Partners in the task of caring

Manila, Philippines - Even in the worst of times, one can find something positive. This is what happened when tropical storm “Ondoy” hit the Philippines in September 2009.

Cesar Vidal, executive and corporate secretary of the Phillip J. Lhuillier Foundation recalls how, after the onslaught of Ondoy, he experienced first hand kindness and camaraderie when he joined Operation Damayan in their relief mission for typhoon victims in Cainta. During the Ondoy relief mission, the foundation gave out P500 worth of groceries to 1,000 families. They have been joining Damayan in giving out goods to displaced families in Mindanao and landslide victims in Leyte.

Partners of Damayan, like Vidal and the Lhuillier foundation, do not just give out donations but are very much involved in the missions. Vidal remembers riding a motorized banca to deliver goods when the rain started to pour. The flood rose so high that they had to stay on the roof. “It was a very meaningful experience, to be there on site where you communicate with the beneficiaries,” he shares.

“I hope this is the start of a permanent partnership not just when there are calamities,” Vidal says, as he looks forward to other projects with Damayan like the “Bitamina sa Eskwela” project.

Edsa Shangri-La Plaza director for communications Lesley Anne Tan says the hotel wholeheartedly believes in Damayan’s ideals.

Unilab’s Jose Maria Ochave, Claire Papa, and Raymond Santiago. Photos by Fernan Nebres/STAR

“First of all, The Philippine STAR has been a very, very good partner, and we would also like to reciprocate the newspaper’s support to us. At the same time, Operation Damayan is really an all-encompassing foundation because it does not only give financial assistance but also educational assistance to the poor,” Tan says, adding that they see themselves being a long-term partner of Damayan.

Outgoing Edsa Shangri-La Plaza general manager Sinan Yilmaz agrees. “We feel very good about our partnership with Damayan. It’s an honor and a pleasure working with you. The STAR is one of the best and most reputable newspapers in the country and we look forward to working with the paper again. This is one of the company’s social initiatives and we are very happy to share it with you.”

Every holiday season, Edsa Shangri-La sells ornaments for its Christmas tree in the hotel lobby. “We sell these to guests and even to our employees, so once they buy a star they can attach their names to it and hang it on our ‘Tree of Hope’,” Tan says.

Preparations for the Tree of Hope start as early as August and by mid-December, the tree is already filled with paper stars donated by guests. Every March, Edsa Shangri-La turns over the check from the proceeds of the Tree of Hope that helps fund Damayan’s various projects.

Filipino pharmaceutical company United Laboratories (Unilab) is another one of Damayan’s most ardent benefactors. Whenever Damayan conducts medical missions or relief operations, they can always count on Unilab to provide the needed medicine.

Edsa Shangri-La’s Sinan Yilmaz and Lesley Anne Tan.

Raymond Santiago, Unilab’s External Affairs Office manager, says their partnership with Damayan started way back in 2007. Unilab provides a pool of doctors who will properly assess and dispense the medicine. In some instances, Santiago joins Damayan’s medical missions as a volunteer.

Meantime, Unilab senior vice president for social partnerships Jose Maria Ochave says Unilab’s thrust from the beginning has been to help people.

“Unilab’s partnership with Damayan is based on a sustainable partnership. We want to have an impact on the community. We want to immerse, be involved. Immersion is very important, we want to understand,” he says.

The Philippine General Hospital, the Philippine Children’s Medical Center and National Children’s Hospital have likewise been valuable partners of Operation Damayan through the years in answering the need for medical care for the thousands who seek help. The doctors, nurses and staff of these hospitals provide the care and treatment that many would otherwise not be able to afford.

For major projects like the adopt-a-school program, many companies come together in support of a worthy cause. Among them, Western Ink Corporation donated one computer set with printer, Premiere Adhesive and Coatings, Bullseye Solutions, Asa Color and Chemical Industries, Ritzfel Industrial Sales, Gerbel General Merchandise, JMD International and Graphis Enterprises likewise donated wall fans. Even editors and employees of The STAR pitched in with different needs of the school.