UnionBank of the Philippines: Making the difference as a Filipino

We realize that the efficient allocation of resources is what drives economic growth, and economic growth is the sine qua non of improved living standards. As the primary agent for economic growth in market economies, the core responsibility of business to society is to meet market needs through efficient and profitable use of resources, thereby creating jobs and expanding the invested capital of shareholders.

Having said this, business cannot afford to ignore the wider social, economic and environmental impacts of its activities. Nor can it ignore the wider challenges faced by governments in terms of investing in human development, infrastructure, and institutions that help create a sound enabling environment for business and healthy societies. We believe that by supporting government, non-government organizations and civil society in creating such an enabling environment and building such societies, business will prosper in the long term. And for us UnionBankers, doing good simply means making the difference.

In the spirit of UnionBank’s Magis – as my Jesuit mentors would say – we strive to go the extra mile to “make da diff.” Instead of wishing circumstances were different, we will either make them different or make the most of them. Instead of waiting for golden opportunities at hand, we shall always look for ways to be always better, always greater.

Our Corporate Credo makes it clear that UnionBank and UnionBankers must make the difference for our community, among others. Thus on our 20th year in 2002, it was only appropriate to formalize this commitment by allocating one percent of our annual net income, commencing 2003, in cash or kind, for social and development projects.

Our strategic niche of Values Education with focus on Youth Development is a quest that goes back to over a decade ago when I, with then Human Resources Head and current Philanthropy and CSR Executive Director Maria Gonzalez-Goolsby, would passionately discuss Filipino culture and behavior, issues of performance excellence, the Bank’s Code of Conduct, and activities and projects we could undertake to help improve society and the lives of Filipinos.

Over many years in my various capacities of personal and professional involvement in Philanthropy and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), I have become keenly aware and deeply concerned about the millions of Filipino children out there who cannot dream. Filled with hopelessness and despair, they can only think about their next meal, where to sleep tonight, how to seek refuge from abuse and ill-health, and simply, how to find love and care. Learning to read and getting an education is all too often a far-fetched, impossible dream.

As a concrete effort to make the Filipino child’s dream come true, UnionBank made an investment in the Philippine public school system, amidst the challenge of achieving primary education within the global perspective of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This is also aligned with the DepEd’s goal of making Every Child a Reader by Grade 3.

Through UnionBank’s flagship CSR program, The UnionBank Learning System: Developmental Reading Integrated with Values Education for Good Citizenship As A Filipino, we can make the difference. This Learning System develops pupils’ basic reading skills and comprehension, which serves as the foundation for lifelong learning, integrated with Values Education, planting the seeds for moral wisdom. In compliance with the Department of Education’s (DepEd) elementary public school curriculum, it is UnionBank’s Gift to the Filipino child and to the Filipino teacher. The As A Filipino Learning System was rolled out in all 513 public elementary schools of the National Capital Region (NCR) on Nov. 5, 2007, and concluded in January this year. Dr. Cornelia Soto, an expert in assessment and evaluation of learning at the Ateneo Teacher Center of the Education Department of the Ateneo de Manila University, was commissioned to conduct an independent program impact assessment research study.

As we enable the Filipino youth through basic education reform, allow me to close with a quote from DepEd NCR director Teresita G. Domalanta who speaks in behalf of her beloved NCR teachers and pupils on the merits of the As A Filipino Learning System, and validates the findings of the independent Impact Evaluation Study: “This project improved not only pupil but teacher performance as well. It was the first time in the history of the entire Philippine educational system that the schoolchildren signed ownership on a book that was personally issued to each child. In fact, the As A Filipino Student’s Workbook is in every home of every family in Metro Manila where now a Grade 3 pupil is, for this Workbook was given for free and will remain learner’s property. Such that, if there is another child in that home, the material could be shared and serve as well as it did to the former child. It has enriched and reinforced the reading and language skills, rekindled the values of good citizenship and prepared the pupils to be functionally literate individuals of society. With no iota of doubt, UnionBank’s As A Filipino Learning System made a difference.”