Chevron Employees Connect with Deaf Children Through Meaningful Volunteering Activities

Chevron volunteers and their wards flashing the “Ilove you” hand sign during the recent Chevron Volunteer Day for the benefit of Deaf and hard-of-hearing children in Batasan, Quezon City.

Employees of Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of Caltex fuels and lubricants, and Caltex Makati Credit Cooperative (CMCC), recently held a Deaf Awareness Talk and Activity to help Deaf children build self-esteem and social skills. This is part of CPI’s annual Volunteer Day, which keeps the company’s culture of volunteerism and diversity alive.

In partnership with My Children’s House of Hope Bahay Bata 127 Inc., 20 CPI volunteers engaged with 32 beneficiaries and their guardians to learn basic American Sign Language (ASL), including the baptismal of volunteers’ Sign names.  They teamed up for signed performances of nursery rhymes ” proving that the joy of music transcends sound.  Chevron volunteers also gave the beneficiaries backpacks from the company’s Women’s Network, school supplies, and uniforms, helping them look forward to going to school everyday.

Mae Belle Albay, CMCC Operations Supervisor for Batangas, shared that it was her first time participating in this kind of outreach.  She reflected that it was a major eye-opener for her as the Deaf community is just one of many diverse sectors and that she must be more respectful and empathetic of their needs. 

Albay added, “This activity is such an eye-opener. I’ve learned a lot about how to be more respectful and relate to them more.”

According to Bahay Bata Executive Director Ana Maria Dizon, the interaction of  CPI and CMCC employees with the beneficiaries could encourage them to dream big because one day, they too can climb the corporate ladder. “Since may appreciation [ang mga volunteer] sa mga bata, yung mga bata, [maiisip nila na] ‘Pwede ako maging boss, pwede ako ma-employ.’ (Since the volunteers show appreciation to the kids, the kids can think, ‘I too can become a boss, I too can become an employee.)”

The Bahay Bata teachers also expressed gratitude toward CPI and CMCC for this engagement, saying they saw that the beneficiaries and parents genuinely enjoyed spending time with the volunteers. It also struck a chord with them as some teachers are also parents to Deaf children. They also saw that this activity can help the children open up to all types of people.

Teacher Leny Rose Salazar added, “Nalilimit talaga  [ang mga bata] kasi sa bahay lang sila nagkukulong. So dito, mas maganda na may iba silang nakikitang mukha para di rin sila laging takot sa tao. [The children are often times limited to staying at home so it is a good thing that they see different faces so that they will feel more comfortable engaging with other people.]”

As for CMCC General Manager Cheche Osia, this activity is the first step to CPI and CMCC building a world where the Deaf community can thrive without discrimination, “We are very much looking forward to the time when the Filipino Deaf [community] will be empowered.”

Chevron has a long-standing history of using this annual tradition to advocate for various causes nationwide. The company’s employees previously provided career training for the disadvantaged youth of Don Bosco Pugad in 2023 and planted 353 Malapapaya and Arungin seedlings at the La Mesa Nature Reserve in 2022.

Toyota Motor Philippines to Expand Its After-Sales Services with the Toyota Calamba Service Center

Set to be the first service center in the region, this new facility promises to enhance customer service and support for Toyota owners in Laguna

(L - R): Toyota Calamba, Laguna (TCL) Executive Vice President Mr. Renan Jayme, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) Executive Vice President Mr. Jose Maria Atienza, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation Chairman Dr. Efraim Genuino, TCL Chairman Mr. Egmidio “Eddie” Jose, Los Banos Mayor Hon. Anthony Genuino, TMP Vice President for Dealer Development Department Ms. Lyna Garcia, and TMP Vice President for Service Network Management Mr. Jeffrey Matsuo.

Bell Kenz-Pharma Inc. Launches Program to Provide Essential Skills and Information to Filipinos

In the Philippines, where 8 out of 10 cardiac arrests occur outside hospitals, most often in the homes, with family members nearby but with little to no knowledge of lifesaving skills, being prepared can mean the difference between life and death. Access to essential life saving knowledge, like cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), remains a critical gap in many parts of the country. To address this, Bell-Kenz Pharma Inc, through its health initiative, Barangay BK, has embarked on a series of CPR trainings. 

Reproductive Health Misinformation Highlights Need for Trustworthy Sources

Despite advancements in medicine and technology, misinformation about sexual and reproductive health continues to circulate in the Philippines. Outdated beliefs and stigma prevent many individuals from accessing accurate information or having open discussions, leaving them susceptible to misinformation and sexual health risks.

Navigating misinformation in reproductive health

Too often, individuals seek advice within social circles or turn to unverified online sources. While often well-meaning, these sources can perpetuate harmful myths and contribute to risky behavior, such as unsafe sexual practices or inadequate protection against STIs. Adolescents, particularly impressionable young girls, are susceptible to false information spread on social media, complicating the start of their reproductive health journeys.

SNAP receives local and international recognition for safety and health

Renewable energy provider SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP) Group’s Ambuklao and Binga Hydroelectric Power Plants (HEPP) located in Benguet and Magat HEPP in Isabela have been recognized as Gawad Kaligtasan and Kalusugan (GKK) regional awardees for surpassing the National Safety and Health standards set by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) on October 7 and DOLE-Region 02 on October 10, respectively.

DOLE-CAR Assistant Regional Director Emerito Narag congratulated DOLE-CAR winners for their hard work, dedication, and innovative spirit in ensuring occupational safety and health (OSH) of workers in the workplace.

Takeda Healthcare Philippines Inc. Partners with Tzu Chi Foundation to Support Treatment of Individuals with Rare Diseases

Takeda Philippines and the Tzu Chi Foundation forged a partnership to enhance its Patient Assistance Program, enabling patients with lymphoma and IBD to access essential treatments granting improved health outcomes, and allowing them to pursue a better quality of life. 

Biopharmaceutical leader Takeda Healthcare Philippines Inc. recently inked a partnership with Tzu Chi Foundation to bolster a Patient Assistance Program (PAP) specifically benefiting patients suffering from Hodgkin Lymphoma and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). 

The Tzu Chi Foundation is an international humanitarian organization that has been operating in the Philippines for 27 years. It holds special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) and focuses on disaster relief and rehabilitation, education, healthcare, and environmental protection, positively impacting communities in need. 

Philippine youth org named one of the global winners of Schneider Electric’s "Youth Innovation for a Sustainable Future"

Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Youth Philippines ranks 4 out of the 113+ entry submissions in Asia.

Five youth-led initiatives driving equitable transition and skills training selected from Asia Pacific and will receive a 50,000-euro prize. 

Schneider Electric Foundation recently named Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Youth Philippines as one of the five winners of the company’s global "Youth Innovation for a Sustainable Future" Call for Projects, launched in celebration of the Foundation's 25th anniversary. The initiative, which received hundreds of applications across two continents, recognizes youth-led projects spearheading innovative solutions for a more sustainable world through a just transition, skills development, and entrepreneurship.