L-R: LCF chair Mario Deriquito, Bantay Kalikasan cluster lead Mikhail Dizon, program director Jen Santos, ALKFI research and media relations manager Ana Junio, LCF Expo 2019 chair Cecile Alcantara and LCF executive director Helen Orande BANTAY Kalikasan’s “Kadtu Kamo: Lamlifew Village Museum’s Eco-Cultural Experience” bagged the Outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Project in Arts and Culture award at the inaugural League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) CSR Guild Awards 2019.

Lamlifew Village is in Sarangani, where Bantay Kalikasan collaborated with the local government and various partners to further enrich its cultural uniqueness. The intervention has heightened the public’s cultural awareness of the Blaan or B’laan tribe, enlightening visitors to be respectful of indigenous traditions and the environment. It also provided a sustainable livelihood for the Blaan women.

Bantay Kalikasan’s intervention is nonintrusive. No major structure was built in the community, only a small visitor center to welcome guests, while the old cafeteria and weaving center were refurbished. Bantay Kalikasan, the environmental arm of ABSCBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc. (ALKFI), respected the culture and practices of the Blaan.

“It is important in the work that we do that we build on the inherent strengths of the area and the community, assess the potential of enriching these while empowering our primary stake
holders to sustain the initiatives. We are grateful to all the partners for their genuine collaboration,” program director Jen Santos said.

Sabang Daguitan Surf Camp in Dulag, Leyte, a Yolandastricken community, and La Mesa, the only remaining forest of its size, also made it as finalists in the Enterprise Development and Environment categories, respectively.

This is also the first time that ALKFI joined the LCF CSR Guild Awards. LCF is a Philippine Council for NGO Certification-accredited network of 93 operating and grant-making corporate foundations and corporations.