Manila Water Foundation's 2015 Global Handwashing Day Celebration reaches Luzon, Visayas & Mindanao

Over 40,000 individuals from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao took matters into their hands as they pledged for a cleaner, healthier and safer lifestyle and joined Manila Water Foundation's monthlong and nationwide celebration of the 2015 Global Handwashing Day (GHD).

During the entire month of October, Manila Water Foundation and its partners reached out to students from 18 schools, residents from 5 lowincome communities, and individuals in 8 malls, a world class museum and a theme park all over the country to emphasize that handwashing is an important habit that everybody must practice.

For the past three years, Manila Water Foundation, the social responsibility arm of Manila Water group of companies in the Philippines, has been supporting the Global Handwashing Day through activities that include demonstrations and actual handwashing, which complement their commitment to educate Filipinos of all ages on water, health and sanitation.

"Global Handwashing Day shouldn't just be celebrated and observed once a year. It should be a lifestyle for all because it's the simplest, most cost-efficient way to be healthy. We at the Foundation hope that more people help us spread this important advocacy." says Manila Water Foundation's Executive Director Carla May Beriña-Kim.

The Global Handwashing Day events were well supported by local government units and institutions as they also promised to uphold this year's GHD theme, "Raise a Hand for Hygiene." They reinforced the concept of the easiest and most effective way to keep oneself in pink of health, by enjoining children and adults alike to regularly practice and promote proper handwashing as part of overall hygiene and health.

"I commend companies that aren't purely commercial and are socially responsible. Thank you Manila Water in general and Manila Water Foundation in particular for spreading advocacies like proper handwashing" remarked Mandaluyong Congressman Neptali Gonzales.

"This initiative is very much welcome here in Quezon City as we also advocate handwashing for overall hygiene and health. I look forward to working with Manila Water Foundation on other projects and activities related to this advocacy," said Councilor Eufemio "Pinggoy" Lagumbay

The month-long and nationwide celebration of the 2015 Global Handwashing Day was copresented by Unilever and Scholastic and sponsored by Globe, Enchanted Kingdom, Ascorbic Acid Ceelin, Ayala Malls, and Ayala Cinemas. Institutional partners include the Department of Education, The Mind Museum, Clark Development Corporation, Tagum Water District, Tagum City Council of Women, Rotary Club of Tagum Golden L.A.C.E.S., Red Cross Boracay-Malay Chapter, Boracay Island Foundation, Inc., Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Boracay, Manila Water, Clark Water, Cebu Water, Laguna Water, Boracay Water, and Healthy Family. ABS-CBN Publishing, Working Mom, Smart Parenting, Good Housekeeping, Wish FM 107.5, Energy FM 106.7, DZUP 1602 and Yes FM Boracay served as media partners.

Visit www.facebook.com/ManilaWater Foundation to learn more about the 2015 Global Handwashing day or get in touch with Manila Water Foundation through 917-5900 local 1025 or foundation@manilawater.com.