Mazda Philippines joins Berjaya Group to build homes in 2013 GK Bayani Challenge

MANILA, Philippines - The Mazda Philippines team, led by their CEO Steven Tan, joined the Berjaya Philippines Group employees once again in the Bayani Challenge 2013. The housing project site near Puerto Galera is one of 9 Berjaya Gawad Kalinga villages that are spread across the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Last year, during the Gawad Kalinga Bayanihan Expo 2012, Berjaya Philippines pledged P100M to Gawad Kalinga as their contribution to rebuild homes destroyed by natural calamity, and to build homes for the poverty-stricken, and for families living in danger-prone areas.

So far, a portion of the commitment has funded reconstruction of 100 houses destroyed by Typhoon Pablo in Compostela Valley, as well as building houses in Lantauan, Basilan. The GK Bayani Challenge 2013 aims to build 270 houses in eight locations, namely Sto. Tomas, Isabela; Masinloc, Zambales; Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro; Mobo, Masbate; Sapad, Lanao Del Norte; Sumilao, Bukidnon; Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat; Del Carmen (Siargao), Surigao Del Norte; and Malitbog, Southern Leyte.

The Berjaya Group volunteers, numbering 27 employees from across the various companies of Mazda, Papa John’s, Friendsters, MOL, PGMC and LoadCentral and Berjaya Makati Hotel, spent two days providing labor in carrying hollow blocks, mixing concrete and general construction assistance to support the building of 30 houses at the Puerto Galera project site.

“We feel that it is immensely important that we give back and support the communities where we do business. After all, we are carrying out the proud vision of our Berjaya Founder Tan Sri Dato Seri Vincent Tan. Contributing money is a good start—but it adds meaning for us to put aside our weekend, bring ourselves here and physically do whatever way we can to build these communities. Some of us carry the gravel for the concrete, some paint the steel struts, some of us mix the concrete, and some cut the wires that tie the steel bars together. And to do all these in such spectacular surrounding makes this weekend such a wonderful experience,” said Steven Tan, CEO of Berjaya Mazda Philippines.

“Gawad Kalinga,” which translated in English means “to give care,” is a Philippine-based movement that aims to end poverty by first restoring the dignity of the poor. It employs an integrated and holistic approach to empowerment with values-formation and leadership development at its core. Established in 2003, the Foundation currently works with over 2,000 communities and has been recognized as the 2006 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee & 2012 Skoll Awardee for Social Entrepreneurship.

Berjaya Auto Philippines Inc. (BAP) is the new exclusive importer and distributor of Mazda automotive products in the Philippines. BAP imports and distributes Mazda2 subcompact, Mazda3 compact, Mazda6 executive sedan, CX5 compact SUV, CX9 large SUV, BT50 pickup and the iconic roadster MX5 in the Philippines through 11 dealerships throughout the country.