A new beginning

While writing this column, I am reminded about the fact that this is actually Day One after the Mayan apocalypse and how we should be thankful that the doomsayers are wrong and that there is going to be another Christmas after all.

I was actually at a mall doing some last-minute Christmas shopping and on D-day (Dec. 21) and by the way people are filling up the mall, one can safely conclude that very few actually stayed at home for fear that the world would actually end last Friday.

This is really one very special Christmas celebration for Filipinos. The sorrow and shock that Manny Pacquiao’s devastating defeat brought was quickly obliterated by Nonito Donaire’s phenomenal victory and Janine Togonon’s first runner-up finish at the Ms. Universe pageant. The Philippines just had one of its worst natural disasters, but Typhoon Pablo once again brought out the best in Filipinos. The bayanihan spirit was once again alive.

Today is Day Two after D-day, life on Earth continues as it should, and some soul-searching is called for.

More good news

Just got this piece of good news.

The MVP Group of Companies has unveiled a holistic approach to giving assistance in times of disaster—from distributing relief goods and running soup kitchens, to providing medical aid, building shelter for the homeless and reconstructing damaged infrastructure, to creating livelihood for those who have lost their jobs.

Group chairperson Manuel V. Pangilinan conceptualized this approach following the recent havoc wreaked by Typhoon Pablo in Davao, especially Compostela Valley, for which the MVP Group raised at least P110 million in cash and pledges during the six-hour “Tulong Kapatid MVP Telethon” aired Dec. 10 on TV5.

“My team and I have thought of this holistic approach to helping our country and fellow Filipinos in times of disaster, as the MVP Group is into businesses in the various sectors, including medical, media, power, and telecommunications, among other things,” Pangilinan, noted.

He said that of the amount raised during the telethon, about P75 million would be spent for houses for “Pablo” victims, P20 million for relief goods and soup kitchens, P10 million for the reconstruction of damaged schools and other infrastructure like telecommunications system, and P5 million for medical assistance. The rest of the funds are for the creation of livelihood projects for those who have lost their jobs because of the typhoon.

“Being able to help others, especially in times of disaster, has been one of the major thrusts of the MVP Group,” Michael Toledo, senior vice president for corporate affairs at Philex Mining Corp. and spokesman of the MVP Group, said.

He added that all key officials of companies under the group recently met with Pangilinan who instructed them to mobilize resources for the typhoon victims in Compostela Valley.

The MVP Group was able to raise at least P88 million, including individual contributions by its employees, of the more than P110 million pledged during the TV5 telethon. The rest of the amount came from those who called in their pledges or sent these via text messages. There has also been an influx of donations in kind.

Philex Mining donated P10 million through the telethon while its employees were able to raise P1 million more. These donations were coursed through Philex Group Foundation, Inc., the corporate social responsibility arm of Philex Mining.

“It is heartwarming to witness our employees taking part in our endeavor to provide assistance to affected Filipinos in Davao Oriental, especially when the company itself has already made its own donation,” Benjamin Garcia, senior vice president for human resources at Philex Mining, said.

A statement on the initial figures released last week said the MVP Group’s parent company First Pacific, the latter’s chairman Antonio Salim, and Mr. Pangilinan together chipped in P35 million. The Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) Co. gave P5 million while Smart Foundation donated P5 million; First Pacific Leadership Academy, P2 million; North Luzon Expressway, P1 million; One Meralco Foundation, P5 million; MVP Sports Foundation, P1 million; Maynilad, P1 million; and Metro Pacific Hospitals Group, P1 million.

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