MANILA, Philippines — The season of sharing and giving is not just about seeding generosity but also giving hope and love to the needy. This year, Metrobank Foundation Inc. (MBFI) and GT Foundation Inc. (GTFI) employees kicked off the gift-giving season with outreach activities in the remote communities of Sitio Bakal in Quezon City and Sitio Ibayo in San Mateo, Rizal.
On Dec. 16, MBFI and GTFI, together with Good Neighbors International Philippines, brought the festive Christmas mood to economically disadvantaged families struggling with the unfavorable conditions in their communities. The outreach culminated with the distribution of Noche Buena food packs to 350 families.
“The best manifestation that the community is grateful for what we have shared with them is the fact that the community collectively exerted effort for their special presentation to us,” MBFI EVP Philip Dy said.
These outreach activities are part of MBFI’s Helping Hands program. Primarily a volunteerism and disaster response program, Helping Hands expanded its initiatives to spreading hope and love this holiday season and dedicated P9 million to provide Noche Buena packs to 18,000 families across Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
In partnership with the Tanging Yaman Foundation, they facilitated the packing of Noche Buena food items, including rice which they directly sourced from farmer-beneficiaries.
They delivered the food packs to over 90 parishes and communities in time for Christmas Eve.
“The experience touched my heart as I have witnessed how God works in many people’s lives. The happiness of giving gifts to the community and their gratefulness for what they have received seems so fulfilling,” Citas Quendangan, a GTFI employee, said.