After Haiyan | A Journey to Wonderful.

When Supertyphoon Haiyan (local name Typhoon Yolanda) unleashed its fury a year ago, it left a trail of unimaginable devastation to lives and properties. One of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded, Haiyan left 6,300 casualties in the Philippines alone. Yet, despite the bleak scenario, hope continued to exist as public and private sectors as well as the international community joined hands to bring the country back on its feet. Globe Telecom was among the first companies to respond to the call for help.

“Globe recognizes how every little effort counts in rebuilding the nation, thus, it went out of its way to rally the employees, customers, partners, and other stakeholders to raise funds for the construction of homes and school buildings and for the creation of livelihood opportunities in areas hardly hit by the disaster. Project Wonderful was born out of this desire to aid in nation building. Ten months since it was launched, we now see the fruits of our efforts but we are not stopping until we fulfill all our commitments,” said Yoly Crisanto, Senior Vice President, Globe Corporate Communications.

Newly-constructed homes in Gawad Kalinga, New Washington, Aklan.

At present, Globe together with Gawad Kalinga, has completed a total of 162 homes in Brgy. Tambulilid, Ormoc, Leyte and Brgy. Fatima, New Washington, Aklan, as well as in Brgy. Tugas, Madridejos, Bantayan Island, Cebu via sponsorship of SingTel. An additional 28 houses are scheduled for construction in Libacao, Aklan early January for a total of 190 units. Globe is also set to give out 600 shelter kits to Libacao before yearend aside from the 940 shelter kits distributed in Madalag, Aklan earlier.

Shelter kits.

In addition, Globe also became a Development Sponsor for Aklan under the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR) where it spearheads initiatives in housing, education, livelihood, and health to help seven of the hardest hit municipalities: Libacao, Madalag, Banga, Batan, Altavas, Balete, and New Washington.

School construction site.

Globe not only provides houses for Aklan but is also working on building schools for its seven areas of concentration. With the help of Habitat for Humanity and Ayala Foundation, the company is building in two phases. The first phase involves the construction of “Noah’s Ark”-type classrooms that double as evacuation structures during calamities as they are equipped with three toilet and bath facilities each as well as a kitchen. The second phase is comprised of more than 30 regular but “built back better” classrooms to be funded from proceeds of the company’s enterprise-wide waste management program, as well as from parent-company Ayala Corporation.

To top it off, Globe also launched Project 1 Phone to educate Filipinos on the importance of proper disposal of electronic waster or e-waste and to contribute to the building of classrooms in Aklan. Under this project, everyone can support the efforts in Aklan by donating their old, non-working mobile phones for recycling at participating Globe Stores. Proceeds of the program will be used as additional funding for the schools. Cash donations of 5, 20, 50, 100, 500 denominations may also be sent directly to Habitat for Humanity by texting DONATE HABITAT and send to 4438.

Globe MyBusiness and Gawad Kalinga | Building the Nation Together.

Several months ago, leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom and poverty-alleviation movement Gawad Kalinga joined hands to rehabilitate the typhoon-stricken areas in the Visayas. This time around, they come together to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities to residents of GK Villages. Not only will this initiative help the residents in making a living, but also make this underserved sector a significant partner in nation building.

“Globe continues to do its share in building a resilient Philippines with programs that move toward initiating sustainable efforts like providing livelihood opportunities. Together with our long-time partner Gawad Kalinga and their social enterprises, we are doing our best to create a wonderful world of possibilities by helping them discover and nurture their potentials,” said Martha Sazon, Sr. Vice President, Globe MyBusiness.

Globe myBusiness, which provides small and medium businesses with innovative, customizable products, services and solutions, helped leapfrog the implementation of the Gawad Kalinga Workers Association (GAWA), a program which aims to empower the underprivileged sector by helping them make a living. With GAWA, informal sector will be given a chance to earn a living either on their own or by serving the community through values formation and skills development programs. Founded in July 2013, GAWA has conducted 42 forums that produced 2,258 graduates, with more to follow.

Skilled workers of the GAWA Build Team.
Photo credit: GK GAWA.

One major accomplishment of the program was the formation of the GAWA Build Team.  These are GAWA graduates that help GK bring to completion projects that have demanding timelines or are in areas where support is much needed such as the housing projects in Zamboanga City; Tanay, Rizal; Rio Tuba, Palawan; and in different parts of Leyte.

Oscar Sibaya, GAWA graduate from Caloocan, busily sews uniforms for janitorial services.

Aside from training the GK residents, GAWA also assists in finding jobs for the graduates. A number of them are now employed as on-call housekeepers, drivers, sewers, spa/massage attendants, cable network installers, among others.

Teodoro Suaza of GAWA leads the Home Maintenance Team.

Globe actively supports social enterprises, micro-entrepreneurs, and local producers through its sustainable livelihood advocacy. By providing technology, training, and market access, the company hopes to promote inclusive growth in bottom-of-the-pyramid communities.

Globe and Gawad Kalinga Inaugurate Tattoo Village in Ormoc, Leyte.

One love, one heart... let's get together and feel all right! 
So goes Bob Marley's epic song 'One Love'. I can't help but hum this song to myself each time I hear or read of stories about people coming together to help even more people in need.

Case in point, Globe Tattoo's partnership with Gawad Kalinga and their continuous efforts to rehabilitate the typhoon-stricken areas in the Visayas. Just recently, Globe and GK formally inaugurated the Tattoo Village in Barangay Tambulilid in Ormoc, Leyte. The unveiling of the new village was formally instituted through the actual building of the first five houses in the village, with Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu, Gawad Kalinga Executive Director Luis Oquinena, and Ormoc Mayor Edward Codilla spearheading the event.

Globe unveiled the marker for the Tattoo Village led by the Globe Senior Leadership Team, Gawad Kalinga and Ormoc’s local government unit. (From L-R) Globe Chief Finance Officer Albert de Larrazabal; Gawad Kalinga Executive Director Luis Oquinena, Tattoo brand ambassador Georgina Wilson; Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu; Ormoc Mayor Edward Codilla and City Council; Globe Head of Human Resources Ato Jiao; Tattoo Brand Ambassador Mars Miranda; (Seated L-R) Globe Chief Operating Advisor Peter Bithos; Tattoo Brand Ambassador Liz Uy; Globe Senior Vice President for Broadband Business Gilbert Simpao and Globe Vice President for Tattoo Nomadic Broadband Business Dong Ronquillo

Joining Cu, Oquinena and Codilla were Globe Chief Finance Officer Albert de Larrazabal, Globe Head of Human Resources Ato Jiao, Globe Chief Operating Advisor Peter Bithos and Globe Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications Yoly Crisanto. The Tattoo team also came in full force with Senior Vice President for Broadband Business Gilbert Simpao, Globe Vice President for Tattoo Nomadic Broadband Business Dong Ronquillo and brand ambassadors Georgina Wilson, Liz Uy and Mars Miranda.

Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu painting the wall in one of the houses.

The Tattoo Village is part the company’s rehabilitation initiatives coming from the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda. Now holistically referred to as Project Wonderful, the rehabilitation initiative is part of a unified platform for the company’s brand, culture, and nation-building efforts.

Globe Chief Operating Advisor Peter Bithos preparing the cement for hollow block laying.

As Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu said, “The official unveiling of the Tattoo Village testifies to our dedication to spark hope and progress for the country. Globe is going beyond providing relief assistance to affected communities and instead move towards initiating sustainable efforts like building homes and providing livelihood opportunities, so we can help create a wonderful world for our fellow Filipinos in need.” 

Globe Chief Finance Officer Albert de Larrazabal and Senior Vice President for Broadband Business Gilbert Simpao do the prep work for hollow block molding.

As a response, Tattoo pooled its resources resulting to a P15M grant to Gawad Kalinga to aid in rebuilding homes for 100 families. Together with the initial donation, another P1.2M was raised through a charity dinner hosted by Cu, his wife Arlene, and Ronquillo, attended by Tattoo’s brand ambassadors, business partners and friends from the media. The broadband brand also brought its brand ambassador Bamboo to Brgy. Tambulilid last December led by Globe Vice President for Tattoo Home Broadband Business Jurist Gamban, bringing with them truckloads of toys for children in time for the Christmas season.

Dong Ronquillo and Georgina Wilson help lay the hollow blocks in one of the houses

Project Wonderful ambassador and long-distance advocacy runner Mac Milan also played his part at the event by bringing with him the toys he collected from his fundraiser runs. Milan is gearing up to add a toy library that will benefit the children of the Tattoo Village. The Toy Library aptly called ‘Aralaruan’ consists of educational materials suited for kids of different ages.

Project Wonderful ambassador Mac Milan mingles with the children of Brgy. Tambulilid.

Divided into different groups, Globe executives led groups of employees and friends from the media on various activities throughout the Gawad Kalinga build. Each one had a chance to experience hardworking tasks that included house painting, hollow block laying, hollow block making and sand sifting.

The whole Globe Team joined by Gawad Kalinga and some friends from the press geared up to volunteer for the GK build that also stands as the inauguration of the Tattoo Village.

Georgina Wilson spent some of her time playing with the kids.

After all the hard work, Brgy. Tambulilid residents gave the Globe team a heartwarming thanks through the GK Unity dance. They were joined by Dong Ronquillo, Liz Uy, Georgina Wilson and Mars Miranda.

For over 10 years, Globe Telecom has fortified a successful partnership with Gawad Kalinga. Fundamentally anchored on a common calling to uplift the lives of marginalized Filipinos, Globe and Gawad Kalinga have supported each other and banked on their respective strengths to be able to build and support communities, especially in times of great need or rehabilitation.

Rebuilding the Nation with Globe's Project Wonderful.

It's been three months since the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan), which barrelled through the country and caused great damage to the Visayas region. Although it's been said that it will take a long time before the region can fully recover from the devastation, efforts to rehabilitate the typhoon-hit areas are continuous and ongoing. This, of course, wouldn't have been possible without the help of the international community and the big businesses here in the Philippines.

Photo credit: News Flash

Globe Telecom, for instance, recently launched Project Wonderful which aims to provide support in rebuilding communities through sustainable development. The company’s corporate response to nation building, Project Wonderful endeavors to provide shelter to the homeless, bring education to the children, and generate livelihood opportunities for the jobless.

For the housing sector, Globe through a P15-million donation of its mobile and home broadband brand Tattoo, will build houses in the Gawad Kalinga Rotary Village in Brgy. Tambulilid, Ormoc, Leyte for the benefit of 100 families as well as provide livelihood projects for the residents. Repair kits for 500 homes will also be given to affected host communities in Culion, Palawan; Daanbantayan, Cebu; and Guiuan, Eastern Samar in partnership with Habitat for Humanity while another 940 shelter kits will be distributed in Malaya and Madalag, Aklan in partnership with Non-Timber Forest Products.

One with the nation.

For the education sector, Globe will establish 100 tent classrooms in totally damaged elementary and secondary high schools as well as distribute at least 5,000 learning kits for students and teachers in identified tent schools. Latest statistics showed that Typhoon Yolanda damaged over 1 million houses, more than 20,000 classrooms of public schools, and P17 billion worth of agricultural products in regions 4B, 6, 7, and 8.

Also, Globe Telecom’s network in the Visayas has normalized, and local enterprises may now avail of their broadband services in the region.

“We recognize the importance of communication services as a tool that could enhance business opportunities. We want to help the local economy in these typhoon-hit areas by making it our priority to restore network services that include not only voice and text services but also mobile data services, “ said Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu. He stressed that in support of the government’s rebuilding efforts, Globe has accelerated the restoration of telco services in the area to encourage local businesses to resume normal operations, provide livelihood for local residents and in turn spur the local economy.

Proud to be part of Globe Project Wonderful! :)

The road to recovery may be long and arduous, but in terms of fighting spirit, Filipinos are relentless, unyielding, tenacious. After all, we are a nation of heroes, and heroes never falter.

Unwrap Hope | Bamboo and Tattoo Home Broadband give smiles to children of Ormoc.

Ever wondered what your favorite stars and celebrities do during Christmas and the New Year? Here's a peek at how rock icon Bamboo celebrated the holidays.

Tattoo Home Broadband together with celebrated rock icon Bamboo gave the children of Brgy. Tambulilid Elementary School in Ormoc, Leyte plenty of reasons to smile with gifts of toys in time for Christmas.

A fitting finale to a successful run of Bamboo's Christmas concert Believe: Christmas at Home with Bamboo, the concert became the prime vehicle to be able to collect over 2000 toys for the benefit of the kids in the said barangay. After the onslaught of typhoon Yolanda, Tattoo, through Globe Telecom's Bangon Pinoy program, gave its commitment to restore and rebuild 100 homes in Ormoc, in partnership with Gawad Kalinga. And with the holiday season Tattoo chose to give importance to the children of the community who were left most vulnerable after the calamity.

Bamboo’s concert Believe: Christmas at Home with Bamboo held at the Music Museum is part of Tattoo’s #UnwrapHope project with an end goal to give over 2000 kids toys as gifts for Christmas

Everyone who wanted to watch the concert purchased toys in exchange for the tickets. On the other hand, those who simply wanted to share a simple Christmas message posted their video greetings on Instagram with the hashtag #UnwrapHope. Each video post was also equivalent to a toy that Tattoo donated on their behalf. And as a special treat, a creative selection of these videos were compiled and revealed during Bamboo’s concert.

Bamboo together with Tattoo Home Broadband's Jurist Gamban holding some of the stuffed toys that will be given to the children of Brgy. Tambulilid in Ormoc, Leyte.

Following the collection of toys was the gift wrapping activity held at the Globe Tower where employees, Tattoo customers and Bamboo's fans alike helped each other to wrap and put a bow on every single toy. The gifts were sealed with Christmas cards from the kids of Taguig Elementary school.

Bamboo, together with the whole Tattoo team, Tattoo subscribers and fans alike
worked together to wrap over 2000 gifts for the kids.

As Globe Senior Vice President for Broadband Business Gilbert Simpao said, "What better way to end a blessed year right than to give back. We feel very lucky to have this opportunity to make kids happy especially after what happened with typhoon Yolanda. And this is just the beginning as we commit to return in time to rebuild of their homes".

Brand new toys were shipped to Ormoc in time for the gift-giving celebration with Tattoo and Bamboo.

And just like Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, Bamboo and the whole Tattoo team and Globe employee volunteers arrived at the elementary school bearing gifts of joy in the form of truckloads of toys.

"We will forever be thankful that these children welcomed us and allowed us to be a part of their Christmas celebration. But we don't only want to be here just for the holidays. We are here for this community for the long haul and we look forward to making more children happier in the near future," continues Globe Vice President for Tattoo Home Broadband Business Jurist Gamban.

Joining Bamboo, Simpao and Gamban in the recent gift giving was Globe Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications Yoly Crisanto, and Globe Vice President for Nomadic Broadband Business Dong Ronquillo alongside Globe employee volunteers who gave their time and effort for this meaningful cause.

The children gave the Tattoo team a warm welcome and even had a chance to dance with them. Kids received toys from huggable stuffed dolls and building blocks to action figures.

The kids of Brgy. Tambulilid gave the Tattoo team a warm welcome and eagerly waited for their turn to receive a toy.

Tattoo together with Gawad Kalinga are now in the process of preparing in time for the building of the Tattoo-GK village in Brgy. Tambulilid this January. Apart from 100 houses, the village can also count on Tattoo's support with livelihood programs designed for sustainable living. Tattoo was able to raise funding for this project with their donation of 100% of their sales from their sticks and home broadband plans for November and December.

Bamboo and Jurst Gamban handing out the gifts to the children.

Bangon Pinoy is Globe Telecom’s enterprise-wide disaster response initiative that aims to have a unified system for donations, relief efforts, and corporate social responsibility programs across products and services. It is an integrated program that allows communities devastated by calamities to benefit from various efforts geared towards rebuilding and rehabilitation. It was first introduced by Globe in 2009 after typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng wreaked havoc in the country.

For more updates visit www.globe.com.ph/BangonPinoy. 

Social Enterprise Products | Purpose Beyond Profit.

Remember the launching of the Human Heart Nature Laguna Concept Store that happened two Saturdays ago, and how impressed I was with its posh, new look? Here's another thing that really blew me away.

The 'Social Enterprise' wall!

Food products! Lots and lots of food products!
There's Enchantea, a bottled drink made from these five ingredients: lemongrass, duhat, pandan, and calamansi.

Enchantea, Php 35/bottle.

This all-natural and healthy beverage is co-designed, brewed, and bottled by the residents of the Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan.

Goodness you can drink!

Also from the same farm are these Golden Eggs.

Golden Eggs, 6 pieces at Php 140. 

Instead of the usual red, these salted eggs are dyed in turmeric yellow - the color of hope for Gawad Kalinga. Food-grade and all-natural dyes are used to color these eggs, making them safer and more fit for consumption.

Cafe de Sug, Php 250/pouch.

Cafe de Sug, on the other hand, is more than just coffee. It's also an attempt, a continuous effort to change the negative mindset about Sulu.

Instead of being in the spotlight for rampant killings and terrorist attacks, Sulu is slowly becoming known as home to this bold and flavorful coffee.This Tausug brew is made with whole roasted, premium Arabica beans grown by the Gawad Kalinga Sulu Sibol community. 

Theo & Philo Artisan Chocolates, Php 100/bar.

Craving for chocolate?

Have a bar or two of these artisan chocolates from Theo & Philo - the only bean to bar chocolate from the Philippines. Made from Davao cacao beans, each bar of Theo & Philo is infused with creative and uniquely Filipino flavors.

Dark Chocolate with Siling Labuyo on the left, Dark Chocolate with Green Mango and Sea Salt on the right.

70% Dark Chocolate.

Note that these products do not come from the normal enterprise. Like Human Heart Nature, these brands have more than just profit in mind. They are what we call the social enterprise - a social economy that  operates like a business, produces goods and services for the market, but manages its operations and redirects its surpluses in pursuit of social and environmental goals*.

An equally noble goal of social enterprise (aside from generating income to pursue more of a non-profit's mission) is the involvement of the marginalized - thus creating capacity and self-sufficiency for individuals, and impacting their communities and lessening reliance on the social safety net (eg. the Enchanted Farm, the Sulu Sibol Community). 

So next time you take a sip of Enchantea, or enjoy a cup of Cafe de Sug, or satisfy your craving with Theo & Philo, keep in mind that you are not just delighting your appetite. By supporting these brands, you are - in your own little way - also helping to build a more sustainable economy and a stronger nation.

Enchantea, Golden Egg, Cafe de Sug, and Theo & Philo are also available at the Human Heart Nature Flagship Store in Quezon City. Cafe de Sug can also be ordered online.

*Defining the Social Economy, Fiona Salkie.


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