Our Guiding Principle
Our brand promise of Nurturing Communities is translated through programs that are direct and responsive to the needs of our neighboring communities.  The programs are for long term, intended to generate high impact and can be replicated in all our communities.

Our Programs in 2011
The commitment to share and to create positive impact in the lives of those that need it the most propels AboitizLand, Inc. to think of ways to help out for the greater good.  This commitment is planted in the hearts of the forerunners of the Aboitiz family and has grown and rooted in the hearts of the entire Aboitiz Group of Companies today.

As a real estate company, we feel the importance to focus more to the communities surrounding our projects.  Considering that our presence is permanent and for a life in all our project sites, we intend to achieve a symbiotic relationship with the communities, mutually helping each other in attaining livable communities.

Having that in mind, programs are developed to address the identified needs of the communities in various aspects like education, economic, health and child care, environment and other socio-economic needs. These program components are carried throughout Aboitiz Group of Companies and being monitored by the Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. which sets the general policies and manages the funds contributed by all members.

EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT
Aboitizland, Inc. is a firm believer of making education available and affordable for all.  Hence, the company partners with the DepEd’s program of the Alternative Learning System through the e-Skwela program.  Through this program, all out of school youths and adults, regardless of age can enroll for free in an e-Skwela Center. The company is the first private group which partners with the Mabolo LGU and DepEd through is Bureau of Alternative Learning Center (DepEd-BALS) in putting up a center at the 3rd floor of the Mabolo Brgy Hall.  As of 2011, there were 30 students who gained their high school diplomas while one gained an elementary diploma.

The e-skwela is a computer-based learning system wherein lessons are tackled per module which will run for 8 months. Schedules of classes are very light so that each student only has to spend a maximum of 10 hours per week. This kind of learning method is very friendly especially for those who are already married, or have limited time and resources to go through the usual manner of going to class every day. The e-Skwela is a continuing program of the company and is actively managed by ALS teachers with the full support of Mabolo LGU.



For infrastructure needs of schools, AboitizLand, Inc. has already donated four (4) preparatory classrooms, three (3) of which was in partnership with the AGAPP Foundation, National Bookstore and Uratex.  AboitizLand shouldered  the cost of construction, AGAPP provided the design, the National Bookstore gave the books while Uratex provided for the tables and chairs.  The school beneficiaries are public elementary schools in Brgys. Tawason, Gabi, Mabolo and San Isidro, all in the province of Cebu.

Seven (7) library kits with various reference books and cabinets were provided to 7 public elementary schools in Talisay City, Mandaue City and Municipality of Cordova.


Employees’ involvement is also very evident in helping the educational needs of the elementary students. For two (2) years and still an on-going project, kids are given an enhanced learning sessions in Math, English, Science, Group Dynamics, Social Studies and other special lessons. Team members assigned in different subjects will take turn to teach the class every Friday from 3pm to 5pm. This project coined “You too can be a HERO” is an experiential learning session designed for the Grade 6 students of the Don Calixto C. Yongco Elementary School.  This is intended to encourage the kids to do well in their class to become modern heroes someday, plus to give the team members the privilege to bring out the heroes in them by dedicating their time and talent to teach the kids.  Almost 100 students have already become beneficiaries of the HERO Project.

Another employee initiated project is the Chess Clinic and Tournament handled by the AboitizLand Chess Club Members. For three (3) years now, the Chess Club has taught 870 students coming from 16 various public elementary schools about the rigors of chess and the value of learning the game. Each participating school selects 30 kids to attend the chess clinic for 4 consecutive Saturdays.  At the end of the Chess Clinic, top 12 of each school is chosen to compete with other schools for the inter-school chess tournament.  Through this program, the participating schools were able to field chess players to compete in any school competitions and most of them won the top prize in their respective division.   



ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT
Helping the communities to become entrepreneurs and professional service providers and link them to our vicenos for possible business engagements are vital considerations in all our enterprise development projects.  The projects are not just about skills equipping but also about helping them start a new business, either as consumer goods provider or service providers.

Two hundred thirty (230) beneficiaries from Brgys. Mabolo & Bacayan of Cebu City, Brgy Tawason of Mandaue and Brgy Gabi of Cordova are able to get a certificate of training for Culinary Arts Training.  Another 30 beneficiaries are able to graduate from the Dress Making Training Course.

Mabolo beneficiaries are now providing housekeeping services to the North and West Towers of The Persimmon, the first residential condominium of AboitizLand, Inc.

Tawason beneficiaries, mostly parents of the students in Tawason Elementary School provide the snacks for the HERO Project every Friday and now accepts orders from other schools. Other beneficiaries will soon cater to our other different projects in the different locations in the province of Cebu.


CHILD AND HEALTH CARE
Based on the study made by the DepEd, one of the reasons for school dropouts is lack of proper nutrition.  Our company agrees and can attest that learning with an empty stomach is difficult.

Hence, for the school year 2011 -2012 the company launched its feeding program coined as “Ang batang busog, baskug ug himsug”.  Fifty five (55) malnourished kids of Gabi Elementary School are given a well balanced lunch every school day. Feeding will be for the whole school year to ensure that proper nutrition will be attained.  This program is joined by the Parents – Teachers Association and the Brgy Officials of Gabi.  AboitizLand team members under iCare Batch 5 initiated the program by meeting with the school principal and by providing vegetable seeds that can be harvested and used for the feeding. Food preparation is done by the parents and teachers by scheduling.  The kids have marked improvements in their health as reported.






ENVIRONMENT
Every year, Aboitiz Group of companies all over the country conducts a simultaneous tree-planting activity. This is to make a statement that indeed we care for our environment.  Race to Reduce Program is also done Aboitiz-wide. Reduction in the usage of electricity, water and paper are closely monitored.

The company’s initiatives are beef up with the scheduled quarterly mangrove/tree planting that encourages all the team members to participate.







CORPORATE GIFT GIVING AND RELIEF OPERATIONS
Christmas gift giving to the 500 kids is a yearly tradition of the company. To date, almost 1,500 kids are able to enjoy the party intended for them. This activity is not just about giving, but an opportunity to get in touch with the kids and bond with them whole day. Also, it adds more meaning to the season as the kids delight with all the gifts received from their Ates and Kuyas.   The AbotizLand team members also look forward for this event and even raise fund as counterpart to make the activity more significant.

Relief assistance especially to communities affected by fire, flood and other calamities is part of the company’s social responsibility.

This year 2012, Aboitizland will continue to strengthen the relationship with the communities and to make its presence more significant.  It aims to increase it provision of assistance that is truly needed, relevant and appropriate thus mutually helping each other achieve a livable communities.