Skil launches Paint the Town Red for grassroots communities nationwide

For the past six years, the Philippines has been one of the highest growing countries for Skil, one of the most recognized brands in the global power tool industry. Skil is giving back to the Philippine community through its recent philanthropic endeavor Paint the Town Red, which aims to construct 40 basketball half-courts in 40 selected barangays nationwide.

The campaign underscores Skil’s commitment to creating sustainable corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects aimed at community building and youth development.

“Skil is investing in sustainable CSR projects that do more than just widen brand awareness and visibility. The main idea is to do good and to do well. Through Paint the Town Red, Skil does not only build basketball courts for communities to enjoy, but we also donate small power tools for their various projects,” said William Go, Bosch Power Tools Country Sales Director. “In partnership with local government units, we are able to conduct hands-on training workshops and seminars for members of the community to teach them how to properly use power tools as a source of livelihood.”

The campaign also brought Skil ambassador and champion basketball coach Norman Black onboard to exemplify the brand’s strong American heritage and commitment to delivering precision and performance to a range of power tool users.
“Coach Norman is more than just a poster boy for the brand, he is Skil personified. He gets the job done, whether for basketball or for the carpentry projects he does at home. In line with the campaign’s mission to contribute to grassroots youth development, Coach Norman is the perfect role model to inspire and engage the youth to get into sports as a fun and healthy outlet with all its physical and social benefits,” said Martin Valenzuela, Skil Brand Manager.

Paint the Town Red recently turned over the first of 40 basketball half-courts to Barangay Bangkal in Makati with more than 100 barangay residents and guests in attendance. Among esteemed attendees were Congresswoman Monique Lagdameo, Barangay Chairman Fermin Eusebio, Bosch Philippines Managing Director Joseph Hong and Skil Brand Ambassador Norman Black. After Bangkal, Skil will take the campaign on the road with stopovers in other communities in Manila and Cebu.

To strengthen its relationship with local communities, Skil and Robert Bosch, Inc. continue to support various advocacies, namely Class of 2010, Habitat for Humanity and MyShelter’s Liter of Light among others. These projects form part of the company’s initiative to uplift the Philippine society and contribute to the evolving economy.

Keeping the Flame of Learning Alive

The scholars along with Berjaya Foundation officials (seated, 2nd row from left: Tan Eng Hwa, Leo Laca, Paul Soo, Atty. Bong Bernas, and Resty Perez

Berjaya Philippines Inc. through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm, the Berjaya Foundation, has successfully chosen a new second batch of Filipino scholars who will have the opportunity to a good collegiate education with the help of scholarships and educational assistance provided by the Berjaya Group.

The 18 scholars were given a testimonial send-off lunch by officers of the Berjaya Philippines and the Berjaya Foundation before they left the country last September 27 for Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia to attend classes at the Berjaya University College of Hospitality. They are expected to earn their diplomas after finishing their courses in culinary arts, events management, hospitality management, tourism and travel management, and retail management.

Scholars were chosen from among the more-than-a-thousand applicants all over the country with the Foundation giving priority to the lesser-privileged but deserving students who have passed the examination and interview process. 15 more scholars will be leaving by end of the year to follow the second batch.

Aside from the tuition and miscellaneous fees, the Foundation also provides the students’ a monthly allowance of Malaysian Ringgit 1,500 to cover their accommodation and living expenses plus RM500 per semester for books.

Some of the members of the first batch of Berjaya scholars have already finished their courses and received their precious diplomas last August 2012. This pleased Berjaya Group Berhad’s founder and advisor Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Vincent Tan that he gives it a long-term commitment to sending more Filipino scholars to Malaysia.

“I started life in a poor family and could not even afford a proper tertiary education,” explained the Malaysian philanthropist, who retired early this year and passed the leadership of one of Malaysia’s biggest conglomerates to his son, Robin, in order to concentrate on his charitable activities. “I know what it is like not to have a lot of things that the average person these days will take for granted. I therefore consider myself very blessed to be where I am today despite the difficult early days, and ever since I achieved financial success I have felt a sense of responsibility to help those who are less fortunate,” he said in an interview with Forbes magazine.

“The graduation of the first batch of Berjaya scholars from the Philippines only shows that given the opportunity for a person in the marginalized sector of society to achieve his dreams when there is someone ready to help them,” said Paulino Soo, country head of Berjaya Group in the Philippines and president of the Berjaya Foundation on this recent development.