The bayanihan spirit is important to Filipino culture. It fosters camaraderie and cooperation to empower and strengthen ties among communities. In the face of adversities, people help because they want to uplift their neighbors and put their hearts at ease.
Real estate developer Suntrust Properties, Inc. (SPI) has been embodying the bayanihan spirit in its service of Filipinos for the past 27 years. Beyond its mandate of developing commercial and residential areas, it extends its hands to communities through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
To celebrate its 27th anniversary, SPI has chosen Barangay Pinagbuhatan in Pasig City as its beneficiary. The barangay houses Suntrust Kirana, one of the company’s housing projects.
On November 9, 2024, SPI organized a medical and dental mission at Suarez Basketball Court in Barangay Pinagbuhatan to give back to the community. Residents received free check-ups, as well as canes, crutches, and wheelchairs for those who needed them.
There were beneficiaries who couldn’t make it to the event so SPI brought their wheelchairs directly to their houses. The company also gave parols to the community just in time for the holiday season. And at the Suntrust Kirana site, SPI distributed groceries to the residents.
Opportunities like this are important. Some people neglect their health and physiological needs due to financial constraints and other factors. However, through these missions, people receive waves of hope by giving them a chance to live a better life, keeping the bayanihan spirit alive.
A surprise for the barangay
Barangay Pinagbuhatan is a large area that houses hundreds of thousands of individuals. Local government officials had been hoping to improve the area’s security measures. Quietly, SPI catered to this need by surprising them with CCTV units to help boost the barangay’s security.
Robin Salandanan, barangay captain of Pinagbuhatan, thanked SPI for its efforts and initiatives for their barangay.
“Ako’y nagpapasalamat sa pamunuan ng Suntrust kasi talagang napili nila na bigyan ng suporta ang aming community […] Almost 200,000 [ang aming populasyon]. Kaya nga sinasabi ko rin sa aking nasasakupan na pagka-ganitong may gathering, may ganitong proyekto, huwag silang mahiyang pumunta, bumaba, at makiisa dahil […] itong mga proyektong ito ay malaking tulong sa bawat community at sa bawat isang taga-Pinagbuhatan,” he said in an interview with The Philippine STAR.
The importance of CSR
Giving back to its partner communities has been a part of SPI’s mission. Atty. Harrison Paltongan, president of SPI, stressed in an interview that CSR initiatives help people understand that the business aims to create more than mere profit.
“It’s not just about building and selling projects; it’s also about caring for the people we work with and fostering good relationships with our neighbors. This approach reflects our commitment to sharing the blessings we’ve received as a company—not only with our employees but also with the community.” Paltongan shared.
He also discussed the importance of working with barangays and smaller communities as they support the company on their projects.
“Building strong relationships with the barangay positively impacts their entire community. We’re here to collaborate, work together, and offer support in any way we can to meet their needs,” he stated.
Paltongan witnessed the positive impact CSR activities provided their beneficiaries. Some SPI customers have also joined the company in its cause, and Paltongan still encourages more people to help through various initiatives.
“Whatever blessings we have in life, there is always a way to share them. Life is not just about ourselves, but also about being able to make a difference for other people. So, while we live securely in the Suntrust projects, in our condominiums, in our subdivisions, [instead of] just thinking only of things for our family, for ourselves, there are ways like this where they can help.”
