CSR through sports

The old saying that goes, “Different folks, different strokes,” can be exemplified by how different corporate entities demonstrate their seriousness in their corporate citizenship.

There are companies that show their corporate social responsibility by supporting poor but deserving students get their education all the way through college to become the country’s future pillars in their chosen fields of expertise. Others pour resources to help in providing basic necessities like water to far-flung areas, which the government has in its lower ranks of priorities.

In the case of Phoenix Petroleum, this fast rising player in the country’s highly competitive oil industry, it’s boosting the Pinoy’s long time elusive dream of winning its first Olympic gold medal, which it hopes to finally materialize in the upcoming Tokyo 2010 Olympic Games by supporting the Siklab Atleta Pilipinas Sports Foundation.

This entity is a private non-profit organization launched in 2017, which aims to bring to life every Filipino athlete’s dream of winning a gold medal in the Olympics. Phoenix Petroleum is one of the top companies in the country that has pledged to support the projects and initiatives of Siklab Atleta. Through the foundation, top Filipino athletes are provided with improved and upgraded training equipment and facilities, coaching services, exposure to international competitions, and scientific training methods to further hone their talents and develop their skills.

To expedite its support, Phoenix Petroleum launched last Independence Day a donation drive dubbed “Buhayin Ang Laban Para Sa Guinto”, where it pledged to match every liter of Phoenix Pulse Technology-blended fuel purchased at Phoenix service stations from June 12 to Aug. 12, 2018 with a 25-centavo donation to Siklab Atleta.  

The two-month-long campaign gathered a total of P25 million from customers who fueled up in their 545 retail stations nationwide. Overwhelmed by the support of fellow Filipino motorists, Phoenix Petroleum doubled the amount—making the total amount to be donated to P50 million. 

Elated and immensely appreciative of the Filipinos’ response to their fund raising campaign, Henry Albert “Bong” Fadullon, Phoenix Petroleum chief operating officer, said “We thank our fellow Filipinos who showed their nationalism by participating in our donation drive. This initiative aims to reignite Filipino patriotism and the spirit of Bayanihan, as we all work toward a common goal, which is to bring glory to the Philippines,”

Sports has always been regarded as an integral part of nation building that helps promote oneness among the populace and our country’s finally fulfilling our generations old dream of our very first Olympic gold medal could just be the best thing that can happen during this period of growing uncertainty.

Sprouting all over the metro      

Food parks have taken over the metropolis.  We say that because ever since the first food park was introduced in the country, more have followed and more are still coming. In fact, there is at least one or two in every major area in the metro, and no one is complaining.  That is because food parks offer more options than a stand- alone restaurant.

The roving B&L (Business & Leisure) crew one fine day headed off to Marikina, which is fast becoming one big food street because of the sheer number of new restaurants that have cropped up in the past few years. And food parks are fast catching up in number, including Lamp Quarters.

It’s one of those that have been sprouting in the metro but it certainly looks much more than that with its happy owners, Myla Gonzales and Dottie-Diaz Cleofas and their families who improved on the concept of a food park and took it a notch higher. They also chose the area of Marikina because both of them are from the east and they thought it was about time that the east had something like this.

Lamp Quarters, which was launched in October, 2017 has as one of its owners an architect, which accounts for its inviting design. Myla is finance-oriented while Dottie has a background in mall operations, so the combination of talents and skills worked well for the group. They designed the complex for families and working people.

There are eight restaurants here but unlike other food parks, these restaurants are good-sided.  While outlets in the usual food parks measure about 20 square meters the restaurant-tenants here average about 55 sqm much like other stand-alone restaurants.  The owners consider it as a good venue for start-up restaurants, and it definitely isn’t your usual food park.

The Lamp Quarters has a courtyard which is spacious at 300 sqm is preferred by those who enjoy dining al fresco, but for those who would rather dine in the comfort of air-conditioned restaurants, they have a variety of options.

The owners want their customers to see the food place more of a community center than just a food park.  They cater to all walks of life and have hosted various events in the past.

It is not common to see an establishment that cares for start-ups like Lamp Quarters. And if only for this, luck may not be far from seeing it flourish and even possibly grow in numbers.

Mabuhay!!! Be proud to be a Filipino.

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