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Issue 2 October 2015

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Mega Cebu is truly possible. This belief shared by many Cebuanos gave birth to a month-long campaign that emphasized just that.

Through the celebration of Mega Cebu Month 2015 in September, proponents engaged the public to start doing simple acts of citizenship—and turning them into habits—toward making Mega Cebu happen.

The engagement was carried out through a series of activities, both offline and online, that were designed to boost participation in and support for Mega Cebu.

Mega Cebu envisions a wholesome, advanced, vibrant, equitable and sustainable (W.A.V.E.S.) Cebu by 2050. It promotes long-term and collaborative planning and action towards a more sustainable city-region in Cebu. ‘What gets planned, gets done’

On September 1, Mega Cebu proponents opened the third annual Mega Cebu Month, with Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) President Roberto E. Aboitiz recalling how Mega Cebu started—as a dream.

“Over the last four years, more things turned to positive. I would like to say that we have already achieved a significant number of milestones that have huge impact on Cebu. We manifest that what gets planned, gets done,” said Aboitiz, who also

sits as co-chair for the private sector in the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board, the coordinating body for metro-wide planning and development. #MegaCebuPwedeKaayo

Mega Cebu Month opened with the launch of the #MegaCebuPwedeKaayo campaign and its sub-campaigns, “Limpyo Cebu, Pwede Kaayo” and “Tuman Cebu, Pwede Kaayo.”

Limpyo Cebu, Pwede Kaayo promoted cleanliness. It reminded the people not to throw their trash in waterways to prevent flooding, not to spit and urinate anywhere, and to clean their own homes and surroundings.

As part of this sub-campaign, individuals cleaned up external surroundings of their homes and establishments every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

The Department of Education (DepEd) had issued a memorandum to all elementary and high schools in Cebu Province to participate.

But Mega Cebu proponents noted that even families, barangays, friends and businesses voluntarily participated in the event.

“This must be because they have understood that Mega Cebu is about us and for all of us,” said

Caroline Ballesteros, Mega Cebu communication and stakeholder relationship manager.

On the other hand, Tuman Cebu, Pwede Kaayo promoted disciplined driving to help lessen traffic jams. It campaigned for drivers to follow traffic rules and regulations, use the designated stops, follow the lanes, not to recklessly drive, not to use roads as parking areas, and to have their cars checked to avoid smoke belching.

To push these sub-campaigns, Mega Cebu and its supporters promoted short clips and handed out flyers in malls, establishments with TV used for public viewing, movie theatres, and gasoline stations to constantly raise the simple yet thought-provoking question: Hangyo lang mi, bai…pwede? Youth participation

Mega Cebu also held competitions in extemporaneous speaking, debate, creation of flash cards by DepEd teachers for use as learning resource materials in classrooms with the Mega Cebu concept, essay writing, slogan making and video making.

“The youth really plays a big role in Mega Cebu. We live in this land and this is where we will grow. Let’s all work together and make significant changes,” said 17-year-old Cebu

Cover Story

3 years of

3Cover Sory

Normal University student Angelica Marie Suico who participated in the essay-writing contest.

Club Mega, a group of young people actively supporting Mega Cebu, helped produce seven #MegaCebuPwedeKaayo videos on tourism, education, economy, governance, water conservation and traffic management. These are being played in theatres and establishments with TVs used for public viewing.

Mega Cebu also organized a Youth Convention and a Land Forum, and held a painting exhibition to promote a vibrant Mega Cebu by renowned Japanese mixed media artist Ayumi Endo. She interpreted the attributes of the Mega Cebu Vision 2050.

Partners for the various events include Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc., RAFI, Toastmasters International, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Association of Law Students of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter, DepEd, Coalition for Better Education, Club Mega, AboitizLand, Philippine Association of Realtors Boards Inc., Cebu Real Estate Board Inc., and Chamber of Real Estate & Builders’ Associations Inc. Website makeover

With the help of advertising and marketing consultant Carlos Castaño, Mega Cebu also launched an improved Mega Cebu website (www.megacebu.org) designed to communicate the concept and vision simply and clearly to the public.

The Mega Cebu Month capped with the awarding of contest winners on October 3 after the Mega Moonwalk that pushed for breast cancer awareness.

For Mega Cebu updates:megacebu.org facebook.com/megacebu2050twitter.com/mega_cebuinstagram.com/megacebu

4 SIP UPDATES

As part of HRD team’s efforts to advocate wellness, RAFI employees were treated to free reflexology sessions last Sept. 24, 2015. Each employee was given 15-minutes of reflexology, courtesy of

HRD partners with IDUfor employee wellness

trained reflexologists from the Bajau community. HRD team partnered with Integrated Development Unit’s Bajau Integrated Area Development Program (BIAD-P) to make this wellness initiative possible,

which provided a livelihood opportunity for our Bajau beneficiaries at the same time. Reflexology, considered an alternative method of physical wellness, stimulates the body while alleviating it from stress and offering deep relaxation.

5HRD UPDATES

HR launches the new RAFI HRIS The Human Resources team in collaboration with FAD & IT teams launched

the new Human Resources Information System (HRIS) last Sept. 18, 2015. The new HRIS will replace the old Lotus Notes-based system which RAFI

has been utilizing since 2005. The new system features simpler and better accessibility and service to employees as its components are integrated in one and it is web-based, thereby making it readily accessible with internet access by all RAFI employees anytime and anywhere.

The new system will also provide employees access to payroll information such as viewing the details of their pay computation, and enable them to readily make personal information updates on their employee profiles.

Prior to the scheduled launch, the project team composed of members from the HRD, FAD & IT teams also organized a Project Champions meeting last September 3, wherein selected representatives from the different RAFI teams were briefed about the new HRIS and their involvement in promoting the project.

The project team is now scheduled to undergo functional and technical trainings, which will then be followed by the users’ trainings for all RAFI employees set in the last quarter of this year. The new HRIS is set for its live run in January 2016.

6 KASAYURAN

Ang kababayenhan may kapasidad nga makatabang sa pamilya samtang nag-alagad sa mga mahal sa kinabuhi. Kini akong napamatud-an sa akong kaugalingon.

Ako si Mary Jane Navares, 41, ug may tulo ka mga anak. Ang akong kapikas mao si Nelson Navares, usa ka conductor sa mini-bus. Kami nagpuyo sa Tapok, Bolinawan, Carcar City, Cebu. Ang among pagpuyo sakto ra intawon nga makakaon kami sa inadlaw-adlaw. Dako ko og damgo alang sa akong mga anak. Gusto nako nga sila makahuman sa ilang pagtungha kay kana ra ang akong mapabalon kanila. Maong naninguha ko nga makatabang sa akong bana nga naa pud koy panginabuhian kay lisud kung siya ra usa ang naninguha.

Una nakong gisudlan mao ang sari-sari store pero gamay ra og kita ug dili makatapar sa mga kinahanglanon sa akong mga anak nga anaa pa sa elementarya niadtong panahona. Maong tuig 2008, naaghat ko nga moapil sa Micro-finance nga program sa Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. Gipahuwam ko og capital nga akong gigamit sa pagnegosyo. Naa pud silay mga training nga gihatag nga nakadugang sa akong kaalam kabahin sa pagnegosyo ug unsaon kini pagpalambo. Ang una nakong huwam kay Php3,000 ang kantidad. Dako na kaayo ning natabang kay nakasugod ko pag-abli sa akong carenderia.

Subay sa akong nakat-onan sa training, akong gipatuyok ang halin sa carenderia hangtud nga nadugangan ang akong negosyo ug mga tinda sa sari-sari store ug nagkadaghan sab ang akong mga suki. Ang maong kalamboan dako kaayo ug natabang sa pagtubag sa panginahanglanon sa among pamilya.

Anaa na ako karon sa ika-14 nga cycle sa akong pagpanghuwam

sa Micro-finance ug dako na nga kantidad ang mahimo nakong hulamon. Nag-buy and sell sab ko og bugas ug nagbuhi pud ko og anay nga baboy.

Dako ang akong pasalamat sa Kahitas-an kay wala kami Niya biyai sa panahon sa among kalisud, maong suklian ko ang maong kaayo pinaagi sa tumang paningkamot aron mahatagan nako og maayong kaugmaon ang akong mga anak. Karon, akong garbo ang pagsulti nga napahuman nako ang akong usa ka anak sa pag-eskwela sa kursong BS Information Technology. Sa laing bahin, ang akong duha ka mga anak nagtungha pa sa kolehiyo sa kursong BS Mechanical Engineer ug sa Criminology. Tinuod dili lali makigbugno sa kapalaran apan mawala ra man ang akong kakapoy makakita sa akong mga anak nga naningkamot ug nagtarong sa ilang pag-eskwela.

Dili jud sayon ang pagpahuman ug estudyante sa college ilabina nga nagdungan silang kadtong nagkadungan silang tulo sa college,

4th year, 3rd year ug 1st year. Nagtinabangay lang gyud mi og paningkamot sa mga trabahoonon sa balay ug sa among negosyo. Nagpasalamat lang pud ko kay nitabang ang akong mga anak sa pag-budget sa ilang allowance kay usahay moingon sila nga naa silay natigom ug dili sa sila mangayo kung nakabantay sila nga wala nakoy kwarta.

Mapasalamaton sab ako sa akong bana sa iyang kakugi nga momata og sayo aron mangompra sa akong lutuonon sa dili pa siya muadto sa garahi-an para mangondok og minibus nga Carcar-Cebu City ang rota.

Karon, daghan na ug kausaban sa among pagpuyo pero nagbilin gihapon kami nga yano sa among pagpuyo ug moserbisyo sa katawhan.

Ang akong ikapaambit sa uban nga gustong molambo ang ilang panginabuhian mao ang pagkugi ug magsinuportaay ang matag sakop sa pamilya. Dili sab gyud makalimot sa pag-ampo ug magpasalamat sa grasya nga gihatag sa Kahitas-an.

Kugi ug Pag-ampo ang Puhunan

Mapasigarbohon si Mary Jane Navares nga ang iyang kakugi ug pag-ampo gisuklian og grasya sama sa paglambo sa iyang sari-sari store ug pagkadugang sa pagpamuhi og baboy sa iyang mga negosyo.

7KASAYURAN

RMF inks pact with Philhealth on coverage for nanays

Mindful of the role of the foundation’s role in reaching out to women in the informal sector, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) has partnered with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) in providing social health insurance to its client nanays.

Last September 3, it entered into an agreement with RAFI Micro-finance (RMF) for the signing of a one-year group policy contract.

Both parties identified the informal sector as those who are ‘”self-employed/own account and unpaid family workers, including individuals working on a period or on contractual arrangement in the formal sector as wage workers,

consultants, sales agents, service providers, and the like.”

As stipulated in the agreement, Philhealth would conduct “sustained seminars/orientations aimed at apprising the partners/members of (RMF) on the policies, rules and regulations relative to program benefits, availment procedures, and their rights and obligations under the program.”

Aside from collecting the required group premium payment, Philhealth would also provide access to its web-based system to enable RMF do encoding, monitoring, generation of certificate of premium payments, member data record, and Philhealth Claim Form 1 of the client nanays enrolled

under the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP)

RMF, on the other hand, should likewise “conduct information, education and communication campaigns” to the client nanays, ensure encoding of the members’ data into Philhealth’s web-based system, and be the one to collect premium payments and remit the contributions to Philhealth.

The NHIP is stipulated in the 1987 Constitution, which mandates that the state “adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other services available to all people at affordable cost.”

Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Chief Social Insurance Officer Maria Cristina Ramos (center) signs the agreement providing for social health insurance coverage to RAFI Micro-finance (RMF) client nanays. RMF executive director Ma. Theresa Catipay (left) and RMF deputy director for operations Ailyne Lim represented RAFI in agreeing to the terms of the pact.

8 LUNHAW

Some 10 families who survived super typhoon Yolanda in 2013 can now start to build big dreams in their new homes.

The houses, located in a relocation site in Barangay Maño, were provided by Hilfswerk Austria International (HWA), Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), and the Municipal Government of San Remigio. These were turned over to the beneficiaries in turnover ceremonies held on Sept. 30, 2015.

The families are part of the 155 identified beneficiaries of the relocation program conceptualized following the November 8 super typhoon, which heavily damaged northern Cebu towns, including San Remigio.

“The housing (project) is a very big help to alleviate poverty. It gives them a sense of dignity and a nice place to live in. For me, this has changed the total outlook on livable houses,” San Remigio Mayor Mariano Martinez said.

The “Filipino-Austrian Village,” a pilot project of HWA in the country, is to be completed in December 2015, with the first 100 families expected to start living in the 2.9-hectare site.

HWA is one of Austria’s leading organizations for development cooperation and humanitarian aid. It is guided by the principles of sustainable development and universal human rights. Through its projects and programs, it aims to improve the lives and perspectives of beneficiaries.

“This is really a big thing because it’s in RAFI’s DNA to help communities, but the kind of the response we do includes helping in social development. A project with

all the partners coming together could really do much bigger than just one entity doing it and I think that this is a testament to that,” Marge Gravador, executive director of RAFI Integrated Development Unit, said.

Last year, RAFI, HWA, and the local government of San Remigio signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the construction of permanent homes for the families affected by the “no-build zone” strictly imposed in the aftermath of Yolanda.

“Akong kinabuhi paghuman sa Yolanda kay miserable kaayo. Dako kaayo og epekto kanako ang pagkaguba sa among panimalay,” Expidito Bantoc, one of the beneficiaries of the project, shared.

The project requires the beneficiaries a 400-hour sweat

equity rendering services to have a sense of responsibility and ownership of their concrete houses.

“We started the partnership together with the local government unit, RAFI, and HWA after the typhoon Yolanda hit the Philippines, especially in the northern part of Cebu. This is to relocate the survivors, to give them a new home, and to provide them with livelihood for a better life in the future,” Suzanne Chylik, HWA program manager, said.

The criteria in choosing the beneficiaries include houses completely destroyed and uninhabitable; inadequate assistance received for house repair and reconstruction; the family doesn’t own the house; and, willingness to be relocated, among others.

San Rem families get new homes

9LUNHAW

RAFI, DepEd hold coordinating meetingfor tree growing project

Nursery welcomes new species

A coordination meeting between the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) and the Department of Education (DepEd) - Cebu Province was called last September 19 to monitor the status of the tree growing project which started last year.

The DepEd-Cebu Province, through its 55 local district schools, have established indigenous tree species to grow by conventional, sapling, and specimen species in all feasible participating schools.

“The tree growing project is an environmental advocacy that is beyond tree planting. It is planting trees with nurturance activities to ensure that the seedlings planted will grow and survive,” Neña Okay, forester of RAFI GREENIN Philippines program, said.

During the meeting, principals and teachers from the elementary and high-school division shared their accomplishments and best practices of the project. A scientific-based approach on planting mangroves was included in the discussion.

“The direction of the tree growing projects for DepEd is to

strengthen local involvement and partnership on the implementation process, and reiterate and reinforce the implementation of tree growing as part of learning activity for climate change adaptation,” she also said.

DepEd-Cebu Province is also required to come up with a mechanism that would ensure proper care and maintenance for the trees to achieve the optimum seedling survival rate of 90 to 95 percent.

The RAFI GREENIN Philippines program created a scorecard sheet to evaluate the schools’ native tree growing project. The score sheet has three main categories, namely;

Greenin Advocacy/Awareness, Physical Development, and Internal Control System. This will be the basis of the evaluation team if the school passes or fails.

“For us in RAFI, it is very important to educate the community on tree growing as part of every person’s responsibility for our environment. The students and schools contributions can really make a big difference,” she added.

The evaluation of the environmental activity is conducted every February and October of the school year.

A new species has been added to the existing 280 species of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Native Trees Nursery in Busay, Cebu City.

Scientifically known as Sindora supa, Supa is a deciduous tree, or sheds its trees annually, and reaches a height of 20 to 30 meters. It is used for making varnishes, paints, and transparent paper. Its leaves are pinnate, about 15 centimetres long, with three pairs of leaflets which are elliptic and smooth.

The wood oil is locally used as a lamp oil and as an external medicine for the treatment of eczema, ulcers, herpes, and other skin diseases. Its timber is commonly used for high-grade furniture, veneer, high class decorative panelling, interior works, musical instruments, and flooring,

Supa can be found in forests at low and medium altitudes in the provinces of Quezon, Camarines, Nueva Ecija, and Mindoro, among others.

10 PAGLAUM

Hers was a story of a good daughter, true friend, nurse, cancer fighter and survivor.

She was a typical young adult having the time of her life. She hung out with friends and went out for breakfast, lunch, and even dinner with them, sometimes joining the gang in a drinking spree if they felt like it. She worried over nothing. She finished Nursing and passed the licensure exam the same year. Her first job was as a nurse. Things were going smoothly for her, until a visit to the doctor changed everything.

She was 23 when she decided to have a lump on her right breast checked. May 5, 2012, a week after the biopsy, she got the news she greatly dreaded. She, however, did not cry. She was on duty that time. She was not in denial. It was just that she did not know what to feel.

It was only when she got home when everything sank in. Her knees were shaking. Tears would not stop flowing as soon as she told her brother and her cousin that she was diagnosed with cancer. She cried even more when she called up her mom. The first three words she uttered were “Ma, sorry kaayo.”

She felt like she was a disappointment to her family and to herself. She was sad, not because she was diagnosed with cancer, but because she would be a burden to her family. She did not ask God why it had to be her. Her question was more on why it had to be now... when she was starting to move forward with her plans in life, particularly in her career.

She lost confidence. She felt she lost for being stricken with cancer. There was a time when she looked at herself as useless. She also had nothing in her bank account, and her family was not rich.

She underwent a total mastectomy to her right breast on July 26, 2012 and started her chemotherapy sessions by September. She finished six cycles of chemotherapy without the physical presence of her family. She preferred it that way. She did not want them to see her struggle and suffer. They saw her only after.

What pushed her to fight and not give up was that her friends and her family were there for her. They encouraged her. They showered her with words that really mattered most—words that she tended to forget because she was blinded with bitterness and pain. It was through this that she realized many people actually wished for her to live. They made ways to revive her spirit. Her best friends set up a Facebook page to reach out to colleagues so they could raise funds for her. She can’t imagine it was worth a try; her friends and family did.

Many really helped her financially. One of them was the Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center. Her doctors, the Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital, her friends, family friends, relatives, and even those she barely knew also helped. They all wanted her to live. They made her want to live.

Carmi Cantina’s ordeal:The ‘positive’ side of having cancer

It has been two years now since she got diagnosed with the big C. In God’s grace, there was no longer evidence of cancer and she hoped it was totally over. Laboratories and diagnostic tests said everything was normal. She felt fine. She was perfectly healthy.

She learned so many lessons and made a lot of realizations because of the experience. She said family is always family. Her parents and siblings were

her greatest supporters and source of strength. They were the ones who stood strong when she was weak. She was forever grateful to them because they were always by her side. Always. No words can describe how thankful she was for them.

All the people who helped her, she considered them true treasures. Through them, she was able to feel God’s helping hands. She cannot sum up the words of gratitude they so deserve. She does not know how she

11PAGLAUM

could ever repay them. One thing she was sure, though—she would make sure to pay the kindness forward, so that people like her would also find hope in every difficulty.

God is good all the time. This she saw clearly, too. She said we may never get to understand life and what God has planned for us, but faith will keep us going. Life’s a bitch at times, but still life is the best gift—a precious chance given by God.

At present, she is adjusting

to life as a breast cancer survivor. It is a struggle for her to stick to her prescribed diet. She only drinks alcoholic beverages on rare occasions, and aims to remove the habit from her lifestyle. She also went back to work. She would like to prove that cancer would not stop her from pursuing her career, despite the discrimination. She could say things are a lot like her life before, but that in some ways, they are now very different.

Cancer did change her,

physically and emotionally. Her view of the world haschanged. She is a lot stronger now. She is also more aware and more appreciative of things, great and small.

She is now looking at inspiring people as her life’s mission. She wants them to see how Godworked His miracle in her. Maybe, through her story, someone might come to her one day and say, “Carmi, because of you I didn’t give up.” #

This Pink October, spare some time to get to know some important facts about Breast Cancer.These were released by the Philippine Breast Cancer Network to further broaden the public’s knowledge on breast cancer. 1. All women are at risk. Approximately 70% of breast cancer occur in women.2. Five percent only of breast cancer is inherited. About 80% percent of women

diagnosed with breast cancer are usually considered the first victims in the family.3. Early detection does not prevent in acquiring breast cancer, but avoiding and eliminating

known cause can prevent breast cancer.4. Mammography fails to detect as much as 20% of all breast cancers in as much 40% percent

in women under the age of 50.5. One out of four who are diagnosed with breast cancer die within the first five years. Not less

than 40% percent die within 10 years.6. Risk factors are not necessarily causes of breast cancer. Some risk factors are

environmental pollution, and contamination to the cause of breast cancer.7. The global incidence of breast cancer has continuously risen from 256% in the past 30 years

up to 479%, especially in Southeast Asian countries. 8. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women ages 35 to 45 worldwide.

More than a million women develop breast cancer. At about 500,000 die every year.9. One out of 13 Filipino women may develop breast cancer. The Province of Pampanga has

the highest breast cancer incidence rate in the Philippines.10. The Philippines has the third highest incidence cases of breast cancer among all Southeast Asian countries, and about 589% among all 187 countries over 30 years since 1980 to 2010.

Date Venue No. of beneficiariesSept. 3 Danao City 52

Sept. 14 Cebu City 24Sept. 18 Lapu-Lapu City 42Sept. 19 Mandaue City 38Sept. 21 Mandaue City 48

September outreach screening highlights

12 INSTITUTIONAL

After donating to the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) P1.58 million for its five-room training center at the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) also handed to the rescue group a brand new mobile triage worth P1.91 million.

During the training center’s inauguration last September 13, which coincided with ERUF’s 29th anniversary, Mrs. Ma. Cristina Aboitiz, representing RAFI, spoke about the occasion being a celebration of “passion and determination” and of the “noble spirit of volunteerism.”

“ERUF is the go-to organization in times when emergency response is needed,” she said, speaking on behalf of other donors of the foundation.

ERUF established the training center with the help of donors like RAFI and City Government of Haarlemmermeer in the Netherlands, which gave it several emergency vehicles and equipment.

To help train emergency responders, ERUF decided to build the training center, which eyes local government units’ ambulance working staff and crew, college graduates wishing to obtain NCII certificates, and even high school graduates or college level students who want to work as paramedics here and/or abroad, as possible enrollees.

Towards this end, RAFI donated to ERUF P1.58 million and a fully equipped mobile triage that cost P1.91 million to serve not just Cebu but the neighboring provinces as well.

ERUF will staff the mobile

triage/clinic with a medical team and medical facilities and technology to respond to mass casualty emergencies and incidents.

The vehicle could also serve as an ambulance that can provide on scene care to patients and can also be used as stand-by medical response vehicle for emergencies.

“This is a pilot project and will be the first of its kind in the country. It can be replicated once seen substantial and necessary,” ERUF said.

During the inauguration, Dr. Pek Eng Lim, ERUF chairman, thanked all those who helped them realize their vision of building a center where they could train others in emergency response, including rescue.

“We offer the best facilities for

RAFI gives ERUF mobile triage

those who will come to train,” he said.

“After Yolanda, everybody has ambulances. We support by training them,” also said Mona Li, ERUF Board of Trustees treasurer.

Among those that helped ERUF was the Mandaue City government, which signed a deed of usufruct allowing the foundation to use the 5,000-square-meter lot for 25 years.

City Mayor Jonas Cortes, who was among the guests, likewise thanked those groups that made it possible for ERUF to build the center.

“Pasalamat ko for their help and thank you for helping, touching lives,” he said.

Mayor Jonas Cortes (left) thanks Mrs. Ma. Cristina Aboitiz, who represented the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., for donating a mobile triage to the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation, which inaugurated its new training center at the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City that RAFI also helped build

13INSTITUTIONAL

Tinago, RAFI kick off Pink Octoberwith opening of ‘Pink Street’

Barangay Tinago, Cebu City and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. launched last September 30 their joint campaign to help increase the public’s awareness on breast cancer prevention with the ceremonial opening of Lopez Jaena Street as “Pink Street.”

Adorned with banderitas (buntings), tarpaulins, ribbons, and balloons—all in pink—that gave the street a “fiesta” mood, the Pink Street intends to serve as a reminder to Cebuanos to be aware about cancer, specifically breast cancer, and that they could always tap the barangay and the

community in this endeavor.

The Pink Street campaign was also a call for Cebuanos to work together with their community, color their own streets pink and help spread awareness on the dreaded disease.

“This is an advocacy that we want to let the public know because we want to help those who are affected with this disease but don’t know how to (look for help),” said Tinago Barangay Captain Joel Garganera.

“So when we decorate our streets with pink, when we put

something pink in our homes, that is a manifestation that we are concerned with their predicament,” he added.

With 657 deaths or 49 percent of the 1,349 cases recorded in 2003 to 2007, breast cancer has been identified by the Cebu population-based Cancer Registry of RAFI-Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (EJACC) as the leading cause of death among Cebuano women.

The Pink Street was just one of several activities that RAFI has lined up for October, which is breast cancer awareness month.

CEREMONIAL OPENING. (From left) Tinago, Cebu City Barangay Captain Joel Garganera, RAFI Chief Operating Officer Dominica Chua, RAFI President Roberto “Bobby” Aboitiz, and RAFI Reputation Management Head Carol Ballesteros cut the ribbon to formally open Lopez Jaena Street as “Pink Street.” The activity last September 30 served as the opening salvo for RAFI and the barangay in observing October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

14 PROGRAM UPDATES

As part of its commitment to the victims of super typhoon Yolanda that hit northern Cebu towns in November 2013, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) helped organize and induct officers of the SM-Home Owners Association (HOA) officers at the basketball court of SM Village, Barangay Polambato, Bogo City last September 19.

Speaking on behalf of his fellow residents, HOA president Rudy Jusay thanked SM Foundation Inc. and RAFI for their houses and the Fernan family for donating the land that served as their relocation site.

He encouraged all of the residents to help their community develop, as the officers cannot do it by themselves.

“It is our obligation to make this association successful,” he said.

He likened every individual as a typewriter key, where every key plays a role in successfully telling a story, in the same manner that each one of them are needed for their community to prosper.

As part of continuing efforts

to help Yolanda survivors recover, RAFI and SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI) have teamed up to provide “quality rehabilitation and recovery services” for beneficiaries living in SM’s resettlement site in Brgy. Polambato.

SMFI had already turned over 200 homes to selected beneficiaries in the community during Yolanda’s anniversary in November last year. For its part, RAFI continued to assist in getting the community fully back on its feet.

As stipulated in the Memorandum of Agreement between RAFI and SMFI, RAFI will implement community organizing, livelihood and skills training programs, and values formation and social services programs for the residents.

Other projects RAFI pursued included implementing social preparation programs together with the local government of Bogo City to ensure that community organizing and community development programs are incorporated in all

aspects of the construction of the houses and other communal structures.

Speaking on behalf of SMFI, consultant Elena B. Horn told residents that SM and RAFI would continue to help up to three years, and she expressed hope that they would use the remaining time and opportunity to learn from the livelihood trainings that would be provided to them.

“Hopefully, over the next month, you will now have your means of livelihood. Once you have developed your own products, we can now set up a weekend Markey in SM. We will help recover (from the tragedy),” she said.

Aside from Horn, City Councilors Cres Verdida and Yoyong Almirante, Polambato Barangay Captain Eduardo Ygot SMFI program coordinator Louie Francis Dacer and RAFI program officer Mark Joey Bautista also attended the induction and oathtaking ceremony.

Days before the event, the SM Village HOA Officers conducted a series of meetings to plan out the activity as part of their event management and facilitation training. Each officer were assigned a role like making a letter-request for chairs and tents, sending invitations, setting up the stage, and many other aspects required in organizing an event.

Horn, though, was glad of what she saw during the induction, impressed that there were already flowers, trees, and vegetables growing in the village.

“Only when you are able to stand on your own can we say that we have succeeded. Let’s help each other until you are all able to go on your own,” she said.

Bogo City relocation site officers take oath

Bogo City Councilor Cres Verdida (back to camera) administers the oath of office to the SM Village Homeowners Association officials, who swore to do their best to help improve their community.

15PROGRAM UPDATES

Teachers get more classrooms, training For this month, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Education Development Unit turned over 36 classrooms.

TOWN SCHOOLSCompostela Liki Elementary School

(6 classrooms turned over on September 22) Lubo Elementary SchoolTabunok Elementary School

Samboan Bulangsuran Elementary School(21 classrooms turned over on September 17) Cañorong Elementary School

Dalahikan Elementary SchoolKamburoy Elementary School

Monteverde Elementary SchoolSuba Elementary School

Tangbo Elementary School

Sogod Estaca Elementary School(9 classrooms turned over on September 16) Magay Elementary School

A newly finished school built by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. through the Education Development Unit in Sogod town

Unveiling of the marker of a newly-built school in Samboan town.

Ribbon cutting during the turnover of a newly-built school in Samboan town.

Teachers underwent a two-day training orientation workshop on the use of the Akong Bugsay book as instructional material for public elementary pupils.

16

What does Cebu promise in 2050?

Cebu would have wide parks, open spaces for walks and gardens, pedestrian-friendly streets, more bicycle lanes, less traffic congestion, and sustainable communities. The historic province would be as vibrant, developed, and progressive like the cities of Yokohama and Paris.

In 2050, Cebu, the second largest metropolitan area in the country, would be a model city-region which could compete with the international arena in the aspects of employment, tourism, education, and infrastructures, among others.

These developments, however, could not be achieved overnight. They require a platform for collaboration, not just among the political leaders, but with communities, business sectors, and civic leaders, to realize our dreams for Cebu.

The Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB), composed of leaders from the government, the private sector, and

civil society, is taking the lead in planning the creation of a more livable and “walkable” Cebu.

“The problem lies in us here in Cebu. We need to look at things in an integrated fashion. It requires a change of mindset and an integrated approach to realize this vision,” said Roberto “Bobby” Aboitiz, Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. president and the co-chair for the private sector in the MCDCB, the coordinating body for metro-wide planning and development.

The MCDCB, a consortium of 13 cities and municipalities in the province of Cebu, supports the Mega Cebu Vision 2050, a development blueprint aimed at promoting tourism and resilient, sustainable development of Cebu.

Mega Cebu envisions a wholesome, advanced, vibrant, equitable and sustainable (W.A.V.E.S.) Cebu. It promotes long-term and collaborative planning and action towards a more sustainable city-region in Cebu.

“We are encouraging local government units (LGUs) to help us craft long-term plans for Cebu. We are happy that they signed an agreement for a continued support. We will be institutionalizing MCDCB to make into a law. We intend to have a resident engineering team to work with the

LGUs,” he said.

The technical expertise of the Japan International Cooperation Agency is the lead champ for the year-long “Roadmap Study for Sustainable Urban Development in Metro Cebu” as part of the agency’s support to helping realize the Mega Cebu Vision 2050.

“We need to have a platform for cooperation and a pool of experts. Cebu will be progressive. Cebu will be a model city-region,” he stressed.

The project adopts the concept of “smart growth,” which aims to design a strategic and integrated plan to create a more livable and sustainable city. It includes planning practices that create more efficient land use and transport patterns.

“They will see Cebu as a model. Planning is very crucial in realizing this vision. We are not just looking into the geographical unit, but also taking into account trans-boundary challenges. Smart city-regions are not just about technology and urban development, but also the quality of life,” Evelyn Nacario-Castro, executive director of RAFI Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center, said.

She said that Cebu needs resident experts and champions to implement the best practices in the realization of Mega Cebu.

Would these promises be realized in 2050 in Cebu? Pwede kaayo, bai!

Cebu: A Model City in 2050