From providing off-grid electricity in far-flung sitios, enabling marginalized barangays with skills for livelihood and supporting education in science and technology, Shell companies in the Philippines commit to continue and enhance programs that provide positive impact on Filipino communities through diverse grassroots projects.
For its 107th anniversary in the country, Shell’s campaign “Let’s Keep Moving the Philippines Forward,” reinforces its advocacy for sustainable capacity-building toward a better future by providing more Filipinos with access to education, resources and opportunities through new technologies.
The campaign was launched with the release of Shell’s latest video featuring community programs such as Access to Energy, integrated bio-farming systems, livelihood projects, and the Shell Eco-marathon through mixed-media artistic renditions of alumni artists from the longest running student arts competition National Student Art Competition (NSAC).
Since its inception in 1967, NSAC has produced National Artists such as Jose Joya, Ang Kiukok, and Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera.
Shell NSAC 2016 winner Jaypee Samson said the inspiration for his parts in the campaign video came from wanting to bring optimism back after the pandemic by moving forward.
“Gusto ko ipagmalaki at ipakita sa viewer ang bansa natin at hopeful na magbabago na yung situation para maging normal na ulit,” he said.
Other Shell projects that provided opportunities and generated community livelihood include Shell LiveWIRE, its flagship global enterprise development program. Since 1982, it has supported more than 1,300 businesses in 20 countries by providing mentorship, technical expertise, financial assistance, and inclusion in Shell’s supply chain.
Shell’s LiveWIRE platform includes training communities to maximize local resources. In the Philippines, among its beneficiaries are the social enterprises of Silangan Ibabao Batis Bulihan Araneta Proper (SIBBAP) Multipurpose Cooperative composed of women seamstresses in Batangas; CocoHub which expands livelihood of farmers in Quezon from just harvesting coconuts to other means; and
EcoBrick Hub which aims to repurpose waste plastic into reusable eco-bricks to be used in infrastructure projects of Shell stations.
Wendel Candawan, another NSAC artist alumni commissioned for the campaign video, developed the artwork for community livelihood and Shell’s use of eco-bricks.
“Hindi lang nila binabawasan ang polusyon sa paligid natin, tumutulong sila sa komunidad na iangat ang sarili sa pamamagitan ng programa ng Shell,” he said.
The solar-powered EcoBrick Hub in Cagayan de Oro, for example, can produce up to 5,000-6,000 eco-bricks for every 20 tons of collected recyclable plastic and provides livelihood opportunities in the locality of its operations.
For his part, Bulacan-based NSAC alumni artist Froilan Calayag said he felt “flattered that I can help my countrymen to know about the bio-farming program” through his artwork.
Digital artist and 2020 NSAC winner Victor “Wika” Nadera, on the other hand, admitted that prior to the campaign, he was not aware of other existing programs aside from NSAC and commended Shell for diversifying its programs.
“Shell as a global business is helping Filipinos with their education and sustainability programs. Malaking tulong ito sa ikauunlad ng ating science, research, and engineering,” he said.
His entry in the video tackled Shell’s support for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programs such as the Shell Eco-Marathon which is the world's leading engineering competition for students aimed to promote energy efficiency.
Shell NSAC 2020 winner Bea Cortez described her artwork as “about moving forward, which is relevant to what people feel post-pandemic.”
Her miniature sculptures were brought to life in the video to depict Shell’s Access to Energy program. Access to Energy (A2E) is one of Shell’s Global Social Investment themes which aim to provide accessible, reliable, affordable, and sustainable clean energy to those in off-grid coastal and far-flung communities in Palawan.
“This (moving together) is what keep moving forward is. You don't move forward only by yourself,” she said.