United in this mission, SM Prime partnered with GUUN to actively participate in developing infrastructure for systematic waste management and resource recovery, following the best practices of Japan. The joint venture aims to reduce the landfill impact from both SM Prime and non-SM Prime managed properties, complementing the material recovery facility operations of the Local Government Units (LGUs).

GUUN’s “fluff fuel” is produced from non-recyclable and hard-to-recycle wastes through sorting, curating, and formulation to meet chemical limits. It serves as an alternative to solid fossil fuels like coal, fueling cement kilns and industrial boilers in paper manufacturing and power plants. This approach has proven effective in controlling landfilled waste in Japan, offering a second life for waste as productive fuels and creating opportunities for waste pickers to become formal waste sorters in these facilities.

“Fluff fuel” is one of the various solutions to control waste buildup in Japan. The partnership between SM Prime and GUUN will explore further implementation of recovery or reduction techniques, ensuring that waste is no longer wasted.

SM Prime Holdings Chairman of the Executive Committee Hans Sy, emphasizing a commitment to a positive impact on local communities, shared, “It is exciting for SM Prime to partner with GUUN Japan with a joint mission to bridge the gap between society and the environment in the Philippines through investing in their pioneering solid waste management technology, which will eventually benefit all the communities that SM Prime serves.”

Underscoring their dedication to making a positive impact on the Philippines, GUUN Co. Ltd. CEO Shinji Fujieda stated, “At GUUN, we are ready to make every effort to contribute significantly to the Philippines and evolve the resource circulation system. The partnership with SM Prime leaves us with no doubt that we can succeed.”

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga emphasized the importance of such partnerships in advancing sustainable waste management practices. She said, “The DENR continues to collaborate with development partners and the private sector in tackling the challenge of solid waste management. Implementing industrial-scale, appropriate transition technologies for segregation and processing is a crucial step toward achieving a circular economy. Partnerships like the one between SM Prime and GUUN play a vital role in shaping a sustainable future.” – Rappler.com

PRESS RELEASE

The forum was held on January 26, Friday, at SM City North EDSA.

SM is a staunch supporter of the autism community. Its partnership with ASP is part of an ongoing program in cultivating safe spaces and ensuring its mall facilities remain accessible to all. Aside from facilitating Sensitivity Training for its frontliners, SM will be supporting Autism Society Philippines with the latest leg of the Angels Walk for Autism by April. – Rappler.com

PRESS RELEASE

The ASUS x CORA sustainability campaign spanned three phases, each focusing on and involving various stakeholders for a holistic approach toward promoting eco-friendly products, reducing waste, intensifying awareness about circular economy and climate action, and educating people on how to lead an eco-conscious lifestyle.

“At ASUS, we believe that innovation and sustainability go hand in hand. As we continue innovating our products, we strive to be more sustainable,” said ASUS Philippines country manager George Su.

“We are immensely thankful for everyone, including our partner CORA, the ASUS Philippines employees, our partners, dealers, and all the Filipinos who helped us in this meaningful mission to protect and save our environment through recycling plastic and other everyday waste, giving them a second life, and promoting a sustainable and incredible future for the people and the planet.”

In 2007, ASUS launched its first sustainable notebook, the ASUS Bamboo Series. It received numerous environmental certifications and accolades for its revolutionary engineering and design. Early this year, ASUS launched the most sustainable Zenbook ever, the Zenbook S 13 OLED (UX5304), underscoring the company’s 2025 Sustainability Goals and its commitment to environmental stewardship.

Taking a significant step toward circular product design, the Zenbook S 13 OLED is an EPEAT Gold registered product with a positive environmental impact across the entire product lifecycle, from material use and manufacturing to assembly, use, and end-of-life. 

Circular economy starts with us

ASUS held a knowledge-sharing activity with its employees dubbed ASUStainable Solution: Circular Economy Starts with Us. CORA and its Circular Center Women Champions (CCWC) presented the country’s current plastic situation. They educated ASUS employees on how they can contribute to a circular economy by recycling typical household wastes, such as plastic bottles. Aside from instilling personal change, the workshop encouraged employees to disseminate what they learned to their family and friends.

After the seminar, a two-month recycling activity among ASUS employees was held, where they collected plastic bottles, soft plastics, sibak, colored paper, and cartons. These office and home wastes were collected through CORA’s Eco-Ikot Center pop-up, where dedicated trash bins were set up in the ASUS office. ASUS employees generated 840.6 kg. total waste. The waste collected was then brought to CORA’s partner Sentinel Upcycling Technologies to transform them into high-quality products such as benches, school chairs, and mobile trash bins.

Under the innovation and value creation pillar of the ASUS 2025 Sustainability Goals, ASUS also donated two ASUS Zenbook laptops to CORA to aid them in their administrative tasks. This includes recording data from their Eco-Ikot Center in Parañaque City and managing other programs and campaigns with public and private organizations.

The CORA Eco-Ikot Center is an inclusive and holistic recycling system that allows communities to exchange recyclables for points, which can be redeemed for various incentives. The first of its kind in the Philippines and the world, CORA’s Eco-Ikot Center provides a sustainable solution to the plastic pollution crisis.

ASUS x CORA Mall Caravan

For the second phase, ASUS installed CORA Eco-Ikot Center pop-ups in three ASUS Exclusive Stores, making it accessible for Filipinos to recycle and reduce plastic waste. Filipinos got to take home ASUS and CORA merchandise in exchange for clean and dry plastic bottles. The CCWCs educated them and other mallgoers what is circular economy and the benefits of recycling common plastic waste.

Mallgoers were also able to experience the Zenbook S 13 OLED and learned the importance of supporting and using eco-friendly products, further cementing ASUS’ sustainability thrust.

The ASUS x CORA Mall Caravan collected over 1,100 plastic bottles, equivalent to 28.5 kg. It was held at SM Cyberzone in Megamall, North EDSA, and Mall of Asia.

Celebrating International Coastal Cleanup Day

For the final leg, ASUS celebrated 2023 International Coastal Cleanup Day by combing the shore of Las Piñas-Parañaque Wetland Park (LPPWP) of trash and debris led by Zenbook S 13 OLED Ambassador and CORA Founder Antoinette Taus, together with volunteers from ASUS employees, media, influencers, partners, and dealers. This joint effort of 75 volunteers collected 646.2 kg. of plastic waste, Styrofoam, rubber materials, and stuffed toys. The trash accumulated was turned over to the Parañaque City Local Government Unit for proper waste disposal.

The data collected during the event will help CORA and government agencies address the dire waste problem in Manila Bay. The LPPWP is part of the Manila Bay coast and was reported to carry an estimated 9.46 billion pieces of plastic waste.

United Nations goodwill ambassador and CORA founder Antoinette Taus also shared, “We need to reduce our waste overall and make sure that the waste we do produce ends up in the right places, to the circular economy.”

The collective efforts of ASUS Global and its local markets contributed to the significant strides in sustainability focus areas. In the recently announced ASUS 2022 Sustainability Report, the global technology leader detailed that it exceeded ENERGY STAR standards by 34%. Its eco-friendly products also accounted for 87% of total product revenue. 

These and more led ASUS to bag multiple 2023 Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards and receive international recognition. ASUS will continue to create local and global initiatives toward being a net-zero enterprise in 2050. – Rappler.com

PRESS RELEASE

People often think heroism is limited to certain individuals, separate from themselves. However, heroes can be found everywhere. On National Heroes Day, AboitizPower honors everyday heroes that empower communities across the country. 

Eugene Matin-aw leads Scubasureros, a diving group in Barangay Bato, Toledo City, Cebu, conducting monthly cleanups to remove plastic waste from shorelines and underwater areas. Supported by the local government and communities, this initiative by AboitizPower subsidiary Therma Visayas benefits the environment and boosts fish populations. 

“Rudy Boy” serves as the caretaker of Davao City’s Aboitiz Cleanergy Park, which protects turtle nesting sites, provides habitats for diverse marine species, and promotes ecological harmony.

Despite initial relocation concerns, nearby residents now advocate for the park due to its positive environmental impact. 

Bishop Valentin Dimoc, Social Action Development Center (SADC) director, helped transform Lagawe coffee growers in Ifugao, who excelled in Arabica-Robusta blending through hard work. Their success led to their business expansion and the construction of the Ifugao Roasting Center, backed by SN Aboitiz Power and SADC. 

AboitizPower believes in individual potential for positive change. The company supports these contemporary heroes to sustain impactful contributions within their communities. After all, heroes are made, not born. – Rappler.com

As working students enter the workforce earlier than most, they are challenged with finding jobs that can accommodate their needs. They look for employers who can provide a flexible working environment with good management, along with government-mandated benefits and opportunities for career advancement – all making learning on the job fulfilling. 

The recognition of these needs is at the heart of McDonald’s Philippines since it started welcoming working students as part of its McDonald’s crew. The company has been practicing non-contractualization and direct hiring since its inception in 1981 which allows it to continually provide Filipino youth with job security as they continue to work towards securing a college degree. 

An environment fit for working students

In their recent employee feature film, McDonald’s Philippines interviewed crew member Jess, who shares his experiences as a working student. In the heartwarming film, Jess was surprised by messages from his close friends and colleagues. 

Prior to his employment with McDonald’s Philippines, he was searching for work opportunities that allow him to keep up with his schoolwork. Jess is grateful to have found this in McDonald’s—a company that gives him the opportunity to work around his school schedule and encourages him to continue striving for his educational pursuits.

“Nag papasalamat po talaga ako sa McDonald’s sa pagbibigay ng opportunity for working students like me. Bukod sa pagkakaroon ng avenue para kumita ng pangtustos sa aking pag-aaral, McDonald’s also understands my situation and how my studies are a priority. ” said Jess.

Growing with McDonald’s Philippines

Aside from providing flexible working conditions, McDonald’s Philippines also ensures that its employees learn lifelong skills that will further help them in their professional careers. While working at McDonald’s stores and interacting with customers from all walks of life, crew members are geared towards honing their customer service expertise, communication skills, and teamwork.

After joining McDonald’s, Jess shared how he overcame his shyness when socializing with other people through his interaction with McDonald’s customers: “Tinuruan ako ng McDonald’s kung paano maging mas confident in facing different kinds of people at kung paano ko magagamit yung skills ko para masigurong maayos ang serbisyong ibinibigay ko sa aming mga customers.” 

Jess also shared how being surrounded by inspiring people at work makes for his positive experience at McDonald’s: “Masaya po ako dahil mayroon akong managers na understanding at supportive sa aking pag-aaral. Marami rin po akong mga ka-trabaho na kagaya ko ring working student and they also inspire me to do my best.”

Empowering the Filipino youth

Last year, McDonald’s Philippines hired more than 11k working students to be part of McDonald’s crew. Interested students can proceed to the nearest McDonald’s branch or they can also visit www.mcdonalds.com.ph/careers. Apart from regular job opportunities, McDonald’s also aims to cultivate the values and skills necessary for students to grow in their respective fields.

Beyond providing thousands of Filipino students with regular work, McDonald’s extends its commitment to generating gainful employment to other communities. 

Staying true to its commitment, McDonald’s continues to create quality and equally-accessible career opportunities through its Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES), in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), to reach more Filipino youth. Through SPES, the company was able to give more than 16,000 low-income students employment and work experience since 2011.

“Our legacy of providing quality employment for more Filipinos, especially the youth, will continue as we grow.  This is a way McDonald’s is able to make a lasting impact in improving the lives of thousands of Filipinos. But beyond opportunities for today, our goal is to provide our people with opportunities for them to be better in the future through our world-class training. ,” said Kenneth S. Yang, President and CEO of McDonald’s Philippines.

For more information, visit the McDonald’s Careers Facebook Page (McDo PH Careers FB Page) or McDonald’s Philippines LinkedIn to check out career opportunities with McDonald’s Philippines. – Rappler.com

Smallholder farmers dominate agricultural production in the Philippines, but most of them are struggling to improve their farming practices and find buyers due to a lack of access to training and technologies.

Since 2008, Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) and its partners nationwide have been empowering farmers to have a more sustainable livelihood and income. 

JGF’s Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP) is a comprehensive agro-entrepreneurship program that helps sharpen the technical and business skills of farmers. FEP also links farmers to institutional markets such as the Jollibee Group’s brands for increased and steady income. 

Jollibee Group currently has 18 accredited farmer groups as suppliers. Since the program began, FEP farmers have delivered 9 million kilos of vegetables to the company and earned more than P360 million ($6.3 million).

“JGF and our partners assist farmers in becoming farmer-entrepreneurs, allowing them to participate more actively in agriculture value chains, provide food for their own families, and contribute to the country’s food security,” said JGF Executive Director Gisela Tiongson.

Smallholder farmer interventions

JGF collaborates with community-based partners to shift farmers’ mindsets and practices from individual producers to agro-entrepreneurs working in clusters. This shift changes farmers’ lives by providing them with a more sustainable source of income and increasing their pride in the value of their work.

Through agro-entrepreneurship and leadership training, farmers learn the Agro-Enterprise Clustering Approach, which organizes farmers into clusters and guides them in developing a business plan to establish their collective farming enterprise.

Farmers learn to enhance the quality of their goods to satisfy market standards in addition to being formally structured as groups or cooperatives. Currently, 94% of FEP farmer groups are certified under the Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP), which ensure that the crop production complies with food safety standards.

The Foundation then helps farmers access reliable markets for their produce. White onions used in Jollibee Yumburger, spring onions sprinkled on the Chowking Chao Fan, green bell peppers in the Greenwich Hawaiian Overload Pizza, and ginger and calamansi in Mang Inasal products are grown with joy and supplied by FEP farmers.

In addition, FEP farmers gain access to innovations and technologies on weather, crops and soil to help increase their yield and manage resources such as seeds and fertilizers.

As a result of these initiatives, farmers learn how to scale their operations, maintain their status as suppliers to big companies, and further expand their clientele. 

“These interventions are made possible with the help of our local and international partners in the agriculture ecosystem. We are extremely grateful for the assistance they provide that adds value to the farmers for the long term,” Tiongson said.

A farmer’s entrepreneurship journey

Christopher Losilo, 47, is a member of the AGAP Farmers Association in Laguna. His parents are farmers too, but he noted how different his situation is now. 

“Sila po noon ay walang market. Noong bata pa ako, bumababa kami ng bundok at tumatawid ng ilog papuntang Maynila para magbenta, at mahirap talaga. Ngayon, nakakadirekta kami sa market tulad ng Chowking. Malaking bagay ito kasi hindi na namin hahanapin kung saan pababagsakin ang aming produkto (My parents didn’t have a market to sell their crops. When I was a child, we used to descend from the mountain and cross a river to go to Manila to sell; it was hard. Now, we can sell directly to Chowking. It’s a big thing that we no longer have to look hard for markets),” he said.

AGAP farmers deliver to several Chowking branches in Laguna and other institutional buyers. Throughout their entrepreneurship journey, they are assisted by JGF partner Ahon Sa Hirap, Inc., a microfinance institution that serves smallholder farmers. With mentoring from JGF, ASHI guides AGAP from cluster formation to market delivery, as well as the group’s continuous improvement through additional trainings and grants. 

“Ngayon, kaya kong ipagpatuloy ang pagsasaka para sa sa mga magulang at mga anak ko. Sana maging bukas ang iba pang magsasaka sa ganitong oportunidad. Maraming umaasa sa mga magsasaka (Now, I can continue farming for my parents and my children. I hope other farmers will also be open to this opportunity. Many people depend on farmers),” Christopher said. 

To learn more about the Farmer Entrepreneurship Program and to watch the video essay inspired by the growth of FEP farmers, visit the Jollibee Group Foundation official Facebook Page at fb.com/JollibeeGroupFoundationInc. – Rappler.com

“Focus lang, Kirt. Kaya mo mag-top.”

SM scholar Kirt Baguio recalled what he whispered to himself just before he took the 2022 Civil Engineering Board Examination. Those simple words were the last dose of motivation he needed as he culminated years of sacrifices and hard work for himself and his family. 

Looking back, Kirt wasn’t always at the top. He came from a humble family who worked doubly hard to get through everyday life. His father worked as a contractual carpenter, while his mom was a vendor. While both had jobs, their combined income wasn’t enough to fund his and his sister’s college education.

Although the Baguio family’s eldest provided financial support, Kirt took it upon himself to find a way to support his schooling. As he worked as a part-time tutor for high school students, he applied for an SM Foundation scholarship and got in! 

Rising to greatness

Kirt held dearly in his heart his father’s dream of having an engineer in the family: “My father’s family worked in construction as laborers. And it has always been his dream to have an engineer in our family, so I decided to take Civil Engineering. It was also a way to challenge my skills in math–a subject I’m good at.”

“It was tough when I started studying at Far Eastern University (FEU) Institute of Technology. Every day, I had to travel from Caloocan to Manila for about two to three hours since we didn’t have money for rent. But since I was young, my family’s situation has been difficult. This fueled me to dream of a better life. That’s why I pushed myself to overcome challenges as a student,” Kirt said.

To not let money stop him from going after his dream, he took the opportunity given to SM scholars to work part-time during school breaks. Just when he was closer to giving the life he had wanted for his family, a harsh storm came his way.

“Ang biggest challenge ko po siguro ay ‘yong mawala si Papa. Pangarap ko ito, ngunit mas pangarap niyang magkaroon ng engineer na anak. On my last semester in college, kinuha na po siya ni Lord. Pero alam ko pong gingabayan niya pa rin ako, so I continued our dream and heto na po ako ngayon,” he bravely shared.

He maintained a winning mentality to make his way through engineering school, emerge triumphantly in the board examination, and fulfill his late father’s dream.

When he prepared for the board examinations, he focused on his goal and aimed to top–not just pass the exam. Alongside ensuring that he mastered the basic principles of his profession, he carefully planned and evaluated the best routine that suited his capabilities. All his efforts paid off when he learned that he ranked 10th in the recent Civil Engineer Licensure Examination.

Beyond greatness

While Kirt has finally reached his father’s dream, he’s geared to provide the best life for his family and pursue greatness in his chosen field.

“Now that I am a licensed engineer, I will practice my profession with integrity so others can see me as a role model. I also want to succeed in the field I will pursue and someday teach and share my expertise with young civil engineering students,” he shared as he thanked his teachers, friends, and family.

“The learnings as an SM scholar gave me an advantage when I prepared for the licensure exam. The testimonies from successful scholars in every scholars’ assembly gave me the motivation to continue pursuing what I want. I learned that whatever your status is in life, there’s always an opportunity that will come your way–you just have to realize, grab, and work for it,” he gleaned from his experiences.

Engr. Kirt is among the 16 SM scholar alumni who passed the November 2022 Civil Engineering Licensure Examination. – Rappler.com

For the past two years, we haven’t been able to celebrate Christmas the way we used to. We couldn’t get together with our friends, families, and relatives – that we sometimes only see during the holidays – because of the pandemic. But now that the restrictions have eased up, it’s time to spend this most wonderful time of the year with our loved ones once again. 

McDonald’s and Coca-Cola Philippines made this possible for the families of Sitio Pintor through their #ShareTheLight campaign. Apart from their holiday offerings and lighting up of some of their McDonald’s branches, part of the #ShareTheLight campaign is the donation drive. 

They kickstarted the holiday festivities for these families by organizing a Christmas party and bringing the donation drive to Sitio Pintor in Rodriguez, Rizal last December 11. They gave out Kindness Kitchen Meals, noche buena packs consisting of an 8-pc Chicken McShare Box and 1.5L Coke, and of course, Happy Meal toys for the kids.

“Ang McDo ay narito para iparamdam ang liwanag ng Pasko,” said Marie Angeles, executive director, Ronald McDonald Charities. “Sa pamamagitan nito, nais namin mabigyan ng memorable na Pasko ang pamilyang Pilipino.”

[McDonald’s is here to let you experience the light of Christmas. Through this, we would like to give Filipino families a memorable Christmas.]

The families spent their Sunday playing party games like musical chairs, longest line, and newspaper dance where they got to win special prizes. They also danced and sang along to the performances by Ronald McDonald himself and the gang, and a special number by KZ Tandingan. 

McDonald’s and Coca-Cola also set up interactive booths that let the children play games and win cool prizes like Happy Meal toys.

“Totoo talaga na may real magic kapag ang Pasko ay cine-celebrate nang sama-sama kasama ang pamilya,” said Anna Taruc, Key Accounts Senior Manager, Coca-Cola Philippines. “Ang pamaskong handog ng Coke sa mga taga Sitio Pintor ay ipadadama namin sa inyo ang liwanag ng Pasko.”

[It’s true that there’s real magic when you celebrate Christmas together with the family. Coke’s gift for the families of Sitio Pintor is to make you feel the light of Christmas.]

The residents of Sitio Pintor went home with smiles on their faces, gifts in their hands, and noche buena packs consisting of an 8-pc Chicken McShare Box and a bottle of Coca-Cola 1.5L, to bring home to their families. 

“Napakaswerte namin. Taos puso ang aming pasaalamat sa pag-share n’yo po ng blessings,” said Brgy. San Isidro chairman Karen May Hernandez. “Sana maulit po.”

[We are so lucky. Our heartfelt thanks to you for sharing your blessings with us. We hope to see you again.]

Sitio Pintor residents weren’t the only beneficiaries of the donation drive. McDonald’s also gave out Happy Meal books and toys to different local government units like Manila, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Pasay, and government agencies like the Philippine Navy, MMDA, and DepEd Region XII – Lanao Del Norte.

If you would also like to send your donations to families in need, you may do so by scanning the QR code below or clicking this link bit.ly/donatermhc.

– Rappler.com

To celebrate Colgate-Palmolive’s 95 years in the Philippines, Palmolive Naturals led #PalmoliveSeedsHOPE, a coconut tree planting project, in General Santos City, South Cotabato where 9,500 coconut seedlings were distributed to 95 farmers in the barangays of Lutay, Malungon, and San Jose.

The tree planting activity is a collaboration between Palmolive and HOPE, the country’s first certified B Corp impact organization that invests in education, agriculture, and environment programs that support interventions of underserved communities, such as those of smallholder coconut farmers in Mindanao. 

“Napatunayan namin na ang [pagiging] isang Palmolive Girl ay hindi lamang tungkol sa pagkakaroon ng napaka-gandang buhok at napaka-gandang kutis. Ang tunay na Palmolive Girl, mahalaga sa kanya ang kalikasan at ang kinabukasan ng mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya,” Palmolive Girl Bianca Umali shared in the #PalmoliveSeedsHOPE video. 

(We’ve proven that being a Palmolive Girl is not just about having gorgeous hair and beautiful skin. A true Palmolive Girl cares about nature and the future of the people around her.)

Together with the farmers and their families, Palmolive’s brand ambassadors and employees  planted coconut seedlings to help populate the smallholder farmers’ coconut plantation. This will give them more opportunities for a bountiful harvest – and considering the long lifespan of coconuts – will also lead to a more sustainable livelihood for the farmers, their children, and even their grandchildren.

“Malaking tulong ang pagtatanim ng mas marami pang puno ng niyog sa kalikasan, pati na rin sa aming kabuhayan dito sa Mindanao. Ito’y para sa aming mga anak at susunod pang henerasyon. Maraming, maraming salamat Palmolive at HOPE!” said Abel Sague, one of the coconut farmers who joined the event.

(Planting more coconut trees is a big help not just for the environment but also for our livelihood here in Mindanao. This will benefit our children and more generations to come. Thank you so much, Palmolive and HOPE!)

#PalmoliveSeedsHOPE was made possible by Palmolive’s Gandang Natural Gandang Panalo promo which ran from May 1 to July 31 this year. Part of the proceeds of all the entries were donated to this meaningful project.

The tree planting activity is not only a celebration of Colgate-Palmolive’s 95th anniversary but also of this feat. Being able to share 9,500 coconut seedlings with the farming community in GenSan is not something that happens every day and Palmolive is thankful to everyone who joined the promo and made this happen.  – Rappler.com

Learn more about the #PalmoliveSeedsHOPE through this website. Follow Palmolive on Facebook for more updates.

SM Foundation (SMFI), the corporate social responsibility arm of the SM group, together with Maxeon Solar Technologies, recently powered up the Lemery Pilot Elementary School (LPES) in Batangas through the Sinag Schools program.

This social good collaboration between SMFI and Maxeon aims to provide clean and renewable energy to schools in grassroots communities by installing solar panels on an SM school building, especially to those that have low operating expenses. 

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

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

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

It takes a village to raise a child

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

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

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

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

Spreading social good all the way

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

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

Maxeon is headquartered in Singapore. The company designs, manufactures, and sells Maxeon® and SunPower® brand solar panels. Maxeon has sales operations in more than 100 countries, operating under the SunPower brand in certain countries outside the United States. Maxeon is a leader in solar innovation with products that span the global rooftop and solar power plant markets through a network of more than 1,700 trusted partners and distributors. A pioneer in sustainable solar manufacturing, Maxeon leverages a +35-year history in the solar industry and numerous awards for its technology.

SM Foundation, through its School Building Program, is an active partner of DepEd’s Adopt-a-School program. This social good initiative aims to promote quality public education by building classrooms nationwide. To date, it has turned over more than 100 school buildings to grassroots communities. – Rappler.com