Aside from Ramon V. del Rosario Nation Building Awardee, the late Ambassador Howard Q. Dee, five individuals were honored in this year’s Ramon V. del Rosario (RVR) Awards for having exemplified outstanding corporate citizenship and a fervent commitment to nation-building across various industries — proving that business can indeed be a force for good.
In addition to the Award for Nation Building, the RVR Awards also recognizes promising entrepreneurs for impacting their communities and industries through their businesses or social enterprises with the Siklab Award.
One of the awardees is Ariestelo A. Asilo, co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Varacco, Inc. and the president of ThinnkFarm. ThinnkFarm and Varacco provide livelihood to 400 coffee farmers in Cavite and Mindanao. Mr. Asilo was recognized in 2021 as one of the 50 Best Small Businesses for the United Nations’ “Good Food for All.” His leadership not only empowers farmers, but also inspires the Filipino youth.
Victor Mari C. Baguilat, Jr. is the founder, CEO, and creative director of Kandama Social Enterprise. Mr. Baguilat founded Kandama to empower indigenous Ifugao women weavers by connecting their traditional hand-loomed fabrics to the global market. Kandama has been featured in fashion events in New York, Paris, Melbourne, and Hong Kong. It provides sustainable livelihood while preserving the precious weaving tradition of these communities.
Also among this year’s awardees is Rafael Ignacio S. Dionisio, co-founder and president of Make A Difference (MAD) Travel. MAD Travel partners with the Aeta community to build forests of native and fruit trees in Zambales. MAD Travel creates fulfilling experiences that enable communities to develop sustainable products. The company also supported local farmers and entrepreneurs through and despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ann Adeline G. Dumaliang, managing trustee of the Masungi Georeserve, co-founded Masungi Georeserve, a conservation area that is home to over 500 species. Her innovative approach combines conservation, eco-tourism, education, and community engagement. Masungi has planted 100,000 native trees and established ranger stations to protect the watershed that benefits millions.
Completing the list is Alvin C. Ong, founder and CEO of Fredley Group of Companies, a food & beverage company behind brands like Macao Imperial Tea and Nabe. Coming from humble beginnings of packing hangers, Mr. Ong built a billion-peso empire of more than 260 restaurants and 3,000 employees all while adopting inclusive hiring practices for differently abled people.
“Our awardees will do this nation an even greater service by telling your stories especially to our young idealistic youth who day-in and day-out are bombarded by negative information giving them less and less reason to be hopeful,” PHINMA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ramon R. del Rosario, Jr. said in his remarks during the ceremonies held last Aug. 20 at The Fifth at Rockwell. “We will fill that void with your stories of entrepreneurial peace-building, agriculture and tourism innovation, cultural preservation, environment protection and inclusive growth.”
