The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) received two Golds and one Silver at the recent 52nd Anvil Awards for its key corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs that seek volunteerism among its team members, conversion of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) into e-commerce, and heritage conservation of the nation’s history through digital methods.
One of the Bank’s Gold Anvils was for its “GoBeyond Communities” project, a unique “bottom-up CSR program” where UnionBank employees decide, develop and execute their own programs and events, with funding coming from the Bank. This enables UnionBankers to conduct sustainable projects in their very own communities.
Consistent with the Bank’s core corporate value of Ubuntu or “pakikipagkapwa,” the project has motivated UnionBankers to come up with unique ways to give back while extending the spirit of volunteerism and generosity to local communities nationwide.
Meanwhile, another Gold Anvil was awarded to UnionBank for its Ureka Forum, the bank’s program that brings MSMEs into the world of ecommerce.
Known as the Philippines’ largest e-commerce mass conversion program, the Ureka Forum has led more than 1,000 MSMEs to go online and retool their business models for the 21st century.
UnionBank was also honored with a Silver Anvil for its sustained efforts to preserve arts and culture through its Lumina Pandit project which aims to restore and preserve the priceless heritage collection of the University of Santo Tomas’ Miguel de Benavides Library and University Archives through digitization.
The collection holds some 30,000 rare books and documents, as varied as real estate transactions in the ancient baybayin script and a handwritten copy of Jose Rizal’s “Mi Ultimo Adios.”
“We are extremely honored to receive these prestigious Anvil Awards, on behalf of all UnionBankers and our program partners. This recognition encourages us continue to work harder and achieve sustainable and inclusive positive change for the communities we serve and for the Filipino nation as a whole,” said UnionBank Executive Vice President and Head of the Center for Strategic Partnerships Genaro V. Lapez.
The annual Anvil Awards is presented by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines to honor outstanding PR programs and tools. The awards are given to excellent projects after a stringent screening process by select PR professionals and a distinguished multisectoral jury.