Pananagutan
Assured of financial security during the lockdown, thousands of #AyalaCitizens reached out to others in need. See the powerful ripple effect of compassion, from personal outreach efforts and company initiatives like Project Ugnayan and Project Pananagutan
Words by RHYS BUCCAT
For the first time in her 22 years of working at Ayala Corporation, Total Rewards Head Elma Guinto didn’t have to spend the first few minutes of her waking hours preparing for a long commute from her home in Quezon City to the company’s headquarters in Tower One, Makati City.
Nevertheless, she woke up early to watch the sunrise with her kids. The breeze in their veranda was still as cool as the night before. She could barely remember the last time they did this as a family. It felt like a holiday.
But Elma was not on vacation. She had a bunch of tasks lined up for her first day working from home. “Ayala has prepared us well. Long before this pandemic, we had a business continuity plan in place, which allowed us to continue on with our jobs,” Elma said.
““Ayala has prepared us well. Long before this pandemic, we had a business continuity plan in place.””
Ripple effect
As the Deputy Chair of Ayala’s Total Rewards Network, Elma was looking out for the employees’ financial security during the lockdown. Ayala Group companies immediately rolled out financial assistance to employees, including the early release of performance and mid-year bonuses, to address the uncertainties of the times.
Such quick release of financial aid enabled Ayala employees to not only secure the needs of their own families, but also extend financial help to their own community. (Read about their efforts in Paying it Forward and The Bayanihan Spirit.)
Susan Santillan, who has been with Ayala since 2005, is the head of AC Motors’ internal audit team. Her job, she said, requires her to give “reasonable assurance” that controls are in place to secure the company’s assets. During the lockdown, she and her kids had a family huddle to discuss how they can help others, especially those who lost their jobs. How can they, in their own little way, give people a “reasonable assurance” that they would have food on the table?
“Ang iniisip lang namin ‘yung mga tricycle driver dito sa tabing bahay, ‘yung mga dating nagpapasada. Kaso ayaw pumayag ng barangay—dapat sila daw ang magco-coordinate. So we decided to do something else,” she said.
After a few days, Susan received a call from Cathy Ang, the Chief Internal Audit Officer of the Ayala Group. They set up a Zoom call with other members of the internal audit team to discuss how they could help the community. They all decided to help the most vulnerable Filipinos through Project Ugnayan.
Special day. Regie (left) is a street sweeper who doubles as a garbage collector— part of the workforce that keeps Manila clean during the community quarantine. This was the first time he and his daughter Jessica have ever been in a large grocery. To celebrate the big day, he got a haircut, wore his finest shirt, and temporarily removed his face mask for a photo. Thousands of #AyalaCitizens contributed part of their salaries to Project Ugnayan. Photo by Xyra Bacani, originally published in the Project Ugnayan website.
““You’re giving them the freedom to choose... Hindi lang bigas, noodles, at sardinas ang kailangan ng isang pamilya.””
Project Ugnayan
Project Ugnayan is an initiative led by the private sector. In collaboration with Caritas Manila and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, Project Ugnayan-Damayan brought much-needed relief through P1,000 grocery vouchers to about 1.5 million families or 7 million individuals. With additional support from the Asian Development Bank's “Bayan, Bayanihan,” Jollibee's FoodAID, and ABS-CBN's Pantawid ng Pag-Ibig, Project Ugnayan reached over 3 million families or about 14 million individuals in the Greater Manila Area.
Susan said she particularly liked how Project Ugnayan delivered immediate relief in an efficient and dignified manner.
“I also like that they use grocery vouchers, kasi you’re not actually pre-empting kung ano ‘yong pangangailangan ng beneficiaries. You’re giving them the freedom to choose kung ano ang bibilhin nila.. Iba-iba naman kasi ang needs ng bawat isa. Hindi lang bigas, noodles, at sardinas ang kailangan ng isang pamilya,” Susan noted.
““I know how it’s like to be poor... I always endeavor to help other people as much as I can.” ”
Another #AyalaCitizen who donated to Project Ugnayan is Anabele Natividad, the Vice President for Development for Solar and Storage of AC Energy. Her experience growing up in a big family with modest means motivated her to help as much as she could.
“I know how it’s like to be poor. As soon as I started walking, I was already expected to help my family on our farm. I was lucky to get into a good university, get a good job, and sort of improve my life and my family’s life,” she said. “Because of that experience, I always endeavor to help other people as much as I can.”
#AyalaCitizen Diary: Anabele (center photo) takes part in a meeting with AC Energy colleagues (right table) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines medical team headed by Col .Batalla, as they converted the World Trade Center Metro Manila into a quarantine facility. Like many Ayala Citizens, she was able to help others not only by participating in the Ayala Group’s partnership with government but also by contributing part of her income during the lockdown to Project Ugnayan.
As a leader, this is also the same lesson she shares with her colleagues. When invited to speak before her alma mater’s graduating class, she told students: “Hindi por que mahirap ka, wala ka nang chance to be better. Use your experience to inspire you to get ahead in life and be able to help your family and other people.”
Anabele said she was most touched by Xyza Bacani’s photo of children who seemed worry-free and completely happy, despite the uncertainties of the present time. “I always enjoy looking at kids na parang very innocent, na wala silang problema, na wala silang inhibitions,” she said. “Hindi perfect ang buhay nila. Pero sa mga oras na naglalaro sila at nagtatawanan, parang ang perfect ng mundo.”
Finding joy. Children relish a moment of bathtime play under one of the trucks they use as a temporary home in Smokey Mountain—their laughter a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit even in uncertain times. Photos like these moved Ayala citizens who had donated to Project Ugnayan. Photo by Xyra Bacani, originally published in the Project Ugnayan website.
Project Pananagutan
Apart from Project Ugnayan, #AyalaCitizens also worked hand in hand to raise over P149 million for Project Pananagutan, which mainly provides financial assistance to “no-work, no-pay” partners of the Ayala group, including security guards, janitorial staff, messengers, and the like.
Furthermore, P46 million went to hospitals, including the Philippine General Hospital, Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, and Lung Center of the Philippines. Over P27 million was spent on food packs for the most vulnerable families in Metro Manila and Cavite.
“Even she was surprised to see the number of employees who volunteered to donate a portion of their salary to Project Pananagutan. Perhaps it’s what they see in their leaders, she said, that inspired them to do more for the community. ”
Elma said generosity and kindness have always been deeply ingrained in every #AyalaCitizen. But even she was surprised to see the number of employees who volunteered to donate a portion of their salary to Project Pananagutan. Perhaps it’s what they see in their leaders, she said, that inspired them to do more for the community.
“Our leaders being visible and open to communicate to employees on what’s happening across the group, what are the plans and the next steps, give everyone a sense of direction,” she said.
As she took a sip from her cup of coffee, Elma is reminded by the sunrise that better days would come. “This is a time to reflect,” she said. “Then, we move forward and help whenever we can.”#
PUBLISHED AUGUST 26, 2020
