From the time my father established his business, it had always been his belief that profits alone cannot be the objective in any business… you must always give back to the community you serve.

This is why we have crafted the LOPEZ GROUP CSR MAGNA CARTA, a first-of- a-kind document signed by second and third generation Lopez family members and Lopez group company CEOs and heads of foundations to firmly establish the Lopez Group’s commitment to serve their communities. This is an important Lopez value.

As a Lopez employee, you might already be familiar with this philosophy, which covers the Lopez values of SOCIAL JUSTICE and NATIONALISM. My father, Eugenio Lopez, Sr., practiced this brand of public service in all of his businesses. In fact, the Lopez family has been practicing this since the early 19th century! Social responsibility is in our blood and we are committed to sharing our blessings with our communities.

For example, when a tanker carrying two million liters of bunker fuel sank off the coast of the beautiful island of Guimaras in 2006, polluting the waters of Western Visayas and affecting the livelihoods of over 4,000 fisherfolk, I felt it was an opportunity to help the community where I had spent my summers as a child. We donated land to an affected barangay and provided training and the necessary resources to set up an organic farm, fruit orchard, and other land-based livelihood programs.

Nowadays, we call such actions “corporate social responsibility” and it’s actually good for business. Customers, communities, and other stakeholders — whose lives were improved in some way by a Lopez company or foundation — would reward us with their loyalty and support. This mutually enhancing and fulfilling relationship has given the Lopez Group the strength to continue serving the greater good.

In the kapamilya spirit, it is my belief that all Lopez employees share this commitment to community service and social justice. So much good can come out of the simplest gesture: helping your neighbors, volunteering in your community, or donating time or money to charitable institutions.

Here’s what I want to know: “What do you do for your community?” It can be as simple as participating in clean up drives, to actually organizing a fund raising for a charity group. Whatever good you are currently doing to give back, I would really love to hear.

Email your answers or send photos of your activities to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The sharing of personal social responsibility initiatives will run from May 9 to June 15, 2011. The one who shares the most inspiring and meaningful initiative will get a microwave oven and your chosen charity will be given an ADTEL Solar Kit! The second and third prize winner will receive an ADTEL Barron 21-inch and 14-inch TV sets.

I’m looking forward to reading your emails.