UCPB donates used laptops to Baiphil, Rags2Riches
UNITED Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) has donated used but serviceable laptops to the Bankers Institute of the Philippines (Baiphil) to support the advocacy of Rags2Riches (R2R) of providing livelihood opportunities to urban poor women in a number of communities in the Greater Manila Area.
UCPB sevior vice president and operations Group head Arnel Valles; vice president and Human Resources Group head Stella Fulgencio; and vice president and Marketing Group head Charina Balanquit turned over two laptop units to Baiphil President Irene Arroyo and R2R President and Founding Partner Reese Ruiz during a simple ceremony held at the UCPB Corporate Offices.
The laptops will be used by urban poor women who were trained to encode sales data, create presentations and spreadsheets, and operate R2R’s online channels in their new roles as R2R’s store ambassadors and office staff.
“UCPB is privileged to be part of Baiphil's and R2R's program to uplift the lives of these hardworking women through livelihood opportunities to break the cycle of poverty in their lives,” said Valles, who is also the current Baiphil Director.
For her part, Ruiz extended her appreciation to UCPB and Baiphil, saying these acts of kindness create a positive impact to the communities especially with the urban poor mothers and grandmothers who previously earned P10 a week to create foot rugs but have now remarkably raised their earnings. They have also gained pride in their work of creating artisanal R2R bags and accessories designed by celebrity designers, marketed globally and are now worn by celebrities such as Amal Clooney.
“Poverty is big and complex and we can’t address this by ourselves so we are very glad to gain another partner in UCPB in improving the lives of these women. You may feel that this is a small contribution but for us, this will definitely go a long way,” said Ruiz.
Established in 2007 in Payatas, R2R partners with local artisans across the Philippines to create eco-ethical fashion and home accessories out of upcycled, overstock cloth and indigenous fabrics. Its products are available via rags2riches.ph and its stores in Glorietta in Makati City and UP Town Center in Quezon City.
Baiphil, composed of 63 member banks, aims to provide support to banks towards productivity enhancement through research, information exchange and education.