Globe wins best governance award
Globe has been awarded Best Corporate Governance (CG) in Asia by London’s Ethical Boardroom under the Telecoms category, the only Philippine company to make it to the list of awardees this year which is the second consecutive year the company has been awarded the same title by the London-based digital magazine.
Ethical Boardroom is a bi-monthly publication that delivers in-depth coverage and critically astute analysis of global governance issues.
“We are honored to receive this recognition for two years in a row. To continuously earn the trust of all our stakeholders, especially our customers, corporate governance is deeply embedded in our business operations and corporate culture. We are very happy that all our efforts in maintaining good corporate governance are being recognized,” said Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO.
The Ethical Boardroom recognized Globe as one of the companies in Asia with “outstanding leadership from boards who have raised the bar to ensure that strong corporate governance plays an essential part in protecting and enhancing long-term value for all stakeholders.”
Together with other publicly-listed companies and state-owned enterprises, Globe went through a challenging two-pronged evaluation exercise, which consisted of a due-diligence process and a panel of luminaries in the relevant global governance sphere who serve as adjudicators.
Globe’s annual Integrated report is aligned with the principles espoused in the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS), the Integrated Annual Corporate Governance Report (i-ACGR) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and other key sustainability reporting frameworks.
Ethical Boardroom shared that this year’s selection criteria considered 120 governance factors with a set of key performance indicators alongside six CG pillars, including board leadership, board composition, board governance, shareholder rights, engagement, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG).
Leadership excellence
Dennis Anthony Uy, chief executive officer and co-founder of Converge ICT Solutions Inc., has been awarded with the Global Excellence Award by the International Chamber of Commerce Philippines, joining the ranks of top Philippine tycoons who have received the prestigious recognition.
Leading the “fiber revolution” in the Philippines and a stalwart in improving the country’s fixed broadband penetration, Uy, through his introduction of micro-trenching has spread the company’s fiber footprint in Metro Manila, while strengthening his hold in his home market of Pampanga.
Today, Converge’s fiber network has passed 9.6 million homes and has rolled out 5.2 million fiber ports nationwide. Its subscriber base hit 1.6 million, double-digit growth over 2020.
In their citation, ICCP praised Uy’s “business zeal and expertise which continues to help the country achieve competitiveness and productivity.“
Ajinomoto postgraduate scholarship
Ajinomoto Philippines Corp., is opening its application for its 2023 postgraduate scholarship in Japan to deserving Filipino students who need financial assistance as they pursue higher education in the field of science.
The grant is part of the Ajinomoto Scholarship for Asean+ONE International Students program which enables students from six countries–Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Russia–to pursue a master’s course in one of Japan’s top universities.
Applicants of the 2023 Ajinomoto postgraduate scholarship grant must be a Filipino citizen under the age of 35 on April 1, 2022 and must have completed or expect to complete their bachelor’s degree with an excellent academic record. A recommendation from his or her university president and academic advisor is also required as well as undergoing adequate Japanese language proficiency training. Deadline for application is set in March 1, 2022.
foodpanda, Jollibee partner for free treats
Available in select Jollibee stores nationwide, foodpanda riders claimed their free Jolly Spaghetti from December 10 until December 12, via a food voucher that was provided to them.
This partnership with Jollibee, apart from celebrating the Christmas season, is foodpanda’s way of showing care to its riders who tirelessly service the Filipino with their delivery service.
“foodpanda and Jollibee are in the business of providing and delivering happiness to its customers through good food. This time, however, this collaboration with Jollibee gives honor to the people who are doing the deliveries,” said Daniel Marogy, managing director of foodpanda Philippines.
Partnership provides portable media libraries
Security Bank’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm Security Bank Foundation Inc. (SBFI), the College of the Holy Spirit Manila (CHSM) High School (HS) Batch of 1973, and the Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. (KCFI) joined forces to distribute portable media libraries with educational resources to five public schools.
Dubbed as “Gift of Knowledge” kits, the portable media libraries are plug-and-play external hard drives loaded with over 1,500 KCFI-produced video lessons, e-games, and e-session guides for kindergarten, elementary, junior high school, and alternative learning system students. The modules are aligned with the Department of Education’s K-12 curriculum.
Funded by the CHSM HS Batch of 1973 under their batch legacy project dubbed as “Agapay sa Kalusugan at Pag-aaral (AKAP)”, one portable media library was given each to Camarines Sur National High School in Naga City, Laguna Resettlement School in San Pedro City, San Jose City National High School in Nueva Ecija, San Pablo Central School in Laguna, and Tuguegarao West Central School in Cagayan. The donation is expected to benefit over 25,000 students.
Maynilad offers desludging services this month
West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. is offering septic tank cleaning services to its residential and semi-business customers this month of January in select parts of Caloocan, Makati, Malabon, Manila, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Quezon City, Valenzuela, and in Cavite City at no extra cost.
The company has adopted new and more stringent protocols in its desludging services to ensure the customer safety. Maynilad requires all of its desludging personnel and vacuum truck unit operators to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), practice physical distancing, and undertake extra disinfection procedures to protect against the spread of COVID-19.
“We have made our already-stringent desludging safety protocols even stricter…” said Maynilad COO Randy Estrellado, adding that customers should avail of the service because it helps to protect community health and the environment.
Maynilad customers interested in availing of the company’s septic tank cleaning service may call the Maynilad Hotline 1626 to determine the requirements and procedures. Additional information is also available in the company’s website, www.mayniladwater.com.ph, and social media accounts (Twitter: @maynilad, Facebook: /MayniladWater).
EastWest concludes FilVax
EastWest has successfully vaccinated its employees, consultants, and third-party hires, as well as non-affiliated individuals, as it completes its FilVax vaccination program this month.
The FilVax vaccination program, a joint initiative by EastWest and parent company Filinvest Development Corp., saw regional legs established in various areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, starting with the Filinvest Mega Vaccination Center at the Festival Mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa.
FilVax officially wrapped up on December 4, after four months of administering the doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine procured by Filinvest Group. The program saw over 1,600 people who were not yet vaccinated through the local government units’ effective vaccination drives directly receive the vaccine, with majority of the recipients being employees and third-party hires from the National Capital Region.
To help increase the vaccination rate in the country, the bank also allowed already-vaccinated employees through private programs or LGUs to nominate substitutes, and even opened the program to employees’ family members and friends. Through this, FilVax was able to vaccinate an additional 400 people.
In addition to vaccinating employees and non-affiliated individuals, the FilVax program also donated over 17,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to many local government units in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Ang Batang Hesus exhibit
Araneta City has opened to the public the “Ang Batang Hesus” exhibit in Ali Mall in partnership with Santo Niño devotees to honor the Child Jesus.
In time for the feast of Santo Niño, the faithful are invited to visit the solemn display of the different images of child Jesus near the Gen. MacArthur entrance of Ali Mall from January 7 to 15.
The “Ang Batang Hesus” exhibit features more than 50 images from Santo Niño devotees and benefactors. Among them are the famous replicas of the three oldest Santo Niño images in the Philippines: Santo Niño de Cebu, Santo Niño de Tondo, and Santo Niño de Arevalo.
Vista Malls, Make-A-Wish PH grant wishes ailing children
Vista Malls has partnered with Make-A-Wish Foundation Philippines to grant ten wishes last Christmas. The beneficiaries, ages 3 to 17, are bravely battling critical illnesses such as leukemia, congenital & rheumatic heart diseases.
Through their wish journey process, the foundation received these referrals from their partner medical institutions like Phil. General Hospital, National Children’s Hospital, Phil. Heart Center & Batangas Medical Center.
During the wish capture step, the children wished for mobile gadgets to use for their online classes and costumes of their favorite superheroes for the new year.
The partnership between Vista Mall’s corporate social arm, Give-A-Hope, and Make-A-Wish Foundation will also grant the wishes of three lucky shoppers who will avail the Letters of Hope activity during the holidays.
Shoppers who spent at least P2,000 from any of the Vista Mall or Starmall stores within December 22, 2021 to January 15, 2022 may join the promo. Each participant is allowed to write up to two Christmas letters — a personal wish list and well-wishes for children with critical illnesses.
The Villar-led malls will make the wishes of three lucky shoppers at the end of the promo period.
