Daily TribuneOur ambition is fueled by the potential of what we can achieve together by addressing systemic issues, informing and empowering communities, fostering sustainable, inclusive growth throughout our archipelago
Members of the Aboitiz Group are celebrating the start of an exciting new chapter for Aboitiz Foundation, its corporate citizen's arm.
The Foundation is embarking on a remarkable journey to reshape its mission and step into the role of a visionary leader in sustainable development.
The Foundation celebrated its 35th anniversary with a two-day conference and outlined plans to scale up and innovate the way it uplifts the lives of people.
The forum kicked off with a high-powered event hosted by Antonette Taus, executive director of the CORA Foundation and a well-known figure in the field of philanthropy and social impact.
Foundation of the Future
Sabin M. Aboitiz, chairman of the board of the Aboitiz Foundation and chief engagement officer of the Aboitiz Group, laid out the path that AFI will take moving forward in his keynote speech.
He echoed the phrase, "Change Today. Shape the Future," encapsulating the spirit of the Aboitiz Foundation's vision for the future.
Aboitiz emphasized the need for the Foundation to go beyond the communities where the group has business and significantly scale its efforts, even on the global stage.
He spoke of the importance of technological innovation and bold visions in extending the Foundation's reach and impact throughout the country.
Trusted partner of choice
Furthermore, he expressed the vision of the Foundation as the trusted partner of choice for the world's largest philanthropic foundations, actively addressing systemic issues such as poverty, access to education and waste.
"Our ambition is fueled by the potential of what we can achieve together by addressing systemic issues, informing and empowering communities, and fostering sustainable, inclusive growth throughout our archipelago," Aboitiz said.
"The partnerships that we built will not only increase our impact but will also create positive change that ripples throughout the generations after us," he added.
More value to beneficiaries
For her part, Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, Aboitiz Equity Ventures' chief reputation and sustainability officer, discussed how the Foundation is revamping its initiatives to provide more value to its beneficiaries.
The intention is to focus efforts where these can have the greatest impact, as well as harness the synergies among the business units and the Aboitiz Group as a whole.
"Everything we are, everything we stand for, and everything we do goes back to that one thing: People… As we forge ahead to realize this new vision for the Aboitiz Foundation, we do so with passion and a renewed commitment to balancing our people-centric approach with technology-driven solutions to drive positive change," she highlighted.
Maribeth Marasigan, president and COO of Aboitiz Foundation Inc., for her part, stressed that the Foundation is enhancing its capabilities to be more agile and resilient in order to act swiftly and effectively in a world full of unforeseen consequences.
She expressed confidence in the Foundation's ability to meet the challenges of the next 35 years and beyond, striving for a future in which Filipinos have access to quality education and prosperous lives.
"I'm confident that we will continue to create a legacy of transformative change for our communities and our country," she noted.
Pillars of change
Sharing her experience and expertise on enterprise and jobs, Riza Mantaring, lead independent director of Ayala Corporation, BPI, and First Philippine Holdings, stressed the importance of supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises in their digital transformations by providing infrastructure, skills, capital and resources, emphasizing the role of the private sector in doing so.
