there. It must be kept
private and access-restricted,” Simpson who recalls first setting foot on Punta
Dumalag seven years ago when the area was untended and “saw almost no birds”.

He does, however, add: “I would be happy if more people in the Philippines would
know more about the amazing birds at Cleanergy Park.”

In 2019, the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park welcomed 10,735 visitors and has so far
released 4,811 pawikan hatchlings. Since 2014, the Park has been home to 40
discovered pawikan nests. For the early part of 2020, two pawikans have been
rescued and are currently under observation due to health conditions. Recent
improvements in the park were also made, with the installation of a new
playground, which are made from recycled log poles.

The Aboitiz Group, in its aim to drive change for a better world by advancing
business and communities, carries a strong commitment to sustainability and
mindful operation of the Aboitiz Cleanergy Park. This, in turn, has contributed
to the flourishing of the flora and fauna in the area, making it a haven located
within city limits.

As part of their digitization efforts, Pilmico has partnered with Shopee to make
their products more accessible to the market.

The community quarantine measures implemented amid the COVID-19 pandemic
resulted in a shift in people’s buying habits. As going out became less of an
option,more people turned to online platforms for all their needs, ranging from
groceries and personal items to pet food and poultry necessities.

Pilmico, one of the country’s top feeds and flour producers, was among the
hundreds of merchants that participated in Shopee’s 9.9 Super Shopping Day, a
platform-wide event featuring promos, discounts, and other offers across many
product categories. Special deals were offered on products like Salto Gamefowl
feeds, Maxime dog food, and animal health products—all made available for
deliveries nationwide.

“We started this partnership with Shopee in May 2020, because we saw their
platform’s potential in expanding the current reach of our products,” said
Joeben Gamatero, II, Pilmico’s Vice President for Branding and Marketing. “With
Shopee’s strong consumer base and engaging promotions like the 9.9 Super
Shopping Day Sale, we see how this partnership will make top-quality products
more accessible for them. As households continue to adjust to the new normal, we
want to be there—bringing quality products that are conveniently available to
our consumers,” he added.

Pilmico partners with Shopee to be one of the platform’s participating merchants
in the upcoming 9.9 Super Shopping Day Sale.

Maxime dog food and Salto Gamefowl feeds, together with Pilmico’s animal health
products were part of Shopee’s 9.9 Super Shopping Day sale. Consumers can STILL
grab promos, discounts, and free shipping offers at 
https://shopee.ph/pilmico_official.Shopee Philippines is one of the top online
shopping markets in Southeast Asia. As a brand, it has dominated the mobile
app-based shopping market with over 200 million app downloads, with almost equal
amount of active users, as of press time.

Martin Yu, Associate Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “The 9.9 Super
Shopping Day reflects our ongoing commitment to support businesses by offering a
platform to increase their online sales amid a challenging retail environment.
It’s one of the many reasons why many brands choose Shopee as their preferred
e-commerce partner to build a scalable and sustainable business. We are excited
to team up with a household name like Pilmico and continue to provide brands
with the support of their need to achieve greater success on Shopee.” 

See what Pilmico products are on Shopee by visiting our own Shopee Mall page. (
https://shopee.ph/pilmico_official).

Grab Special Online Deals On Pilmico Pet Products Via Shopee

by Manuel “Bobby” Orig, Director, ApoAgua
(This is the first part of a two-part article.)

Leading a meaningful life and a good life are different. A meaningful life is
what you need to live a life of purpose and significance while a good life is
what you need to lead a happy life. As I have anchored my personal and
professional life on a set of principles, I truly believe that to lead a
meaningful life and a good life, you have to be crystal-clear about your guiding
principles.

As explained by Ray Dalio, author of the widely-acclaimed book Principles:

“Principles are fundamental truths that serve as the foundations for behavior
that gets you what you want in life. They can be applied again and again in
similar situations to help you achieve your goals.”

I learned the principles that I have adopted from the advices of my bosses and
family as well as from learnings, insights, reflections, and mistakes I
committed along the way. And I have tested and proven their usefulness over time
through my experiences in pursuing my goals and in dealing with challenging
situations in my life.

I would like to share with you seven principles upon which I have anchored my
quest to lead a meaningful life and a good life. I thought that just as I have,
you too will gain invaluable benefits from these principles. But of course, you
have to be very discriminating in evaluating their merits and adopt only the
ones that you believe will be helpful to you.

For each of the six principles that guided my quest for a meaningful life, I
will explain the situation that led me to embrace it. For the principle that is
guiding my quest for a good life, I will share with you the findings of a
75-year old study on Adult Development conducted by the Harvard Medical School
as shared by its current director, Robert Waldinger.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The first principle in my quest to lead a meaningful life:
“You need to strike a balance between investing your time and energy to develop
your professional capabilities and to make a meaningful impact on others.
Because your success at developing your professional capabilities will be hollow
if you fail to serve a purpose larger than your own.”
I formed this principle from an insight that I had after I first retired from my
work. And I regretted deeply not having formed and embraced it sooner. I imagine
how much more significance I could have infused into my life if I had pursued
this principle sooner.

Before retirement,  I have devoted my time and energy almost exclusively to
developing my capabilities, earning a living and promotion, proving myself, and
working to become a success at work. 

I have earned a number of promotions in Davao Light & Power Company, including
promotion to the highest position I could aspire for at the time, Executive Vice
President. On top of that, I have been awarded the highest honor that can be
bestowed to an employee of the Aboitiz Group.

The author receives a special award at his retirement tribute in 2016, with
former AboitizPower President & CEO Tony Moraza and AboitizPower Executive Vice
President & COO Jim Aboitiz.Yet, notwithstanding the achievements and
recognitions I have earned, there was a gnawing feeling inside of me that I have
not infused significance into my life. I realized that there is more to life
than just being a success at work. You also have an obligation to make a
difference for others, to make our world a better place.

So, I decided late in my life to devote a good part of my time and energy to
making that difference.

In 2003, I founded the Leaders and Achievers of Davao Award or LEAD Award, which
is given by the Davao Jaycee Senate. The LEAD Award is an annual search for men
and women 40 years and older to be recognized for their meaningful contribution
in uplifting the well-being of Davao City and Dabawenyos. Since its inception,
the Award has already been bestowed on 20 awardees, among them, Dr. Leopoldo
Vega, the current Health Undersecretary; Perla Kwan, educator (wife of a former
Davao Light executive Roger Kwan); and Col. Dionisio Abude, the traffic czar of
Davao City.

In 2017, I also started to engage in an advocacy work of helping leaders learn
about the concepts and tools for ‘Building, Managing, and Sustaining a High
Performing Culture’, based on the book Primed To Perform by Neel Doshi and
Lindsay McGregor. I decided to engage in this mission because studies show that
excellent organizations anywhere in the world have one thing in common—they have
high performing cultures. They are organizations that are able to produce and
deliver superior products and services to their customers and, therefore, to
society.

I figured that if I am able to help bring this condition about, I will,
hopefully, be doing my share in making our world a better place. 

To date, I have shared my presentation on culture to leaders of 15 organizations
including the City Government of Davao, Southern Philippines Medical Center, and
the Ateneo de Davao University.

The second principle is this:
“In your work, always strive to help make the person you work for and work with
to become effective. Never compete with them. If you do this, you will be
successful.”
After graduating from college, I immediately applied for work and joined Aboitiz
& Company. 

After 3 years of working as Staff Assistant to the Personnel Manager, I was
promoted to the position of Personnel Manager and got the opportunity to report
to a new boss, Romy Ronquillo. He gave me this most profound advice—this second
principle—that I adopted in my professional life.

Subsequently, Mr. Ronquillo recommended my promotion as Assistant Resident
Manager of Davao Light & Power Company.

The author flanked by his former bosses Romy Ronquillo and Jon Ramon Aboitiz at
the 2013 Aboitiz Future Business Leaders Summit in Cebu.Over the years, I have
seen my former boss’s advice work like a magic charm for me. I enjoyed
continuous employment with ever-increasing responsibilities at the Aboitiz Group
for more than four decades—and retiring three times in the process, from three
different companies.

I believe, and it has been my experience, that if you work to help make the
people you work for to become effective, and you don’t compete but instead
collaborate with them, they will come to rely and appreciate you more. Where
there is an opportunity for you to move up to a more challenging role that they
figure you can capably handle, they will most likely support your advancement.

On the other hand, if you work to help make the people you work with to become
effective, they will most likely return the favor when you need their help.
Ultimately, it enriches working relationships. 

I am sharing these next two principles together because they are closely
related. 

My third and fourth principles are:
“Always learn to love what you do.”
“Always bear in mind that in the end, what is expected of you is to help provide
solutions in behalf of your company and obtain solutions for your company.”
It is a fact that the success of a company is fueled by the support of satisfied
and loyal customers. And that the company will be in a better position to gain
these customers if the latter can see and feel that they are valued by the
people who work for the organization. Invariably, the people who value customers
are the ones who love their work and have a clear understanding that their
mission is to provide solutions that are responsive to customers’ needs.

On the other hand, I adopted the twin principle “always bear in mind that you
are expected to help obtain solutions for your company” because I believe that 
the company’s capacity to achieve its goals will be helped a lot by people who
have the mindset and discipline to promptly spot the underlying causes of
problems at their levels and do whatever it takes, within the bounds of
prudence, to solve them.

There is also saying: find a job that you love and you’ll never work a day in
your life. People who truly love what they do and who think their work is
meaningful have a distinct advantage when they arrive at work every day. They
throw their best effort into their job, and it makes them very good at what they
do. And they give their best effort to achieve their potential.

(Click to read Part 2
[https://aboitizeyes.aboitiz.com/post/solid-principles-are-anchors-to-a-meaningful-life-and-a-good-life-part-2]
)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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CLICK HERE [aboitiz.eyes@aboitiz.com?subject=UXP%20Reader%20Feedback%20]to send
us your comments and suggestions!

Solid Principles To A Meaningful Life And A Good Life – Part 1

The Aboitiz Group, the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), and the
National Union of Career Executive Service Officers (NUCESO) have come together
to launch the C.L.I.C.K. Program, an executive course on leadership, innovation,
communication, and knowledge management that aims to help enhance the knowledge
and competencies of Career Executive Service Officers (CESOs) and other third
level government officials from various national government agencies or NGAs.
The program was officially unveiled on September 2, 2020 through a virtual
signing ceremony for the memorandum of agreement between Abotiz, DAP, and
NUCESO. Main signatories were Aboitiz Group President & CEO Sabin Aboitiz, DAP
President Atty. Engelbert Caronan, and NUCESO President Asec. Lynn Danao-Moreno.
They were joined by AEV Chief External Affairs Officer DJ Sta. Ana, DAP Senior
Vice President & Dean Dr. Lizan Perante-Calina, and NUCESO Former President Ret.
Usec. Rose Bistoyong.

> It is our belief that with this tripartite agreement, we will be able
to...upgrade the skills and competencies of our CESO officers by giving them the
ability not only to cope in an environment that is volatile, uncertain, complex,
and ambiguous but to actually thrive in it and take advantage of its nuances.

– Atty. Engelbert Caronan, President, Development Academy of the Philippines
SMA, DAP President Atty. Engelbert Caronan Jr. (top middle), and NUCESO
President Asec. Lynn Danao-Moreno (top right) lead the virtual MOA signing
ceremony, which was also livestreaamed on Facebook.> Providing a venue to upskill
our career officials through C.L.I.C.K. could not have been realized by NUCESO
without the close collaboration of its two distinguished institutional members,
the DAP and AEV. Through C.L.I.C.K., NUCESO, DAP, and AEV are united in a
singular cause to spark change and initiate development across all national
government agencies towards nation building and sustainable development.

– Asec. Lynn Danao-Moreno, President, National Union of Career Executive Service
Officers
The Aboitiz Group, through Aboitiz Equity Ventures, was inducted as NUCESO's
first institutional member from the private sector in July 2019 at the latter's
Mid-year Conference at Clark Global City, Pampanga.

At the virtual launch event, SMA noted that COVID-19 has placed greater emphasis
on the important role of strong partnerships between the public and private
sectors in filling in resource gaps to address the monumental demands of serving
Filipinos, and the C.L.I.C.K. Program is one good example.

> Given that public service covers a wide range of responsibilities, it really is
to our collective benefit that our CESOs receive the right kind of support to
become even better leaders not only in their respective agencies but, more so,
to the greater communities they belong to. This is especially relevant right now
as the entire world grapples with COVID-19.

–Sabin M. Aboitiz, President & CEO, Aboitiz Group
The 40-hour C.L.I.C.K. executive certificate course will have its pilot run in
October and will be conducted through a combination of asynchronous and
synchronous learning management systems. 

At the end of the course, participants will integrate all they have learned into
their individual capstone project for implementation in their respective
agencies, a planned way forward that improves their real-work situations. 

“We hope to provide our participants with helpful insights on servant leadership
in the new normal and, best of all, inspire values-driven leadership that
focuses on long-term sustainability,” SMA said.

The Aboitiz Group is optimistic that the C.L.I.C.K. program will create a
positive impact across entire sectors towards a united front on the path to
recovery.

With limited mobility due to the pandemic, consumers have turned to mobile
banking apps to take care of their financial transactions from the comforts of
their home.

In a recent review of mobile apps of local banks by SPOT.ph, a one-stop urban
lifestyle guide to the best of Manila, UnionBank Online garnered the top spot,
earning the title “the handiest mobile banking app.”
[https://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/the-latest-news-features/83414/fees-security-services-of-mobile-bank-apps-in-the-philippines-a4362-20200901-lfrm2?ref=site_search]

Apart from a user-friendly design and interface, the mobile banking app has
numerous features that other mobile banking apps don’t.

> The ‘Split Bill’ feature would come in handy for your night out with friends,
and the ‘Goals’ feature is perfect for those wanting to save up for a wish-list
item or even a trip. As for fees, fund transfers to other banks cost PHP10 but
practically all other services are free. This app is definitely one that goes
beyond the basic services and is sure to be a handy one to have on your phone. 

- SPOT.ph review
> Split Bills with UnionBank Online
[https://www.facebook.com/unionbankph/videos/10155626997211404/]When the bill
arrives, you won’t have to worry about manually computing for everyone’s share!
Now, you can easily Split Bills with UnionBank Online.

Download the app today! http://bit.ly/DownloadUnionBankOnline

Posted by Union Bank of the Philippines [https://www.facebook.com/unionbankph/] 
on Thursday, 31 May 2018
From the SPOT.ph article “Which Mobile Banking App Is the Handiest?”Most
recently, other interesting features have been added to UnionBank Online. A
foreign exchange feature lets clients check for competitive rates and exchange
their pesos to dollars, or dollars to pesos 24/7, whether it’s a weekday or a
holiday. The funds are directly credited to the account, ready for withdrawal,
for online purchases or for credit card payments.

Likewise, the Social Security System has been added as a biller on UnionBank
Online, enabling customers to pay their SSS contributions without having to
leave the house. These features are also available in the app’s web version,
online.unionbankph.com.

AboitizPower Wins Stevie Award For COVID-19 Response
Read full story

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Aboitiz Cleanergy Park Cited As Birdwatching Haven
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Aboitiz Partners With DAP, NUCESO For Groundbreaking C.L.I.C.K. Executive Course
Read full story

AboitizPower Wins Stevie Award For COVID-19 ResponseRead full story

Project Agile Supports DepEd’s Learning Continuity PlanRead full story

Aboitiz Cleanergy Park Cited As Birdwatching HavenRead full story

Aboitiz Partners With DAP, NUCESO For Groundbreaking C.L.I.C.K. Executive CourseRead full story

AboitizPower Wins Stevie Award For COVID-19 Response
Read full story

Project Agile Supports DepEd’s Learning Continuity Plan
Read full story

Aboitiz Cleanergy Park Cited As Birdwatching Haven
Read full story

Aboitiz Partners With DAP, NUCESO For Groundbreaking C.L.I.C.K. Executive Course
Read full story