Celebrating the season, developers bring joy, hope to communities

A developer’s duty should not merely end with the development and turnover of houses and units.

More than anything, the property firm has the responsibility in helping uplift the lives of the people living within its developments and even those in neighboring communities.

A responsible developer knows all too well that the company should be able to go beyond its comfort zone and find ways to become a significant contributor to the government’s efforts towards poverty alleviation.

Recently, there has been a number of these developers doing their share in helping improve the lives of the marginalized by either supporting their programs, doing medical missions, or even going as far as donating classrooms to areas where these are needed most.

And in this season of merrymaking, let us pay tribute to developers who have taken it upon themselves to do their part in helping ensure that every Filipino will have a chance to improve their lives, be able to study, and gain access to medical help.

AVIDA LAND

Avida partnered with Rags2Riches to create eco-ethical fashion and home accessories.

For Ayala Land Inc.’s Avida, it’s all about partnering with local and homegrown brands as this coincides with the company’s core principle of sustainability.

Through its project dubbed “Home Grown Life+Style, Artisanal Crafts and Coffee for the Home,” Avida has collaborated with various social entrepreneurs and local artisans across the Philippines.

“Avida aims to give social entrepreneurs a bigger platform to educate people. We want people to appreciate and to educate people. We want people  be an advocate of homegrown products and artistry,” Avida said.

As part of the company’s corporate social responsibility program, Avida partnered with Rags2Riches to create eco-ethical fashion and home accessories out of upcycled, overstock cloth and indigenous fabrics. It also partnered with the International Women’s Coffee Alliance headed by Chit Juan.

Chit Juan of International Women’s Coffee Alliance

“For furnishings, we partnered with Rags2Riches. These are artisanal weaves and wooden furniture that often serve as conversation pieces. A truly utilitarian item, it  caters to every homeowners living space,” Avida noted.

Meanwhile, the goal of the Coffee Board is to develop and promote the Philippine coffee industry through technical assistance and credit programs for coffee farms; and through the marketing and promotions of coffee for domestic and export markets.

“We want to inspire and affect everyday moment by incorporating social conscious artisanal homegrown products and also inspire by empowering communities and affect the quality of their life by supporting artisanal homegrown products,” the company said.

“It is the company’s deep-rooted appreciation for culture, locally made products, and social entrepreneurship that has led to Homegrown Life+Style artisanal coffees. With the brand belief that every waking moment is an opportunity to live an enriching lifestyle, we decided it best to collaborate IWCA and Echo Store to encourage inspired living with every sip-so you can greet each morning with enthusiasm as you enjoy your cup of coffee,” Avida said.

vida’s deep-rooted appreciation for social entrepreneurship led to Homegrown Life+Style artisanal coffees.

Indulge in the delicious Avida Blends specially curated by Philippine coffee connoisseur Juan and harvested by local women coffee farmers. Each bean is carefully handpicked from different areas across the country to give you only the best coffee that the Philippines can offer.

Through the Avida blend, every cup that is consumed helps provide livelihood to Filipino farmers, thus enabling the company to become an ambassador of homegrown products.

STA. LUCIA LAND INC.

By bridging gaps, they have helped fulfill many dreams.

Sta. Lucia Land Inc., through its numerous developments located over the country, has allowed many Filipinos and their families to realize a lifelong dream of owning high-quality, world-class home developments, without having to pay a huge price.

Over the years, it has served the needs of many overseas Filipinos workers to provide a decent shelter for their families back home.

Understanding the needs of many Filipinos and driven by a strong passion and desire to be an enabler of change, Sta. Lucia Land has not only created comfortable homes and safe communities but has also put in place programs and activities that could help improve the lives of every community member especially the marginalized.

Apart from the regular feeding programs that Sta. Lucia Land conducts, it also recently donated classrooms in the Province of Iloilo.

Every year, Sta. Lucia Land conducts a number of activities that help improve the lives of many individuals. Apart from the regular feeding programs that it conducts, it also recently donated classrooms in the Province of Iloilo.

Sta. Lucia Land’s sales team, headed by its vice president Mariza S. Tan and assistant vice president for operations Ma. Theresa Antonio, likewise had an outreach program at the Manila Boys Town last November 26.

The sales team, through its “United for the love that grows only by sharing” program, treated the tenants of Boystown to a day filled with fun, love and care. During the activity, the boys enjoyed overflowing food, fun, games and prizes.

The company believes that through such programs, they are able to somewhat give back to the country the continuous blessings that they have been receiving over the past decades.

After all, it is Sta. Lucia Land president Exequiel Robles’ wish to help fulfill every Filipino dream and he believes that through such small steps, he and his company are able to achieve such.

ROCKWELL LAND CORP.

Behind the walls and the well-guarded community of Rockwell Land Corp. (RLC) are employees and leaders who are compassionate, always ready to lend a helping hand especially to those in need.

Although often preoccupied by work given the stiff competition in the real estate industry, employees of Rockwell Land, led by the hardworking Nestor Padilla, would always find time to do something good and worthwhile for the communities near their developments.

Rockwell Land partnered with parishes to conduct a medical mission, and distribute food and toys.

There seems to be nothing that Rockwell Land would not do just to be able to give back to society, given the company’s continued success over the past years. The company and its employees have willingly found time to put their hearts in doing something that would significantly affect society, the marginalized in particular.

“Every year, we would conduct activities that would allow us to share our blessings and this is something that we truly enjoy and cherish. Through such activities, we are given the chance to really realize how lucky we are and how thankful we should always be with the blessings we continuously receive,” explained Rockwell Land senior marketing manager Tracey Castillo.

Every year, Rockwell Land employees would conduct a number of activities—all of which are meant to bring smiles to the people who rarely have the means to experience life’s greatest pleasures.

“In the past, we would bring kids from neighboring barangays to the Power Plant Mall and treat them to rides, movies and give them gifts. We believe Christmas is generally for kids and thus we do such activities so that even for just one day, they will experience such joy,” Castillo added.

This year though, Rockwell Land decided to take the game a notch higher when it partnered with various parishes in areas where they are present to conduct a medical mission, provide medicines, distribute food and even toys to kids.

“We are happy because we were able to receive gifts. We don’t know them but they’ve been very nice to us. We thought it was just all doctors and medicines so we were really surprised that when we were about to go out, we were handed gift bags which contained really nice toys,” said eight-year-old Jenny Sacramento.

Rockwell Land conducted four simultaneous medical missions last December 3 in Muntinlupa, San Juan, Quezon City and Makati City. The developer gave away free medicines and other items, and provided free medical check up as well.

“We’re just really proud to be a part of this mission. I am glad that Rockwell Land has taken on the initiative to conduct such an activity because I  myself have seen how such a small and simple thing could make such a huge impact in one’s life,” Castillo said.

“For now, I can only hope that they too, will be able to celebrate and welcome the season with much positivity and that they get the help that they truly need. Looking at these children and even the adults receiving medical attention truly warms the heart. The smiles on the faces of these kids make waking up early in the morning truly worthwhile,” Castillo concluded.

ARTHALAND CORP.

Think of a real estate company that builds its projects with people and the planet in mind and you’ll find ArthaLand Corp. at the top of the list.

This boutique green developer puts sustainability at the core of its business—from planning, construction, property management, daily operations, and corporate culture.

For ArthaLand, giving back to the planet and to the communities it serves is beyond CSR. It is the main reason for its business and this practice has given them rewards.

As such, it comes as no surprise that the company has become one of the most respected developers in the country and has been recognized by various national and international organizations for quality and sustainability.

For more than six years now, ArthaLand has been actively promoting green living to its employees, partners, and to underprivileged communities. The company believes that by living well and living right, both the present and future generations will be able to enjoy more the blessings of the planet.

Last year, ArthaLand, together with WWF-Philippines,  conducted an environmental education program called Kabataang Kaibigan ng Kalikasan.

More than half of the property company’s employees volunteered to teach over 500 elementary school pupils from three public schools in Taguig City. The program focused largely on caring for the environment through intelligent use of fresh water.

Kabataang Kaibigan ng Kalikasan is estimated to have touched more than 2,500 lives as these school children were expected to share what they learned in their own homes and communities.

As part of their efforts, ArthaLand volunteers also visited the communities where these grade six pupils live and conducted another eco-briefing as well as a clean-up and repainting of their village fences.

This year, the company’s partnership with WWF-Philippines benefited more than 300 school children in Taguig during the first phase, and is set to change the lives of over 60 families or about 300 individuals in a village Bantayan, Cebu.

ArthaLand is a boutique developer of sustainable, world class projects. It rests on a solid backing by CPG Holdings Inc. (CPGHI), its biggest shareholder. CPHGI is led by the Po family of the Century Pacific Food Inc., the country’s largest canned food company. ArthaLand’s other major shareholder is international investment firm, AO Capital Group.

ArthaLand, together with WWF-Philippines, has conducted an environmental education program called Kabataang Kaibigan ng Kalikasan.