Cebuana Lhuillier's education advocacy reaps prestigious PR awards

For its efforts in providing education to sectors that would otherwise have no access to it, Cebuana Lhuillier, the largest microfinancial institution in the Philippines, was recognized by the country's most prestigious PR award-giving bodies.

The International Association of Business Communicators, organizer of the Philippine Quill Awards, recently awarded Cebuana Lhuillier with an Award of Merit under the Communication Management - Corporate Social Responsibility category for its initiatives that give the less fortunate access to education. Winning at the Philippine Quill Awards means the 'achievement of the highest Global Standard for business communication practices'.

The company was also recognized by The Public Relations Society of the Philippines during the 51st Anvil Awards. Cebuana Lhuillier was given the Silver Anvil Award for its 'nationwide scholarship program aimed at producing bread-winners through its ladderized modular education program aimed at out-ofschool youth'.

Jean Henri Lhuillier, President and CEO of Cebuana Lhuilier, expressed appreciation for the citations saying that such awards keep them going. "We recognize the transformative power of education so we at Cebuana Lhuillier developed a program that gives the less fortunate a chance to learn and make the most of them. It is part of our ultimate goal of financial inclusion, which is the constant element that drives our business."

Aside from giving scholarships to deserving students, Cebuana Lhuillier, through its corporate social responsibility arm, Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc., is also in partnership with the Department of Education for its alternative learning program. Providing free academic, livelihood, spiritual and social education to out- of- school youth and adults nationwide, the company initially established 16 alternative learning system ( ALS) centers in different communities. After only two years, the number of Cebuana Lhuillier ALS centers grew to 31 with some located in the calamity- stricken areas of Tacloban, Bohol, Eastern Samar, and Northern Cebu. In 2014, the Cebuana Lhuillier ALS centers recorded an impressive 57% passing rate from a pool of 781 Accreditation & Equivalency ( A& E) test takers, which is significantly higher than the national average of 39%. These 449 passers are the first batch of learners who obtained an elementary or secondary degree through CLFI.