The official publication of the Ayala group of companies Volume 13, Number 3, May-June 2009
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Ayala tops corporate
governance scorecard
Seven Ayala companies achieved the highest
scores in the Institute of Corporate Directors’
(ICD) 4th Corporate Governance (CG)
Scorecard Project.
Ayala president
Fernando Zobel
de Ayala delivers
a speech at
the ICD Annual
Dinner for
Fellows and
Associates
Sustainability reports reaffirm Ayala’s environmental and social commitments
Manila Water bags top corporate social resposibility award
Ayala 175th anniversary program wins Asian Multimedia Publishing Award
175KB Project: Sharing the love for reading
Globe, ALI organize running event for Habitat for Humanity
Fernando Zobel in the 1950s
Globe DUO offers
landline and mobile
services in one SIM
Globe Telecom recently launched another breakthrough product called Globe DUO, an
innovative service that offers both mobile and landline voice services, providing Globe
subscribers with added convenience and a cheaper way to make and receive landline
calls through their mobile phones.
Ayala Corporation, Globe Telecom, Ayala Land
Inc., Manila Water Company, Bank of the Philippine
Islands, Cebu Holdings Inc., and Cebu Ventures
and Development Corporation were included in the
top 15 publicly-listed companies that received the
highest scores based on the CG scorecard. The top
15 companies were awarded during ICD’s 6th Annual
Dinner for Fellows and Associates on May 27 at the
Peninsula Manila.
Launched five years ago, the ICD CG Scorecard
Project, is recognized as a reliable tool for promoting
high standards of compliance through the principles
of CG and corporate practices. It seeks to promote
fairness, accountability, and transparency in all publiclylisted business operations in the country. ICD graded
138 companies from different business sectors based
on the rights of shareholders, equitable treatment of
shareholders, role of stakeholders, disclosure and
transparency, and board responsibilities. The CG
scorecard adopts the East Asian template as part of a
regional effort to improve corporate governance in East
Asia. The template is also being used in Thailand, Hong
Kong, mainland China, and Indonesia.
“Corporate governance has become a highly complex
task. It requires continuous review, monitoring, and
coordination among key stakeholders. Governance
starts with the board of directors and management
executives, and continues on to the corporation’s
internal and external auditors, institutional investors,
and regulatory bodies. Combined, they comprise an
ecosystem where each component is accountable to
another and each must perform with equal diligence,
vigilance, and rigor,” Ayala president Fernando Zobel de
Ayala said during the awards dinner.
continued on p.3
This add-on service to Globe postpaid and prepaid accounts doubles as a landline number and works across
both fixed and mobile networks. Using only one SIM, the service enables Globe subscribers to make and
receive unlimited landline calls and DUO-to-DUO calls anytime.
“We are proud to bring to the Philippines another pioneering service from Globe, the company that Filipino
consumers have known through the years to be at the forefront of mobile service innovation. Globe DUO is
a testament to our commitment to continuously provide our customers with the latest wireless services in the
world at the most affordable price and offer them every convenient means of connecting to one another,” said
Globe president and CEO Ernest Cu.
Globe subscribers only need to text “DUO” to 8888 to receive more information and to register to the service.
After sending their registration, subscribers will instantly receive their DUO landline number.
The service is especially useful for businesses and small enterprises looking for a cheaper mobile alternative.
Moreover, families who wish to get in touch quickly and more easily can now choose to use only Globe DUO
instead of having separate mobile and landline connections. The service helps consumers manage their
communication budget, as they no longer have to pay two separate monthly telephone bills. Landline to mobile
calls can be very costly while mobile to
landline calls are not unlimited. DUO’s
unlimited landline service is cheaper
and it is more affordable than regular
landline charges.
Postpaid subscribers can avail of
Globe DUO for as low as P399 per
month on top of their monthly service
fee, while prepaid subscribers can use
Globe DUO for as low as P25 per day.
Postpaid DUO is currently available
in the National Capital Region (NCR),
Cebu, Bohol, and Capiz, and prepaid
DUO is available in Cebu and NCR.
The official publication of the Ayala group of companies Volume 13, Number 3, May-June 2009
Sustainability reports reaffirm Ayala’s
environmental and social commitments
Ayala Corporation, in keeping with its commitment to sustainable development, becomes the first business house in the Philippines
to publish a conglomerate-wide sustainability report with the release of Pioneering for a Sustainable Future this coming August. The
report follows guidelines developed under the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), an international, multi-stakeholder network that aims to
standardize sustainability reporting globally.
(Top, from left) Covers of Manila Water Company’s 2008 sustainability
report, Ayala Land’s 2008 sustainability report, and Cebu Holdings’ 2008
annual and sustainability report
Covers of Manila Water’s 2006 sustainability report (far left) and Ayala
Land’s 2007 sustainability report (left)
In the upcoming report, Ayala assesses its economic, social, and environmental
performance, considered the “triple bottom line” of business. This is also Ayala’s
way of demonstrating how it will integrate its social and environmental commitments
with its business operations. Most importantly, the report shows that Ayala holds
itself accountable to its stakeholders and is taking significant steps to contribute to
sustainable development and nation-building.
Pioneering for a Sustainable Future presents data from seven Ayala subsidiaries—
Ayala Land, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Globe Telecom, Integrated
Microelectronics, Ayala Automotive Holding Corporation, Manila Water, and Ayala
Foundation. These companies have introduced pioneering programs and products
that illustrate their integrated approach to issues related to the “3Ps” of sustainability—
profit, people, and planet. Says Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, chairman of Ayala
Corporation: “We are encouraged that many of our companies are finding it possible
to achieve economic, environmental, and social goals simultaneously in material
ways.”
Ayala also lays the groundwork for its response to immediate and long-term
sustainability issues. Adds JAZA: “While we are still in the relatively early stages of
our sustainability journey, we are confident that with perseverance and focus, we will
make significant and lasting contributions to a stronger country and better world while
growing our profitability.”
Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Corporation president, agrees. “I am confident that
if we tackle environmental and developmental issues with the same rigor and energy
with which we approach our traditional business opportunities, we will find ways to
reduce our carbon footprint and increase our impact on community development while
growing our profits at the same time.”
Manila Water, Ayala Land, and Cebu Holdings have also released their own
sustainability reports this year. Globe Telecom is scheduled to release its own report
later this year.
A corporate social responsibility report, entitled Focus for Greater Reach and Impact,
was published in 2007 as a prelude to Pioneering for a Sustainable Future. To be
published biennially, the next Ayala sustainability report will be published in 2011.
News
AMG awards outstanding
Ayala Malls retailers
Ayala tops corporate governance scorecard
continued from p.1
The Ayala Malls Group (AMG) recognized its outstanding merchants at the 11th Ayala
Malls Merchant Rewards Awards held on April 29 at The Gallery in Greenbelt 5.
AMG presented awards to this year’s most promising retailers and merchants who
excelled in visual merchandising, marketing, and store operations. The group also
gave Store of the Year awards to Zara, Collezione C2, Healthy Options, Kenneth Cole,
AC+632, and Rustan’s, for upholding the highest standards of business management
and operations and contributing significantly to sales and recognition for their brand
and Ayala Malls.
Through the Green Merchants Awards, Ayala Malls also recognized merchants
and retailers that practice sustainable store operations and promote environmentfriendly products and services. Eight stores were cited for their eco-efficiency and
communication programs that push for environmental awareness, sustainable
lifestyles, and eco-friendly products and packaging. The winners include Follow Your
Heart, Taters, Lush, Chains for Change, True Value, Kape Isla/ECHOstore, What A Girl
Wants, and Jurlique.
Ayala Land executives, led by chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala, president Antonino
Aquino, AMG senior vice president and group head Marivic Añonuevo, AMG vice
president and CEO Rowena Tomeldan, and ALI-VisMin senior vice president and group
head Emilio Tumbocon, lauded the Ayala Malls merchant partners during the event.
Ayala Malls Merchant Rewards acknowledges retailers who continue to display
creativity, dynamism, and commitment to excellence in true Ayala Malls spirit.
AMG assistant vice
president Myrna
Fernandez, Jimmy Thai
of Travel Club, Elizabeth
Quiambao and Anton
Huang of Store Specialists
Inc., Antonino Aquino,
Marivic Añonuevo, and
Rowena Tomeldan
FZA receives on behalf of Ayala Corporation a plaque of recognition from (left to right)
ICD Chairpersons’ Circle chairman Jose Cuisia Jr., SEC chairperson Fe Barin, ICD
chairman Jesus Estanislao, and PSE president Francis Ed Lim
Corporate governance sets the standards and framework by which the
objectives of a company are set. It also determines the processes and
strategies for monitoring performance and measuring growth, stakeholder
confidence, and operations efficiency. Also called business ethics in the
international business community, corporate governance defines a company’s
approach in identifying and managing risks as well as in implementing an
effective system for checks and balances. It also encourages transparency
in management information. With the increasing number of companies sued
for administrative and civil misconducts, there is a need for companies to
develop a management system that involves transparency and good working
relationships between stakeholders and the executive board.
“We know that corporate governance cannot succeed without common
ethical principles and values that guide actions, business decisions, and
judgment. Fundamental corporate governance principles by themselves
cannot ensure effective governance. Ultimately, a good corporate culture, led
by a committed leadership that starts from the board and the basic defining
principles of individuals—honesty, integrity, accountability, and a high level of
professionalism—will drive the success of any governance framework,” FZA
added.
ICD conducted the CG scorecard project in partnership with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, the Philippine Stock Exchange, and the Ateneo Law
School.
ALI president Antonino
Aquino, Jaime and Cris
Daez of Fully Booked,
and AMG senior vice
president and group
head Marivic Añonuevo
Ayala subsidiaries cited Asia’s best companies for corporate governance
Meanwhile, Ayala Corporation, Ayala Land, Globe Telecom, and Manila Water
were cited at the 5th Corporate Governance Asia Annual Recognition Awards
on June 26 at the JW Mariott Hotel in Hong Kong. Ayala senior managing
director and corporate secretary Edith Nolledo accepted the award on behalf
of Ayala.
The awardees were selected based on their activities directly related to
improving the standards of corporate governance, significant corporate
governance-related reforms, disclosure and transparency, and corporate social
responsibility.
Ayala senior counsel
and corporate secretary
Edith Nolledo
(From left) Chains for Change owners Zeus Dorado, Jacqueline Gorospe, Carmela
Deang, and Mary Ann Alampay accept the Green Product and Enterprise Award from ALI
sustainability consultant Mackie Maceda and AMG VP and CEO Rowena Tomeldan
Manila Water president
Rene Almendras
BPI president
Aurelio Montinola III
The official publication of the Ayala group of companies Volume 13, Number 3, May-June 2009
AFI invites former Bogota
mayor to discuss urban
planning issues
Ayala Foundation Inc., supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, recently
sponsored two meetings with former Bogota, Colombia mayor Enrique
Peñalosa on May 11 and 12 at Makati Shangri-la Hotel and Ayala Museum,
respectively. Peñalosa was in the Philippines to deliver the keynote speech at
the Cebu City Bus Rapid Transit Coordination Conference on May 9.
Peñalosa shared his insights on urban renewal, city planning, and sustainable
transport with media, bloggers, and planning professionals. He challenged
the audience to re-envision what Manila could be, and called on those with
decision-making power and influence to focus on what could be done better
and differently to give city dwellers a safe, healthy, and enjoyable place to live.
Globe, DOLE team up for
job and livelihood fair
Globe Telecom was one of the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE)
partners for the Kalayaan 2009 Mega Job and Livelihood Fair, which was held
in 23 sites all over the country in celebration of the anniversary of Philippine
independence on June 12.
The three-day job fair, with the theme Kagitingan, Kagalingan, Kasipagan: Tungo
sa Tunay na Kalayaan, was held at the Luneta Park in Manila. DOLE invited
950 companies and government agencies to participate in the event. About
300,000 government, corporate, and overseas job vacancies were offered at the
fair to help Filipinos cope with today’s economic challenges.
Thousands of job
seekers flock to
Luneta Park on June
12 for DOLE’s job and
livelihood fair
During his term, Peñalosa transformed Bogota, the capital city of Colombia
with approximately seven million inhabitants, into an international model of
environmentally and socially sustainable projects that improve the quality of life
of city dwellers. He emphasized the need for a city model that prioritizes public
transport, public pedestrian spaces, and the well-being of children. Peñalosa
created TransMilenio, one of the most successful bus-based transit systems
today, and developed greenways and pedestrian promenades in low-income
areas. He continues to advocate for sustainable transport, and the reclamation
and re-creation of public spaces.
AFI has been advocating for environmental awareness through solid
waste management programs implemented in Makati City as well as in
barangays in Taguig. The SWM program focuses on promoting proper
solid waste management among the general public, especially in Ayalaowned and managed properties, by providing seminars on how to do solid
waste management (SWM) properly. Using the same approach as its SWM
program, AFI launched the Green Resources for Environmental Education and
Networking (GREEN) program, which explores potential activities and projects
in energy efficiency, water conservation, and clean air.
As part of the commitment to Rockefeller Foundation, AFI will continue
to identify and form a network of young activists, leaders, and social
entrepreneurs working on urban issues. The foundation will also begin
developing a resource book focused on the issues and challenges of living
in an urban environment. Building on its existing network, AFI will focus on
identifying possible partner individuals and organizations to build a coalition to
address these issues.
Former Bogota mayor Enrique
Peñalosa challenges Filipinos
to think of better ways to build
a safe, healthy, and sustainable
urban community
DOLE secretary Marianito Roque (right) and Globe president and CEO Ernest Cu
(second from right) attend the May 1 DOLE Job and Livelihood Fair with (from left)
consumer wireless business group head Ferdinand de la Cruz, segment business
group head Cathy Santamaria, segment business head for overseas Filipino
communities and international business Kimmie Moreno, human resources head
Susan Rivera-Manalo, and DOLE undersecretary Carmelita Pineda
ALI’s Ysmael is APREA’s new president
Jaime Ysmael, Ayala Land Inc.’s senior vice president
and chief financial officer, was recently chosen as
the new president of the Asian Public Real Estate
Association (APREA) during its annual Property
Leaders Forum held in Hong Kong on April 21 to 23.
This puts ALI at the helm of the region’s top real estate
association, comprising 127 top property players in the
Asia–Pacific region.
In his closing remarks, Ysmael lauded the efforts of
APREA and urged co-members and fellow delegates to
work toward discovering fresh opportunities despite the
challenging economic environment.
“These are tough and challenging times for our industry,
the companies we represent, and for our organization as
Jaime Ysmael
well. But times of crisis are also times of opportunity, and
I believe that it is this mindset that we have to consider in
order to ensure APREA’s continued relevance and to maintain the momentum that has been
successfully built in our various initiatives over the last few years,” Ysmael said.
ALI’s leadership in APREA bolsters its visibility and furthers the company’s stake in the AsiaPacific market. An active member of APREA, ALI participates regularly in the association’s
events such as the annual Property Leaders Forum.
APREA is a nonprofit industry group that promotes the real-estate industry among domestic
and foreign investors, and professionally represents the industry to government and
regulatory entities. APREA hopes to establish an enhanced business environment for its
member real-estate companies.
This year’s forum welcomed 175 delegates from 19 countries for a two-day program at the
Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong. Discussions on debt markets, private equity, capital
markets, and emerging markets were led by respected players in the field.
News
The official publication of the Ayala group of companies Volume 13, Number 3, May-June 2009
Manila Water bags top CSR award
Manila Water was once again recognized as one of the
pioneers in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) as it bagged the top award in the recent CSR
Leadership Challenge of the Management Association
of the Philippines (MAP). Among a pool of reputable
companies and organizations, as well as other CSR
advocates, Manila Water won the Main Award due to
its success in strategically integrating social, economic
and environmental objectives with its day-to-day
business operations.
The company’s Tubig Para Sa Barangay (TPSB) or
Water for the Poor program clearly illustrates how
Manila Water was able to help uplift the quality of
life of low-income communities by providing them
with potable water supply at an affordable rate, while
addressing business needs such as high rate of
water losses due to illegal connections. Moreover,
the TPSB program has lessened the incidence of
water-borne diseases and improved overall health
and sanitation conditions for over 1.5 million people
in poor communities.
Manila Water commits to continue innovating and
expanding its CSR strategies to serve even those
who comprise the bottom of the wealth pyramid.
Furthermore, Manila Water has taken a more active
stance in protecting the environment and addressing
important issues such as climate change.
In photo are (from left) social programs coordinator Adelle Rico, TPSB program manager
Prev Gazmen, HR manager Olim Gusi, sustainable development department manager Carla
Beriña-Kim, regulation and corporate development group director Perry Rivera, strategic
staffing manager Camela Chiu, and Manila Water president Rene Almendras
Ayala sponsors summer internship program
College seniors who are about to enter the job market face challenges not
only in finding a job but also in getting a job where they can build a stable,
enriching career. Attracting and retaining high-caliber talent remains one of the
top concerns of employers, and internship programs are good opportunities
for students to explore career options by using their skills in an actual work
environment while giving companies a headstart in finding suitable employees.
Last April and May, Ayala and the HR Council’s Talent Network (TalentNet) organized the Ayala
Group Summer Internship Program for 25 college senior students. The summer internship
program was designed to develop a network of potential talents for Ayala companies through
project-based work experience. While Ayala companies accept interns for on-the-job training, this
was the first time that it conducted an integrated internship program for college seniors.
“We’ve taken that concept a step further by developing a holistic training program that not only
takes place in a real-life management setting, but also provides workshops and other activities to
further enhance their skills and prepare them for their future career,” explained Ayala managing
director JP Orbeta, head of the Ayala group HR Council.
Interns attend several workshops, including a session on corporate
social responsibility
For six weeks, student trainees from Metro Manila, Laguna, Pampanga, Naga, Cebu, Iloilo, and
Marawi were assigned to various Ayala companies and were required to develop, present, and
defend a specific project. These projects ranged from process reviews and manual updates
to automation of databases and reports, audio-visual production, laboratory work, facilities
management, events management, and business case studies.
Workshops called A-Talks were conducted by Ayala Systems Technology Inc. quality assurance
director Henry Ong, Globe Telecom’s Jonah Liao, and HRMall general manager and Ayala
Corporation chief information officer Maria Angelica Rapadas, who all shared their knowledge on
project management, customer service, and effective presentations, respectively.
Ayala Foundation executive vice president Guillermo Luz, in a session on corporate social
responsibility, emphasized the importance of leadership and commitment to social development.
The interns were later encouraged to participate in 175KB, a book donation campaign in
celebration of Ayala’s 175th anniversary; and YVote, a voters registration program for the youth.
Ayala chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala led the internship program’s graduation
ceremony at the BPI headquarters on May 22.
Ayala Group Summer Internship Program student trainees finish
six weeks of training in various Ayala companies. With them are
JAZA and corporate resources group head JP Orbeta
News
Ueda is new BPI/MS president
Bank of the Philippine Islands-Mitsubishi Sumitomo
Insurance Corporation welcomed on April 19 its new
president Takaaki Ueda. Ueda, who brings with him
15 years of business leadership experience gained
from his stints in MSI Japan and other assignments
overseas, replaced Noriaki Hamanaka.
JAZA, 10 others recognized
as Outstanding Manilans
Ayala chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel
de Ayala and 10 business, public service, and
media personalities were recently honored as
Outstanding Manilans on June 24 at the Manila
Hotel. JAZA, who was represented by Ayala
Foundation president Victoria Garchitorena
during the awarding ceremony, was recognized
for his entrepreneurial leadership, his sincere
involvement in environmental concerns, and for
his support of Philippine culture and arts.
Ueda’s first overseas assignment in 1994 was as
MSI’s chief representative in Mexico City. Four
years later he was transferred to MSI’s Sao Paulo
branch in Brazil. In 2003, he was back in Japan
as assistant general manager of MSI Asia division
and Fukuoka branch. Prior to joining BPI/MS, he
was general manager of MSI Osaka professional
agencies department.
Former president Hamanaka assumed a new
assignment as general manager of the general
production department of MSI in Tokyo, Japan.
Takaaki Ueda
BPI/MS is one of the Philippines’ leading non-life insurance companies. It currently
holds the top spot in the industry in terms of net income.
Ayala Life celebrates
76th anniversary
Ayala Life Assurance Inc. celebrated its 76th
anniversary on April 27 by posting a P1.04 billion
earning in first-year premiums for the first quarter of
2009 despite uncertain economic conditions. The
company generated a net income of P221 million
in 2008 and its total premium grew by 9.5 percent
from P1.7 billion in 2007 to P1.92 billion in 2008.
Last year, it paid over
P1.1 billion in
benefits to its
policyholders. These
figures represent the
financial protection
received by families
whose breadwinners
placed their trust in
Ayala Life.
“Insurance protection is
all about providing peace
of mind in times of uncertainties,” business director Ma.
Asuncion Martin said. “We have constantly responded to the
needs of Filipino families especially during trying times as
highlighted by our achievements in the past as well as our
exceptional performance at present.”
The company’s first quarter achievement is attributed
to the business volume generated by its distribution
channels, including its agency force, alternative channels,
bancassurance, and corporate sales.
Ayala Life also celebrated its 76th anniversary by
reaffirming its commitment to uplifting the lives of Filipinos
by securing the future of their families and loved ones
through sustained delivery of high-quality services and
innovative products.
This year, Ayala Life is keen on exploring opportunities
in product, market, and distribution channels, as well as
business models. It also plans to take advantage of its parent
company’s resources, as it transcends economic ordeals
and seizes new opportunities.
Manila mayor Alfredo Lim and guest of honor
Supreme Court chief justice Reynato Puno led
the awarding ceremony and cited the awardees
for serving as “sterling examples of what is the
best and the brightest.” The ceremony coincided
with Araw ng Maynila (Manila Day) and the city’s 438th founding anniversary.
This year’s batch of awardees included former president Corazon Aquino,
represented by his son, Senator Noynoy Aquino, for civic leadership and global
diplomacy; Henry Sy Sr. for business development; Eugenio Lopez III for
telecommunications and broadcasting; Teresita Uytiepo-Quirino for education;
Marixi Rufino-Prieto for print media advocacy; Regina Paz-Lopez for environmental
advocacy; George S.K. Ty for corporate social responsibility; Mike Enriquez for
public service in tri-media; Senator Manuel Villar Jr. for public service; and Rodolfo
Noel Lozada Jr. for advocacy for truth.
Lim said that this year’s outstanding Manilans are somehow rooted to the city either
by birth, education, or because of work and livelihood. “The determining criterion is
how they have willingly and unselfishly contributed to the development and progress
of the city of Manila and its inhabitants,” Lim added.
Manila Water hailed as effective PPP
model in Mediterranean conference
Manila Water was the only private Asian company invited to present a successful public-private
partnership (PPP) model in the water services sector during the recent 6th Facility for EuroMediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) Conference in Monaco. With the theme Sustainable
Water Financing and Climate Change in the Mediterranean, the international gathering focused on how
the private sector could improve water efficiency and service delivery.
Manila Water president Rene Almendras shared with his European counterparts the corporate, social,
and relational strategies that have made Manila Water a success. Building on the experience of the
company, Almendras stressed that private sector involvement in the development and management
of water and sanitation infrastructure could be successful given beneficial partnerships anchored on
a sound regulatory environment, strong institutional and stakeholder support, and innovations that
facilitate capital financing.
FEMIP brings together a range of services provided by the European Investment Bank to Mediterranean
countries. The conference provides a forum for
exchange and dialogue to establish a deeper
understanding of the challenges facing the EuroMediterranean region and calls for the involvement
of other partners.
The FEMIP conference aims to define a
Mediterranean water strategy and a common
vision for the future by bringing together various
players in the industry as well as learning from the
experiences of other countries.
Water management is one of FEMIP’s top
priorities. Between 2003 and 2008, FEMIP has
provided 692 million euros to support projects
that have provided sustainable access to water
services. The situation in the Mediterranean region
mirrors the same scenario in the Philippines,
where water provision and wastewater treatment
are priority programs of the government.
PPP strategies enable Manila Water to serve
underprivileged communities and strengthen its
business operations
The official publication of the Ayala group of companies Volume 13, Number 3, May-June 2009
Ayala garners international, industry awards
Ayala companies were recently cited by two international publications and an industry association for their corporate social responsibility
programs, innovation, customer service, and expansion initiatives. Bank of the Philippine Islands led a consumer confidence survey conducted by
Reader’s Digest, while Manila Water received the Deal of the Year award from The Banker, an international banking and finance magazine. Globe,
on the other hand, was awarded two citations by the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP).
BPI Asset Management senior vice president Maria
Theresa Javier-Marcial (left) and executive vice president
Adelbert Legasto
BPI tops Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands survey
BPI Express Credit was honored for the second year in a row as Reader’s Digest
Trusted Brand gold awardee. BPI Asset Management, meanwhile, topped Reader’s
Digest Trusted Brand survey in the investment fund category for the third straight year.
“We sustain superior value by staying close to the changing needs of our customers,”
said senior vice president Maria Cristina Go, head of BPI cards issuing business.
According to Go, customers consider several factors, including interest rates,
customer service, card acceptance, credit limits, payment convenience, and
promotions, when selecting a card. “It’s the total product proposition that matters,”
she said. She pointed out that Real Thrills is one of BPI Express Credit’s key initiatives
that support a more compelling and differentiated value proposition.
Real Thrills is an instant rewards system made possible by BPI’s loyalty solution that
runs on the EMV smart-chip technology. It allows merchant partners to run strategic
promotional campaigns that respond to their immediate business needs. Real Thrills
cardholders get more rewards in retail, recreation, and dining establishments. Go
also cited that aside from enhanced information security with the EMV chip card, BPI
Express Credit offers both cardholders and merchants better value.
BPI Asset Management stood out among its competitors, winning the Trusted
Brand award with the second placer garnering only half the points that BPI Asset
Management obtained.
“This was possible through BPI’s wide roster of investment funds, ranging from the
most conservative to the most aggressive,” said BPI executive vice president Adelbert
Legasto. “As we say in BPI, whatever our clients’ investment needs are, there is a BPI
investment fund for them.”
Aside from managing investment funds which cater to different investor needs, BPI
Asset Management also offers fund management services to both individual and
institutional clients. Investors can choose from among the different customized
portfolios which BPI’s team of expert fund managers carefully rebalance and
reposition according to the outlook of financial markets.
SVP Maria Cristina Go (third from left) and assistant vice president
Carmel Villaraza (second left) with Lilet Camara-Yan, Reader’s Digest
Philippines advertising director, and Simon Cholmeley, Reader’s
Digest regional advertising director
According to The Banker, the award-winning transaction involved “major changes
and waivers to the loan covenants and security arrangements” of the company’s
existing debt. The magazine cited the skillful execution of the exercise that involved
16 domestic and multilateral institutions. It added that despite the relaxation of
covenants, the deal was completed without any breakfunding or waiver fees being
paid. The magazine noted that the deal was “a breakthrough for the company
[paving] the way for the successful issuance of fixed-rate retail bonds amounting to
P4 billion.”
The success of the deal also highlighted the confidence of the banking community
in the financial strength of Manila Water. Manila Water’s lenders include the World
Bank Group, German Development Bank DEG, European Investment Bank, and
several local and international commercial banks. Last October 2008, Manila Water
successfully launched its maiden peso bond issue amounting to P4 billion, which was
several times oversubscribed even at the height of the global financial crisis.
Globe receives achievement citations from ECOP
Globe Telecom bagged two outstanding achievement citations at the Kapatiran sa
Industriya Awards (KAPATID) organized by ECOP on April 29 at the Manila Hotel.
ECOP cited Globe for its outstanding efforts in implementing social accountability
programs that aim to transform and enrich people’s lives through education,
information technology, community empowerment, and environment conservation.
The company was also acknowledged for continuously aligning business and
people strategies to achieve extraordinary business results while keeping its people
empowered, energized, and engaged.
Launched in 1996, KAPATID Awards recognizes companies that exemplify
outstanding business practices characterized by enterprise-level cooperation
and harmonious relationship between management and employees, whether in a
unionized or non-unionized setting.
The Reader’s Digest Trusted Brand Awards is based on a consumer reference
survey that asked Filipino consumers to rate the brand they trust most on the bases
of trustworthiness, credibility, quality, value, understanding of consumer needs, and
innovation.
Manila Water liability management program awarded deal of the year
Manila Water’s liability management program was chosen by The Banker as one of
the Deals of the Year in 2009 for Asia Pacific. The deal was arranged by BPI Capital
Corporation and ING Bank N.V. Manila.
In 2008, Manila Water appointed BPI Capital and ING Bank as its exclusive
arrangers to assist the company in amending certain provisions of its debt
portfolio as it embarked on a business expansion program. These expansion
initiatives included possible joint ventures in water and wastewater projects within
and outside the Philippines.
ECOP cites Globe’s outstanding business and employee relations practices at the KAPATID
Awards. Photo shows President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo together with (from left) ECOP chair
Miguel Varela, ECOP president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., Globe human resources head Susan RiveraManalo, Globe community relations head Jeff Tarayao, and Globe employees’ union president
Santos Gudao Jr.
Manila Water and PTA sign
landmark Boracay joint venture
Manila Water and the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) recently
signed a joint venture agreement to develop and operate the Boracay
Water Supply and Sewerage System (BWSS) in Malay, Aklan.
The venture will ensure the implementation of a comprehensive
infrastructure program, which will provide 100 percent water
supply and sewerage coverage to the entire island of Boracay. The
partnership will also design, build, operate, and upgrade the water
and sewerage facilities of Boracay.
Tourism secretary Ace Durano said the joint venture would have an authorized capital
stock of P300 million, 80 percent of which will be provided by Manila Water’s equity
contribution while 20 percent will come from PTA’s equity contribution.
Under the agreement, Manila Water was granted a 25-year exclusive right, renewable
for another 25 years, to service the waterworks and sewerage requirements of the
entire island as an agent and contractor of PTA.
“We are quite confident that Manila Water will be able to replicate the vast
improvements it has made in Metro Manila’s East Zone and Rizal province in Boracay
island,” said Manila Water group director for regulation and corporate development
Virgilio Rivera Jr.
He added that Manila Water’s track record for the past 11 years under a public-private
partnership with MWSS shows how it has greatly improved water service provision
in eastern Metro Manila from only 26 percent in 1997 to 99 percent in 2008. He also
noted that sewerage coverage in the East Zone has increased from only three percent
in 1997 to 16 percent at the end of 2008.
Integreon acquires
electronic evidence
solutions provider
Integreon Managed Solutions Inc., a knowledge process
outsourcing (KPO) provider in the legal industry, completed its
acquisition of ONSITE3, a Washington DC-based provider of
electronic evidence solutions for law firms and corporations.
ONSITE3 e-discovery operations have been merged with
Integreon’s current e-discovery business. The combined
operations are expected to account for nearly half of Integreon’s
projected $80 million revenue this year, up from $35 million in
2008. The merger significantly increases the scale of Integreon’s
litigation support business, adds in-house forensics and data
analytics capabilities, and gives Integreon access to eView, a
widely-used proprietary document review platform.
ONSITE3’s e-discovery acquisition is the latest in a series of
strategic onshore domestic US deals that Integreon has completed
since 2006. The company acquired Datum Legal, a leading
New York litigation support and electronic data discovery (EDD)
company, in 2008; CBF Group Inc. in 2007; and Bowne and
Company’s New York Digital Litigation Support business in 2006.
Ayala: Celebrating 175 Years wins Asian Multimedia Publishing Award
Ayala Corporation’s 175th anniversary
corporate communications program was
recognized as the most outstanding project in
innovative corporate communications by the
Asian Multimedia Publishing Awards (AMPA).
The program used multimedia platforms including the
distinctive Never Stop Believing print ad campaign;
internal print publications (Ayala Now special anniversary
issue and Ayala at 175 magazine); an anniversary
video narrated by chairman emeritus Jaime Zobel de
Ayala; a special website and online timeline; animated
screensavers; and exhibits.
AMPA, dubbed as the premier awards program
for best multimedia publishing practices in Asia,
includes the Asian Book Publishing Awards and Asian
Corporate Communications Awards. Awards categories
include multimedia consumer research, multimedia
communication, use of digital technology, multimedia
strategy and business model, multimedia advertising
delivery, best use of multimedia marketing by a book
publisher, best book/best writer on Asian media, best use
of multimedia by a corporate advertiser, and innovative
corporate communications in a multimedia world.
The Asian Multimedia Publishing Awards was the
highlight of the 3rd Asian Publishing Convention held this
year in Manila. A total of 74 projects from 44 companies
in nine countries competed for the awards.
Elements of the winning corporate communications
program: (top row) Ayala at 175 and Never Stop Believing
print ad campaign; (middle row) 175KB Project, anniversary
video, and Ayala Now special issue; (bottom row) banners
and online timeline
175KB Project: Sharin
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The official publication of the Ayala group of companies Volume 13, Number 3, May-June 2009
In celebration of its 175th anniversary, Ayala Corporation embarked on a
campaign that seeks to promote literacy and the joy of reading among
public school students, while keeping alive the spirit of giving among Ayala
employees.
Project 175KB aims to gather 175,000 storybooks to supplement the libraries
and reading materials of public elementary schools. The project organizer,
HR Council’s Labor Relations Network (LRNetAyala) led by Eliezer Tanlapco,
said that Ayala employees contributed about 216,000 books, exceeding the
group’s initial target by 23 percent. For its part, Ayala Corporation was able to
collect 4,000 books, which were sent to various public schools in Mindanao.
ALI volunteers sort and
stamp thousands of
storybooks collected for
175KB book drive
Better reading skills can improve learning, and this is what 175KB seeks to
address. The beneficiary schools of the campaign were chosen according
to their students’ reading proficiencies and their need for new educational
materials. Selected schools in the National Capital Region, Rizal, Cavite,
Laguna, Bacolod, and Cebu will receive a mini-library of 500 books. A turnover
ceremony of donated books to the Department of Education will take place
during the Ayala group corporate social responsibility summit in October.
Ayala companies exceed targets
Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) doubled its initial target of 7,000 storybooks. About 4,600
books were donated through drop boxes around ALI offices and a total of
P45,690 were donated for the purchase of new storybooks. The company will
donate the storybooks to 30 public schools in communities where ALI projects
are located.
The donation drive at Integrated Microelectronics Inc., meanwhile, received
generous support from its employees across all sites. Donations of used and
new storybooks and cash contributions enabled the company to gather 32,599
storybooks, which exceeded the company’s target of 10,000 storybooks.
IMI’s human resources division, which spearheaded the project at IMI,
intensified its campaign through posters and e-mail blasts; division heads
followed through by personally encouraging their staff to participate in
the project. Other divisions also helped HR in soliciting help from IMI’s
overseas teams. The first to send books and cash donations was IMI’s team
in Singapore, followed by those in the United States, Japan, Europe, and
mainland China.
IMI employees in Jiaxing,
mainland China, sign up to
donate books for 175KB
More than giving
Manila Water did more than donate books. It sponsored the publication of two
storybooks, Ang Alamat ng Ilog Pasig and Ang Huling Puno, in partnership
with Lampara Publishing House Inc. The storybooks talk about wastewater
management, the protection of watersheds, and the company’s campaign
to clean and revive the Pasig River. Manila Water expects the books to help
not only in elevating the literacy rate in public schools, but also in advocating
environmental awareness and protection.
Manila Water exceeded its target by 40 percent and will be donating 5,558
storybooks to selected public schools in its concession area in the Metro
Manila East Zone.
Miss Philippines Ecotourism Adie Adelantar reads Ang Huling Puno
to the students of Camarilla Elementary School
Globe, on the other hand, collected 37,500 storybooks and exceeded its target
by 34 percent. In addition, Globe Bridging Communities (BridgeCom) is set to
donate bookshelves to recipient schools and conduct reading sessions with
the participation of Globe officers and employee volunteers.
To encourage employees to donate books, Globe set up donation boxes in all
its offices and opened a GCash wallet for employees to facilitate donations.
The company also partnered with National Bookstore and Books for Less,
which visited Globe offices and extended discounts to employees in support
of the campaign. Globe also gave rewards to teams who donated stacks of
books.
Book warehouse visits and bookselling activities
Isuzu Automotive Dealership Inc. (IADI) exceeded its target collection by 127
percent and was able to collect 1,375 books for its beneficiary schools. The
company also visited a bookstore warehouse to purchase storybooks that are
likely to interest school children.
The Bank of the Philippine Islands received tremendous support from its
officers and staff nationwide and was able to gather 61,328 storybooks. The
company’s human resources group, in coordination with BPI Foundation
Inc., spearheaded the project and organized bookselling activities.
Camarilla Integrated School principal Wilma Manio (left) receives a copy of
Ang Huling Puno from Manila Water president Rene Almendras (right) as Miss
Philippines Ecotourism Adie Adelantar and Quezon City congressman Mat
Defensor look on
ng the love for reading
Imagination, life’s lessons
between book covers
Ayala’s 175KB is more than a celebration; it is our
way of giving thanks and sharing the joy of opening
books and being captivated with the words printed on
every page. We asked some of our colleagues what
their favorite storybook is and how it influenced their
outlook on life.
Ang Itim na Kuting by Natasha Vizcarra is a lovely story about Ignacia,
a black stray kitten who was always driven away at doorsteps because of
her appearance and the “bad luck” she might bring. Sad and unwanted
for a long time, Ignacia was finally picked up by a girl, who loved her
despite the color of her fur. It sends a powerful message about friendship,
breaking discrimination, and looking beyond physical features and color
of the skin.
Jeng Lamug
HR business partner, Globe Telecom
My favorite storybook is Hope for the Flowers by Trina Paulus. One might
be deceived by its relatively simple design because of its handwritten text
and basic drawings. However, one will find that the wisdom contained
within its pages would appeal to both the young and not-so-young. It
reminds me that we, like the two main characters Stripe and Yellow,
are often blinded by our desires to reach greater heights without really
knowing what we are after, as represented by the “caterpillar pillar.” But
when we look deeply within us and with much faith, we would be able to
discover what we are really meant for.
Eric Barroquillo
Senior manager, BPI mobile sales
I can’t name one specific storybook, but I can talk about how reading
changed my life. I was a sickly child who often had to stay in bed and
couldn’t run off to play with my neighbors. To me then, books represented
an alternate universe where I could be who I wanted to be. I started
with fairytales and children’s stories, then on to Nancy Drew mysteries,
Grolier’s Classics, and Reader’s Digest condensed books, and eventually
to Jane Austen, Victor Hugo, and Leo Tolstoy. Through these books and
my imagination I leapt from bed and became strong, acquiring perhaps
more knowledge than I ever got from school. I realized the power of
words and the magic of communication, and learned vicariously many of
life’s lessons.
Gigi Rapadas
General manager, HRMall Inc.
12
The official publication of the Ayala group of companies Volume 13, Number 3, May-June 2009
(From left) Bea Zobel Jr., actors Lucy Torres, Richard Gomez, and John Pratts, and Baclayon mayor
Alvin Uy welcome residents and guests to the inauguration and turnover festivities
AFI executive vice president Guillermo Luz
(left) and Ben Chan
Municipal government
employees and members of
various cooperatives perform
traditional dances at the
cultural night
AFI, Bea Zobel Jr. turn over
tourism center to Baclayon
Ayala Foundation Inc. and BEZO Recreational and Aquatic Activities in Bohol
(BRAABO) headed by Bea Zobel Jr. and Joel Uichico officially turned over
the newly-constructed tourism activity center to the municipal government of
Baclayon on May 30. The event was attended by representatives from Ayala
Corporation and AFI led by AFI executive vice president Guillermo Luz. Other
guests included presidential daughter Luli Arroyo-Bernas, Luigi Bernas, and
Bench owner Ben Chan. Representatives from local and international broadcast
and print media covered the event.
The tourism center is expected to become the municipality’s one-stop shop for
tourists who want to explore Baclayon’s cultural, man-made, and natural sites. It
will also house a dive shop that rents out scuba gear and equipment to divers who
want to explore marine life in Baclayon and Pamilacan. Located near the coast of
Baclayon, the center’s design adheres to Boholano architectural principles with
its steep, sloping rooflines and intricate ventanillas or air vents above doors and
windows. The tourism center’s decor, furniture, and floor tiles were all made by
Boholano craftsmen.
The event started with a mass officiated by Tagbilaran City bishop Leonardo
Medroso at the Baclayon Church. It was followed by the blessing of the tourism
center led by Bishop Medroso, Msgr. Felipe Digal, and Msgr. Vicente Nunag III. A
simple turnover ceremony was held beside the tourism center, where Bea Jr. and
Uichico handed a symbolic key of the tourism center to Baclayon mayor Alvin Uy.
A cultural program hosted by the municipal government of Baclayon capped
the whole-day event. Members from various cooperatives and the Liga ng mga
Barangay, municipal employees, LGU officials, and youth organizations performed
dance numbers.
Traditional Boholano patterns and materials
inspired the tourism center’s design
Manila Water and Marikina
unite to save Marikina River
Manila Water recently entered into a partnership with
the city government of Marikina to save Marikina River,
one of the city’s most important natural resources that
has been deteriorating due to years of neglect. Marikina
mayor Marides Fernando is currently spearheading an
environmental campaign with Manila Water to save the
main river system. The campaign seeks to ensure that
all effluents or discharges into the river are compliant
with the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources’ environmental safety standards.
Manila Water is currently building the P. Olandes Sewage Treatment
Plant (STP), which will have the capability to treat drainage water and
wastewater from households before these are discharged into the
Marikina River. The Olandes STP is being constructed in partnership
with the city government of Marikina and will be funded by the World
Bank-assisted Manila Third Sewerage Project.
According to Ronald Muaña, Manila Water’s wastewater program
manager, the project will address the domestic wastewater
treatment requirements of Blue Ridge, St. Ignatius, Libis, Cinco
Hermanos, and Barangay Olandes. The company has allotted
P59 billion in capital expenditures to help clean the Marikina,
Pasig, and San Juan rivers. Part of the program also includes
the construction of 29 subcatchment facilities for sewer and
drainage systems.
The P. Olandes Sewage Treatment Plant will address the wastewater treatment needs of several areas in the cities of Marikina
and Pasig
The Marikina local government recently passed a resolution
for the proper construction and maintenance of septic tanks
in support of Manila Water’s Sanitasyon Para Sa Barangay
desludging program.
BPI Foundation helps build homes in Bicol
The Bank of the Philippine Islands Foundation Inc. and the BPI internal and corporate communications department participated in two Habitat for
Humanity house-building activities.
Forty-seven volunteers from BPI’s head office, BPI’s Bicol branches and
business centers, and Globe Telecom dedicated their time and energy on
April 25 to help build houses for the families of Maugma Village, Barangay
Balatas in Naga City.
Two weeks later on May 9, another batch of 45 volunteers from BPI’s head
office, Iloilo and Roxas branches, Iloilo business centers, Honda, and
Ayala Young Leaders Alliance spent one day helping build the houses of
50 families that were affected by typhoon Frank.
Naga volunteers cleaned and painted six homes, while volunteers in Iloilo
painted a model house and prepared the foundation on which the houses
will be built. The volunteers agreed to participate again in the housebuilding activity once the Iloilo construction starts.
Globe launches cell phone recycling program
Globe Telecom recently launched a cell phone recycling program to encourage the public to recycle or donate their
old cell phones, PDAs, chargers, and batteries in designated recycling bins located in Ayala Malls and major Globe
business centers. A ceremonial turnover of recycling bins and information boards to Ayala Malls was held at the
atrium of Glorietta 5 in Makati City.
Globe’s recycling program primarily aims to educate people about the potential harm of cell phones on the
environment. Cell phone parts like circuit boards contain arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury that are toxic when
released to the environment. Currently, there are approximately 55.8 million Filipinos who own a cell phone and this
number is growing fast. The soaring number of cell phone users in the country and the short replacement cycle of
cell phones, which is about 18 months, are factors that make disposal practices a growing concern.
Cell phone owners are encouraged to drop off their old units in recycling bins located in Ayala malls and Globe business centers
14
The official publication of the Ayala group of companies Volume 13, Number 3, May-June 2009
Ayala Land backs DepEd’s Brigada Eskwela
In line with its Alay sa Edukasyon program, Ayala
Land Inc. recently participated in the Department of
Education’s Brigada Eskwela, a program that enlists
the help of the private sector in preparing public
school buildings for the opening of classes. Around
100 ALI employees volunteered for the activity.
Participating in Brigada Eskwela is one of the
three Alay sa Edukasyon community development
activities that Ayala Land has lined up for 2009.
The program includes distribution of about
2,000 school supply kits and donation of
14,000 storybooks to public schools.
On May 29, two ALI-Brigada Eskwela teams set
off for Laguna, where they repainted and cleaned
classrooms in Puting Lupa Elementary School in
Calamba and Canlubang Elementary School.
ALI volunteers washed, scrubbed, and
repainted the schools’ roof and exterior walls,
while volunteers from the Makati Development
Corporation, ALI’s construction arm, took care of
detail work and finishing.
Jorge Marco, head of ALI’s corporate
communication division, said the company
is committed to extending its support to
communities near ALI projects while developing
a sense of responsibility among its employees
through volunteerism. “Brigada Eskwela was made
more significant because we not only had our
construction team doing the paintwork, we also
had regular office personnel signing up for the
task,” said Marco.
ALI volunteers clean and repaint classrooms at the Canlubang and Calamba elementary schools
iamninoy and 57-75 join hands to
support Philippine education
AFI-CSD director Mario
Deriquito and Michael
Lopa, lead convenor of
iamninoy Runners, during
the MOU signing between
iamninoy Movement and
57-75 Movement
The 57-75 Movement and iamninoy have recently formed a unique partnership to
support Philippine education through running.
Banking on the enthusiasm of the running community and hoping to stir the
modern-day hero in all of us, iamninoy has organized iamninoy Runners, a group
of professional and amateur runners who will participate in regular running events
to raise awareness and funds for the 57-75 Movement. The runners will commit to
completing a pre-determined aggregate distance, which translates into a peso value
to be donated by individual and institutional sponsors. The funds raised will go to the
reading and feeding programs implemented by 57-75 Movement, which needs P300
to provide three workbooks for each child and P1,500 to feed a child for 120 days.
Manila Water sponsors
environmental
awareness seminar
Manila Water recently sponsored a two-hour
environmental awareness seminar conducted by
actress and environmental advocate Chin Chin
Gutierrez at SM City Taytay. The seminar encouraged
the residents of Taytay to be more environmentally
aware and practice eco-friendly habits. Mayor Joric
Gacula and Manila Water president Rene Almendras
attended the event.
Manila Water is aggressively pursuing wastewater programs and is
set to spend nearly P60 billion to clean up the three river systems of
Pasig, Marikina, and San Juan. Apart from wastewater management,
Manila Water’s other environmental initiatives include watershed
management and reforestation and groundwater protection.
Ayala Foundation Inc. will be providing technical and administrative support to the
partnership. AFI’s Center for Social Development director Mario Deriquito heads
57-75 Movement’s technical working group and chairs the education committee
of the League of Corporate Foundations. AFI, Globe Telecom, and the Bank of the
Philippine Islands were among the first companies to support 57-75.
The 57-75 Movement, established in 2007, aims to address education problems in the
country. The numbers are symbolic—57 was the average score of public elementary
school students in the National Achievement Test for SY 2006-2007, while 75 is the
passing mark. The 57-75 movement focuses on three goals: to help children stay in
school, to enhance reading proficiencies, and to improve students’ performance in
English, math, and science subjects.
Manila Water president Rene Almendras (fourth from left) and
environmentalist Chin Chin Gutierrez (fifth from left) advocate
environment conservation
Ayala Cares
Manila Water’s Oplan Balik Eskwela makes water supply in public schools a priority
Since it started operations in 1997, Manila Water has prioritized the provision of
adequate water supply in all academic institutions, particularly public elementary and
high schools.
Through the Lingap Eskwela program, the company aims to provide an environment
conducive to learning by fixing and improving the schools’ water supply and wastewater
systems. An important part of the program is the installation of drinking fountains and
wash areas. The fountains are being installed so students have access to safe, potable
water, and do not have to buy expensive bottled water. Manila Water and the Metro
Manila Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Committee (MMDWQMC) of the Department of
Health (DOH) regularly conduct water sampling in the Metro Manila East Zone.
To help stop the spread of the A(H1N1) flu virus, Manila Water, DOH, and the
Department of Education have been advocating the practice of frequent and proper
hand washing. Again, as part of the Lingap Eskwela program, wash areas have been
installed in schools to ensure that students, especially primary schoolchildren, can
regularly wash their hands to avoid contracting bacteria and viruses.
The East Zone has more than 300 public elementary and high schools, about 82
percent of which have already been installed with drinking fountains and wash areas.
Manila Water is targeting the completion of Lingap Eskwela within the year as it has
accelerated its pipe laying projects particularly in its expansion areas of Taguig City, the
municipalities of San Mateo and Rodriguez (formerly Montalban), and other towns of
Rizal province.
In addition to the provision of water supply, Manila Water also provides free, scheduled
desludging services to all barangays within its concession area. Cleaning of the schools’
septic tanks is also an integral part of the program. To ensure that students in all levels
are informed about the importance of environmental protection, environmental corners
and display panels showing Manila Water’s initiatives to protect the environment were
distributed to schools. Manila Water’s initiatives further include watershed management,
wastewater treatment and management, groundwater protection, and other climate
change programs.
Manila Water president Rene Almendras (right) and health secretary Francisco Duque III
(second from left) show Antipolo schoolchildren the proper way to wash hands
Timezone treats underprivileged kids to a day of fun
Timezone invited 30 children
from the Shepherd of the Hills
Foundation for a whole day of
games and activities on May 15
at Timezone Glorietta 4.
The kids participated in indoor games
at the Timezone G4 Party Room, played
at game machines for an hour, watched
Star Trek courtesy of Ayala Cinemas,
and enjoyed snacks provided by
Jollibee–Glorietta.
Shepherd of the Hills Foundation
is a Christian childcare and child
development organization that helps
abandoned, neglected, orphaned, and
underprivileged children and teens.
Timezone, as part of its corporate
responsibility initiatives, continues to
share its blessings by sharing a day of
fun and entertainment with these kids.
Kids from Shepherd of the Hills
enjoy a fun-filled day at Timezone
16
The official publication of the Ayala group of companies Volume 13, Number 3, May-June 2009
Globe, ALI organize running event for Habitat for Humanity
Globe Telecom and Ayala Land partnered to support Run for Home, a running event that will take place on
July 19 at Bonifacio Global City for the benefit of Habitat for Humanity.
The activity will help Habitat for Humanity–Philippines raise funds for Kapit Bisig para sa Ilog Pasig’s (KBPIP)
construction of resettlement houses in Bayan ni Juan sa Calauan, a housing relocation site in Brgy. Dayap,
Calauan, Laguna. Globe and Ayala are also set to donate P1 million to help build new homes for the settlers.
Run for Home will have four distance categories—3-kilometer, 5-kilometer, 10-kilometer, and 12-kilometer
runs—covering the Bonifacio Global City to Makati Central Business District route. Runners will pass through
26th Street, Rizal Drive, Kalayaan Avenue, Buendia flyover, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Ayala Avenue, Paseo de
Roxas, Makati Avenue, Lawton Avenue, and Bayani Road. Globe-Ayala Land Run for Home has four distance categories.
(Above) The route for the 3-kilometer run will cover 26th Avenue
and 5th Avenue
To monitor their running time, the participants will be using
disposable, waterproof electronic timing chips.
“Running has become a lifestyle among Filipinos. Globe’s
Run for Home will give Filipino runners a new and different
experience as we use disposable electronic timing chips for
the first time in the country. Also, runners can look forward
to the race route that we have set out for them—the new
Bonifacio Global City to Makati Central Business District
route,” said Ferdinand de la Cruz, Globe’s consumer wireless
business head.
Bayan ni Juan sa Calauan is a 100-hectare community with
800 housing units constructed by the National Housing
Authority. As one of the partners of KBPIP, Habitat for
Humanity will repair the existing 800 houses and build new
housing units for the resettled families.
Globe, DLSU collaborate on telecoms research and development
Globe Telecom has recently partnered with De La Salle University (DLSU)
to work on a series of projects that will benefit the telecommunication
sector in the Philippines.
Globe Labs and DLSU signed a memorandum of understanding that
aims to foster a stronger partnership that will result in a comprehensive
research and application development process. The partnership entails
Globe Labs providing DLSU with telecommunications services to aid
the university in the development of applications and services. Two
applications using Globe’s short message service (SMS) and location
based service (LBS) platforms are currently in the works.
“Through partnerships with the academe, Globe is providing students
with early exposure to relevant telecommunications technology. The
company takes pride in the fact that it plays a role in giving the students
an edge amidst the challenges we face today,” said Harvey Libarnes,
head of Globe Labs.
Globe Labs, an innovation arm of Globe Telecom, is tasked with bringing
in the latest information and communications technologies at the earliest
market-relevant time to customers. Globe Labs is focused on immersing
its developer communities with the latest in technology, so they can
develop applications across fixed and wireless networks that can be
commercially introduced.
(From left) Globe Labs’ Harvey Libarnes, DLSU College of Liberal Arts dean
Exaltacion Lamberte, Globe’s head of innovation development Fernando Teodoro Jr.,
DLSU College of Computer Studies dean Rachel Edita Roxas, and DLSU Institute of
Governance executive director Francisco Magno after the MOU signing
Bulletin Board
Text2Teach introduces
mobile technology to Vigan,
Tuguegarao schools
Globe Telecom, a member of the Text2Teach Alliance, together
with long-time partners Nokia, Ayala Foundation Inc., and the
Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization-Innovation and
Technology (SEAMEO-INNOTECH) turned over Text2Teach school
packages to 18 public elementary schools in Vigan City on May 6
and to 16 schools in Tuguegarao City on July 2.
During the turnover ceremonies held at the Vigan Central School, each
of the 18 public schools received the Text2Teach package comprising
of a Nokia N95 8GB mobile phone loaded with the Nokia Education
Delivery (NED) application, a Globe prepaid SIM to be provided
with P150 load every month for one year for helpdesk concerns, an
additional P1,000 to download new multimedia materials via Globe’s
3G network, and training from SEAMEO-INNOTECH on the integration
of Text2Teach materials in classroom instruction.
Manila Water to start laying
pipes for high portions of
Angono and Binangonan
Manila Water will soon start laying large pipelines that will enable
residents living in elevated portions of Angono and Binangonan in Rizal
province to get safe, potable water. The new pipeline is a component
of Manila Water’s Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project (RWSSP),
whose overall objective is to provide reliable water supply to the highest
and farthest areas of the two towns. RWSP’s major components include
several reservoirs, transmission lines at Maguey, Lucban, ML Quezon,
Cabrera, and the Teresa to Morong pipeline.
The turnover ceremony in Tuguegarao City was held at the
Tuguegarao North Central School, where heads of the 16 recipient
schools each received a mobile phone and prepaid SIM card. Kolin
Philippines International Inc., another Text2Teach partner, donated
29-inch color television sets.
AFI serves as the project manager of Text2Teach, a private sector-led
program that uses mobile technology to make learning more exciting
and meaningful for students. The mobile phones are pre-loaded with
education videos specifically created for the project to bring English,
math, and science subjects to life. The education videos provide an
opportunity for teachers to create a new interactive, student-focused
learning environment in the classroom.
Ayala Life honors top agents
Ayala Life Assurance Inc.’s top agents for 2008 were recognized during the company’s
annual Awards Night and National Convention held on March 18 at the Prince Marco
Polo Hotel in Hong Kong.
The agents were given trophies and medals for overcoming the challenges of 2008
and for maintaining the company’s high productivity level and growth. Present during
the awarding ceremonies were BPI insurance group head Jose Teodoro Limcaoco,
business director Marissa Martin, and national sales director Angelo Cabrera.
As part of their rewards, the top performing agents were treated to a Hong Kong tour,
including a visit to known tourist sites, shopping districts, and restaurants.
Manila Water holds a simple
groundbreaking ceremony before laying
pipelines that will enable water to reach
elevated parts of Binangonan and Angono
in Rizal. Angono mayor Aurora Villamayor
(third from right), Mahabang Parang
barangay captain Rogelio Hadap (fifth from
right), and Manila Water area business
managers Marvin Panday and Lyn Quinesa
attend the event
APMC receives fire safety
compliance awards
Twenty-five Ayala-managed properties were awarded at
the 2009 Fire Safety Compliance Awards last May 28 at the
Session Hall of the Makati City Hall.
Tower One and Exchange Plaza, 6750 Office Tower, PeopleSupport Center,
and One Roxas Triangle were given 5-star building fire safety compliance
with building fire brigade and corporate fire safety awards. Greenbelt and
Glorietta malls also received fire safety awards.
Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) qualifiers pose with BPI insurance
group head Jose Teodoro Limcaoco (left), business director Marissa
Martin (second from right), and national sales director Angelo Cabrera
(right) at the Ayala Life Awards Night. MDRT is the premier international
association of financial professionals in the life insurance industry
Now on its 11th year, the safety compliance awards aim to promote
public fire safety awareness. The awards program cites corporate entities,
buildings and condominium owners, and building fire brigades that comply
with the fire prevention and fire safety requirements of the Fire Code and
the National Building Code of the Philippines. The event was organized by
the city government of Makati, Makati Fire Safety Foundation Inc., Rotary
Club of Makati, Makati Commercial Estate Association Inc., and Makati City
Fire Department.
18
The official publication of the Ayala group of companies Volume 13, Number 3, May-June 2009
IMI Lab gets ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation
Integrated Microelectronics Inc. formally received the
ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for its Quality Technical
Support Laboratory (central calibration) from the Philippine
Accreditation Office (PAO) during the 19th Association of
Semiconductor and Electronics Manufacturing Engineers of
the Philippines (ASEMEP) National Technical Symposium
at the SMX Convention Center on June 4. IMI president
and CEO Arthur Tan and managing directors Emma
Tomelden and Michael Hansson accepted the certificate of
accreditation from PAO director Cirila Botor.
(From left) PAO’s
manager on laboratory
accreditation Perla Baje
and PAO director Cirila
Botor with IMI quality
and reliability group
managing director
Melita Tomelden and
IMI president and CEO
Arthur Tan during the
ASEMEP symposium
The ISO/IEC 17025 was developed specifically to give
guidance to laboratories on both quality management
and the technical requirements for proper operation. This
standard is considered the technical complement to ISO
9000. While ISO 9000 requirements are generic and are
intended to be applicable to any type of organization, the
ISO/IEC 17025 requirements are specific to testing and
calibration laboratories. ISO/IEC 17025 addresses issues
such as the technical competence of personnel, ethical
behavior of staff, use of well-defined test and calibration
procedures, participation in proficiency testing, and
contents of test reports and certificates.
Globe forms new partnerships
Sealing the partnership
between Arvato and
Globe Business are
(from left) Globe
Business corporate
and SME segments
head Maridol Ylanan,
Globe Business head
Gil Genio, Arvato site
account manager Rica
Mangahas, and Arvato
global account manager
Damian Reyes
Globe Telecom expands its reach as a major telecom service provider by forming
new partnerships with various companies. Globe’s corporate arm Globe Business
was recently tapped by international business process outsourcing company
Arvato Digital Services to provide a wide array of products, services, and
solutions for its operations. Arvato is a leading vendor of integrated solutions to
IT, high-tech gaming, video, and audio businesses. It has acquired various Globe
Business solutions like GIX Internet and BlackBerry business applications.
Globe Business also provided Unilever Philippines with clear, efficient, and
real-time communications for business transactions through its corporate voice
solutions. Unilever utilizes Globe’s Business Loop to keep its people as well as
their suppliers, distributors, and third-party manufacturers constantly connected to
one another anytime, anywhere.
Globe Business has significantly improved Unilever’s voice services and has
enabled the company to effectively lower business costs and enhance operational
efficiencies by providing fast and reliable communications among employees,
their clients, and partners/suppliers.
Pointwest Technologies Corporation has also availed of Globe Business’ services
and solutions like Globe Visibility and various BlackBerry business applications
that are strategic to its operations. Pointwest Technologies is a premier
outsourcing provider of software and BPO services here and abroad.
Globe Business provides full-service telecommunications solutions to large
enterprises and corporations, as well as to small and medium enterprises. It has
its own international gateways, cable landing stations, domestic fiber backhaul,
and a national access network (data, fiber, and 3G/High-Speed Downlink Packet
Access) that meet the needs of large enterprises including offshoring and
outsourcing companies.
HRMall scores second
commercial client
HRMall recently signed an outsourcing agreement with Ten Knots
Development Corporation (TKDC), the leisure and resort management
company that developed and operates El Nido Miniloc and Lagen Island
Resorts in Palawan.
Under the agreement, HRMall will supply TKDC with technology and
services to deploy and maintain an employee database while empowering
TKDC’s employees and managers through the self-service functionalities
of Peoplesoft Core HR application, a software solution that helps maximize
HR operations. Once the system goes live, HRMall will continue to provide
technical services and production support.
TKDC partnered with HRMall to address its need for a complete and
integrated employee information database that tracks employee movements,
training and development records, and other employee-related information.
Maintaining accurate employee records, particularly for seasonal staff from
neighboring barangays, is challenging because TKDC has three operating
locations, and each location has different HR units which have to update HR
data separately.
Ayala Automotive, BPI
Family Savings Bank tie
up with eTelecare
Ayala Automotive Holdings Corporation and BPI Family Savings Bank
partnered with eTelecare to provide car loan facilities for eTelecare
employees who wish to own a Honda or Isuzu vehicle. Facilitated by the
Ayala Auto Group human resources department and Ayala Auto chief
finance officer Nona Ong, representatives of Honda Cars Makati Inc., Isuzu
Automotive Dealership Inc., eTelecare, and BPI Family Savings Bank signed
a memorandum of agreement at Honda Cars Global City. The agreement
allows eTelecare employees to avail of Ayala Automotive’s progressive
discounts and special rates for after-sales services. BPI Family Savings Bank
will also provide employees quick and easy access to its Auto Loan program.
Fernando Zobel in the 1950s
continued from p.20
World War, a spine illness prevented him from getting out of bed. Also, the members of the
family were holed up in their estate in Calatagan, Batangas, because the Japanese had
seized their homes in Manila. It was during these slow-moving years that Zobel decided to
become an artist.
In 1946 Zobel entered Harvard University to study Humanities. Harvard was a
revelation for him. At Harvard he read voraciously. He also decided to teach himself
how to paint. One of the first things he did upon arriving in the United States, in
fact, was to buy a box of oil paints. Soon he was visiting art galleries regularly and
developing friendships with fellow intellectuals and visual artists.
Still Life, Variation II
Oil on wood pulp board, 1953
Upon his graduation in 1949, Zobel was faced with the need to make an important
choice: should he stay on at Harvard and continue to live as an artist, or should he
come home to Manila and work at the business of his family? As much as he loved the
intellectual and artistic freedom Harvard afforded him, he also loved his family. He did
not only feel duty-bound to serve and work for the family business (Ayala y Compañía,
later Ayala Corporation); he had the genuine desire to do it.
But once in Manila, he still longed for Harvard. He wanted to be there so much
that after only a few months in Manila he enrolled at Harvard Law School. However,
because he was more interested in pursuing art than law, he dropped out after two
months.
Even after dropping out, he stayed on at Harvard, finding work as an assistant at the
Harvard College Library’s Department of Graphic Arts. He continued to paint, even taking
engraving classes. In 1951, he took part in a group exhibition, his first, held in Boston. His
painting career was taking off, but in 1952 he had to return, once again, to Manila.
(From left) Mia Borromeo, Margarita Fores, and Kit Zobel
Arturo Luz
In Manila, while trying to pay more attention to the complexities of running Ayala, Zobel
never turned his back on art. He developed the habit of waking up very early to paint, before
heading to the office. As head of personnel at Ayala, he made sure that communication
between management and staff was kept open. When he clocked out of the office, he
continued to paint—or, if not paint, meet people in whose lives painting (and art, in general)
played a big part. He became friends with those who would eventually become big names in
Philippine art—Arturo Luz, Vicente Manansala, Cesar Legaspi. He became president of the
Art Association of the Philippines, held his first solo exhibition in 1953, published articles on
Philippine art, and taught art appreciation at the Ateneo de Manila University.
It was also the time when Zobel made his first attempts at abstract painting. The 1950s
was an important time in modern art: Artists as different in temperament and sensibility
as Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and Mark Rothko were in ascendance, being
collectively labeled as pioneers of “abstract expressionism.”
Zobel had a brief stint as resident artist at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in
1954. It was at RISD where he encountered, for the first time, Mark Rothko’s paintings, which
dazzled him. Rothko’s work showed him the possibilities of abstract painting. This ushered in
Zobel’s first major period, the one that brought the Saetas.
Penitentes
Oil on canvas, 1954
Saeta is the Spanish word for “arrow”; the word also refers to music similar to the
flamenco. Featuring lines applied on canvas using glass syringes, the Saetas evoke
movement and rhythm against often strikingly colored backgrounds.
After his stint at RISD he traveled across Europe and developed friendships with artists in
Madrid. As he spent more time in Spain, he realized that it was “a blast of light,” a place he
could call “home.” He wrote: “Perhaps this is the important thing: this recognition of home.
If one must lose oneself, this is where I want to be lost.”
His talent continued to be recognized internationally, and his paintings were being shown
in various prestigious exhibitions. However, he couldn’t be present in many of these
exhibitions, because he had work to do in the Philippines. While his paintings were being
exhibited at the Guggenheim in 1960, he was seriously considering moving to Spain and
becoming a full-time painter. With his mother’s blessing, Zobel resigned from Ayala by the
end of 1960. In 1961 he held a solo show at the newly opened Luz Gallery, and moved to
Spain for good.
Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala and Lizzie Zobel beside
Fernando Zobel’s 1957 oil painting Forma
Untitled (Maiden beside fruit stand)
Gouache and oil on paper, 1952
Fernando Zobel in the 1950s: The Formative Years, currently on exhibit at the Ayala
Museum, shows Zobel’s early artistic journey, presenting celebrated figurative and semifigurative works (such as Boy with Kite and Carroza), early attempts at abstraction (such
as El Charles IV), and several pieces from the landmark Saeta series. Many of these
paintings were made in the Philippines.
Presented in commemoration of Zobel’s 25th death anniversary, the exhibit will run until
January 17, 2010.
(From left) Maritess Pineda, JZA, and Fe Rodriguez
Dianne Ongpin and Maribel Ongpin
20
The official publication of the Ayala group of companies Volume 13, Number 3, May-June 2009
EVENTS
Events@Ayala Museum
Exhibitions
Rediscovering Romeo Tabuena:
the Later Work
May 23, 2009 to July 19, 2009
Ground-floor gallery
Fernando Zobel in the 1950s:
The Formative Years
Ongoing until January 17, 2010
Third floor galleries
Romulo Olazo | A 40-Year
Retrospective
July 28 to September 13, 2009
Ground floor gallery and third floor
classrooms
Fernando Zobel in the 1950s
Educational programs
I AM (Ayala Museum) Art
I AM Art offers museum visitors a
variety of art activities to make their
Ayala Museum trip an enjoyable
learning experience. I AM Art is free
with museum admission. Materials
will be provided.
3 P.M. Ayala Museum lobby
July 18, 2009 July 25, 2009 Calado at Bato
by Araceli Limcaco Dans
(Director’s Choice 2009)
July 15 to 27 2009
ArtistSpace
Papertwine crafts
Boatmaking
For more information, please call 757
7117 to 21, e-mail education@ayala
museum.org or visit ayalamuseum.org
Posing beside Fernando Zobel’s Carroza are (from left) Kit Zobel, Mercy Tuason, Fernando Zobel de
Ayala, Ambassador Ana Ugarte, and JZA
Best known for the spare, abstract canvases that characterize his later work, the
Spanish-Filipino painter Fernando Zobel spent much of his early years experimenting
with a wide range of styles and techniques. Before the Saetas series of paintings, which
signaled Zobel’s definitive shift to abstraction, he created semi-figurative works as well as
preliminary attempts at abstraction.
Born in Manila in 1924, Fernando Zobel de Ayala y Montojo had poor health as a child.
He also lived through wars. His side of the family, after deciding to settle in Madrid, had
to return to the Philippines upon the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. During the Second
Events@FHL
Digital 101: Photography and the Computer
July 6, 8, 10, 13, and 15 (6 P.M.– 9 P.M.)
FUN SHOOT SERIES | Photographing Architecture in Taal,
Batangas
July 25 (8 A.M. – 5 P.M.)
Life Sketches: A Memoir Writing Course
July 27, 29, and August 5 6 P.M. – 9 P.M.
Writing for Business: A Workshop on Effective Business
Writing
July 21, 23, and 24 6 P.M. – 9 P.M.
Writing Chic Lit
August 10, 12, and 19
6 P.M. – 9 P.M.
(From left) Jaime Laya, Tessie Luz, a guest,
Maritoni Ortigas, Georgina Padilla, Dr. Benito
Legarda Jr., and Marilou Prieto
Ambeth Ocampo
beside Zobel’s
1954 oil painting
Self-Portrait
Effective Business Presentation
August 17
9 A.M. – 4 P.M.
Food Writing Workshop
August 20
6 P.M. – 9 P.M.
August 22
8 A.M. – 5 P.M.
August 27
6 P.M. – 9 P.M.
For more details, please call 892-1801, send an SMS to
0917 559 4417 and 0917 561 2413, or e-mail cruz.ct@
ayalafoundation.org and bascoguin.jm@ayalafoundation.org,
or visit filipinaslibrary.org.ph
Stultifera Navis (Ship Of Fools)
Watercolor, tempera, and ink on woven
medium paper, 1952
continued on p.19
The Editorial Team
Publisher Victoria Garchitorena
Editor-in-Chief Maritoni Ortigas
Editorial Consultant Emi de Lara
Managing Editor Alex Gregorio
Deputy Managing Editor Rose Raguindin
Assistant Editor Janella Cacdac-Siena
Graphic Designer Izza Lambino
Advertising Manager Ciela Cayton
Advertising Assistant Anne Marie Alim
Photographer Jaime Martinez
Digital imagist Jose Reginald Juanico
Correspondents
Ayala Aviation Jaime Peralta Jr.
Ayala Business Club Carole Guamen
Ayala Corporation Janella Cacdac-Siena
Ayala Foundation, Inc. Paul de Guzman
Ayala Land, Inc. Jorge Miguel T. Marco
Ayala Property Management Corp. Christine Lim-Siruelo
Ayala Systems Technology, Inc. Genesis Bautista
Bank of the Philippine Islands Reena Dungca
Globe Telecom Marigold Endriga
Honda Cars Makati, Inc. Monina Macavinta
HRMall, Inc. Gabby Mejia
Integrated Microelectronics, Inc. Fred Blancas
Isuzu Automotive Dealership, Inc. Monette Gaela
Manila Water Company Carla May Beriña-Kim
Timezone Ana Cardenas-Benitez
Editorial Office
Filipinas Heritage Library
Makati Avenue, Ayala Triangle
Makati City 1224, Philippines
Telephone (632) 892-1801 local 14
Facsimile (632) 892-1810
Email AyalaNow@filipinaslibrary.org.ph
URL www.ayala.com.ph/ayalanow