Consul General Senen Malile with C&C Alpha Executive Director Bhanu Choudhrie and Luis Bariuan from ABS-CBN Europe (ABS-CBN News)
LONDON – Investment company C&C Alpha Group has donated $200,000 (approximately P8,888,098) to ABS-CBN Foundation’s Sagip Kapamilya as part of the continuing aid efforts for the Philippines in the aftermath of typhoon Haiyan (local name: Yolanda).
It was the largest cash donation by a single entity from the UK based on a list of aid contributions coordinated by the Philippine Embassy in London since relief efforts began a month ago.
A simple ceremony at the Philippine Cultural Centre in London last December 19 officially marked the company’s contribution.
Consul General Senen Mangalile from the Philippine Embassy welcomed representatives from C&C Alpha, including CEO Cherian Thomas and Executive Director Bhanu Choudhrie.
“We’re overwhelmed by the enormity of the response, and the warmth and generosity of the British people, the UK government, and the international community in the UK. They all came up and proved that we do not stand alone in this catastrophe,” said Mangalile.
“C&C wants to be involved in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the most affected areas, and that for us is the most important phase of the response to typhoon Haiyan.”
The company, which has investments in the Philippines, specifically wants their contribution to go towards rebuilding affected communities through infrastructure and long-term projects.
“We believe very strongly in the Philippines, and the people of the Philippines, especially the community that live here in the UK. And this disaster has affected them, and we feel that this is a support that we would proudly like to give to the people of the Philippines,” said Choudhrie, whose family founded the firm.
“We have business interests in the Philippines and we believe that the market, the Philippine economy, is a very important economy for us and also for the Asian market. And this donation is something we have put together internally to help.”
London-based Filipino Lourielee Garcia, who is Executive Vice President at C&C Alpha, feels emotional and “grateful” about her company’s decision to help her native country.
“I did not even ask for it,” she revealed. “It was very instinctive for them, the family [who own the firm], and for my company to make this donation. I believe this is consistent with what they have been standing for with all of their investments: that they want to give back to the communities where we have investments.”
Consul General Senen Malile with C&C Alpha Executive Director Bhanu Choudhrie and Luis Bariuan from ABS-CBN Europe (ABS-CBN News)
ABS-CBN Foundation’s Sagip Kapamilya was chosen as the recipient for its credibility to deliver such initiatives. The foundation is expected to provide the UK firm with monthly reports on the progress of their efforts.
“On behalf of our Global COO Raffy Lopez, Managing Director Edgardo Garcia and ABS-CBN Foundation, I’d like to thank C&C Alpha for trusting the program Sagip Kapamilya in funding the charity initiatives in helping calamity victims,” said Luis Bariuan of ABS-CBN Europe, official distributor of The Filipino Channel (TFC) in the region. “With great trust comes great responsibility and we have all the confidence in ABS-CBN Foundation in managing all donations to make sure they work for the purpose intended.”
C&C Alpha Group is an international financial firm based in London with investments around the world from India to the Philippines.
Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in November, affecting approximately 11 million people. It was the world’s strongest typhoon to ever hit land. The vast devastation it caused triggered a global aid effort which is still ongoing. (Patrick Camara Ropeta, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau)