The Aboitiz Group held a celebration to mark the start of its corporate citizenship arm, the Aboitiz Foundation (AFI). The Foundation is aiming to reshape its mission and become a visionary leader in sustainable development. The 35th anniversary celebration included a two-day conference, hosted by Ms. Antonette Taus, Executive Director of the CORA Foundation and a renowned figure in philanthropy and social impact. The forum aimed to scale up and innovate the foundation’s impact on people’s lives.
Foundation of the Future
In his keynote speech, Sabin M. Aboitiz, Chairman of the Board of the Aboitiz Foundation and Chief Engagement Officer of the Aboitiz Group, outlined the foundation’s future path and emphasized the need to scale its efforts beyond local communities. He highlighted the importance of technological innovation and bold visions in extending the Foundation’s reach and impact. Aboitiz also expressed the Foundation’s vision as the trusted partner of choice for the world’s largest philanthropic foundations, actively addressing systemic issues such as poverty, access to education, and waste. He emphasized the potential of addressing systemic issues, informing and empowering communities, and fostering sustainable, inclusive growth throughout the archipelago. Aboitiz emphasized that partnerships will not only increase the Foundation’s impact but also create positive change that ripples throughout generations.
Ms. Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, Aboitiz Equity Ventures’ Chief Reputation & Sustainability Officer, discussed how the Foundation is revamping its initiatives to provide more value to its beneficiaries. They intend to focus their efforts where they can have the greatest impact, as well as harness the synergies among the business units and the Aboitiz Group as a whole.
“Everything we are, everything we stand for, and everything we do goes back to that one thing: People. As we forge ahead to realize this new vision for the Aboitiz Foundation, we do so with passion and a renewed commitment to balancing our people-centric approach with technology-driven solutions to drive positive change,” she highlighted.
Ms. Maribeth Marasigan, President, and COO of Aboitiz Foundation Inc., for her part, stressed that the Foundation is enhancing its capabilities to be more agile and resilient to act swiftly and effectively in a world full of unforeseen consequences. She expressed confidence in the Foundation’s ability to meet the challenges of the next 35 years and beyond, striving for a future in which Filipinos have access to quality education and prosperous lives.
“I’m confident that we will continue to create a legacy of transformative change for our communities and our country,” she noted.
Pillars of Change
Sharing her experience and expertise on enterprise and jobs, Ms. Riza Mantaring, Lead Independent Director of Ayala Corporation, BPI, and First Philippine Holdings, stressed the importance of supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in their digital transformations by providing infrastructure, skills, capital, and resources, emphasizing the role of the private sector in doing so.
“For MSMEs, their number one problem is really resources. They don’t have the resources to go digital—money, financial technology, and human resources. So, for corporations, what you can do is help them with those resources. Partnering with the government is really important because even if we do try to give as much as we can through CSR, it’s the government that has the resources, the scale, and the size to be able to make a significant impact,” she pointed out.
Ms. Raya Bidshahri, the School of Humanity’s Founder and CEO, emphasized the significance of interdisciplinary thinking for future leaders. She encouraged organizations to promote cross-disciplinary thinking in their teams and in their learning and development programs, so they can innovate the way they communicate, problem-solve, and strategize.
“So, I encourage all of you to step outside of your comfort zone in your intellectual pursuits. Even if it’s without an agenda, read a book about something that’s completely outside of your discipline. Listening to that podcast might not actually help you professionally, but all of these kinds of interdisciplinary connections do ultimately allow us to be more creative thinkers,” she stressed.
For climate action, Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) discussed the Philippines’ commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. She also noted the partnership between the DENR and the Aboitiz Foundation in environmental initiatives such as the A-Park program, Race To Reduce program, rehabilitation of the San Juan River and Boracay Wetland No. 4, Aboitiz Cleanergy Park, Pawikan Center and its commitment to the Water Alliance Coalition.
“The Foundation is a valued partner in the implementation of programs that promote the protection and conservation of the environment, biodiversity, and our natural resources,” she underscored.
Secretary Rex Gatchalian of the Department of Social Welfare and Development highlighted the importance of foundations like the Aboitiz Foundation and the private sector in providing technical skills and resources to help vulnerable communities and informal sector members become self-sufficient. He emphasized that the national government cannot do it alone and that synergizing resources and expertise is crucial for progress. During a conference, beneficiaries of Aboitiz Foundation programs shared their inspiring stories, such as the remarkable journey of the Thanksgiving Multi-Purpose Cooperative, the transformative impact of a scholarship from Cotabato Light and Power Company, and the Disaster Resilience Program of the Aboitiz Foundation in helping Iligan City become more climate resilient. By synergizing resources and expertise, the national government can work towards betterment for the country.
The foundation conference’s success resonated in the transformative insights and learnings attendees embraced, fueling their drive to reshape today and craft a brighter future for the next generation.
