Changing lives for the better

MANILA, Philippines - “The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it,” said William James, the 19th-century American psychologist and philosopher. By helping to support the Jaime Cardinal Sin (JCS) Village in Punta, Sta. Ana, Manila, Robinsons Malls’ The Gift of Change: iCare is not merely extending temporary physical aid. Rather, it contributes towards long-term benefits by giving residents a sense of purpose, responsibility, self-worth, and hope.

Robinsons Malls’ The Gift of Change: iCare has helped the JCS Village, a project of the Serviam Foundation, Inc., build a beautiful church that serves all of Punta; a Montessori-type school offering tuition-free nursery to third-year high school students; and seven tenements housing over 900 families. More than that, Robinsons Malls’ The Gift of Change: iCare has also helped encourage and support thriving community-run and personal businesses, and has supported the building of facilities to further improve the living conditions of community members. The JCS Village has since been transformed into a model community.

“We are happy to see that JCS Village residents have a better outlook about themselves and about our little community here in Punta, Sta. Ana,” says Fr. Mark C. Munda, administrator of JCS Village. “Change is a collective force and I believe as long as our residents continue to have a positive mindset, positive changes will spread.”

Roseann Coscolluela-Villegas, corporate public relations manager of Robinsons Land Corporation, shared that “we continue to support Jaime Cardinal Sin Village the best way we can because we appreciate that Serviam Foundation, led by Fr. Mark C. Munda, is results-oriented and pro-active in implementing rules. They have been faithful to the plan of improving the residents’ lives throughout the years so that one can see the positive results … and we see the positive results.”

In line with its commitment of lending a hand to community projects, Robinsons Malls’ The Gift of Change: iCare tapped its manpower resources to prepare the Jaime Cardinal Sin Learning Center for the first day of school year 2011-2012. Almost 20 people from these manpower agencies cleaned more than 30 classrooms, five restrooms and common areas of the four-level school. “It is our first time to do this and we enjoyed it! ” shares Anastacia Verzola of Fieldmen Janitorial Services. “Robinsons Malls has helped us tremendously in our growth as a company and so we are one with them in this beautiful project.”

Apart from its manpower resources, iCare also found a partner in Handyman Do-It-Best Center this year. They provided items for the JCS Learning Center’s clinic, conference room and chapel. They also organized the “Donate A Tool” project, where loyal Handyman Do-It-Best Center shoppers donated around 50 tools for the JCS Village. Jane Austria-Yuzon, marketing services manager of Handyman Do-It-Best Center, says, “Handyman’s mission to make people resourceful, responsible and self-reliant comes alive with us supporting the JCS Village through iCare. And that fulfills us.”

Another partner is Jardine Distribution, Inc., which conducted a termite-control and waterproofing seminar.

Robinsons Malls plans other activities for this year like a community beautification project, gardening seminar, power-tools seminar and the donation of more items for JCS Village and JCS Learning Center.

For more information on ways to help the Jaime Cardinal Sin Village, call the Corporate Public Relations Department at 397-1888 locals 791 or 792.