2019 Bags of Blessing: A Tradition of Giving Back during Chinese New Year

Written by Laarnie Luna on February 6, 2019. Posted in GT Foundation, Media, News, Press Release

GT Foundation, Inc. (GTFI) and Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI) celebrate the Chinese New Year through the kick-off of “Bags of Blessing”, a week-long distribution of P10 million worth of food packages to 10,000 families, on February 5 at San Agustin Church in Intramuros Manila City. Shown in the photo are Metrobank chairman Arthur Ty (3rd from left); Federal Land chairman and GTFI president Alfred Ty (2nd from right); GT Foundation vice president Anjanette Dy Buncio (leftmost); GT Foundation assistant vice president Alesandra Ty (2nd from right), Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto Sobrepeña (rightmost) and the beneficiaries of the program.

GT Foundation, Inc. (GTFI) and Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI) kicked off this year’s “Bags of Blessing”, a week-long distribution of P10 million worth of food packages to 10,000 families, on February 5 at San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila. Simultaneous distributions also happened in Apalit, Pampanga; Tapuac, Dagupan City; Batangas City; Tagbiliran City, Bohol; Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; Municipality of Guiuan, Eastern Samar; General Santos City, South Cotabato; and Tandag City, Surigao del Sur.

Since its inception in 2011, the Bags of Blessing has always been envisioned by the late Metrobank Group chairman and founder Dr. George S.K. Ty as a way to reach out to underprivileged families and provide them a privilege to take part in the celebration of Chinese New Year.

Spearheaded by the Ty family foundation—GTFI, together with the MBFI, the annual Bags of Blessing carry on a tradition to share blessings with the needy and create venues to have a meaningful way of welcoming and celebrating the Chinese New Year. Companies, subsidiaries, and affiliates under the Metrobank Group and GT Capital Holdings, as well as the network of select Metrobank branches nationwide, took part in this annual undertaking.

The traditional ang-pao (a red envelope containing cash used to deliver best wishes, luck, good energy and happiness) is the inspiration. However, instead of cash-giving, specially designed red bags containing 1,000 peso worth of grocery items (snack packs, rice, canned goods, and other daily needs of the Filipino consumer) were distributed to poor families carefully selected by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), through its national network of Diocesan Action Centers. Other than belonging to the status of living below the poverty line, families affected by recent calamities, Indigenous Peoples (IPs), and non-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamliyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) were given priority.

“This Bags of Blessing gift-giving activity has served as an opportunity for our employees and partners to give back to our communities which have always been at the core of our corporate values. We are passionate in continuing the legacy that our beloved chairman Dr. George S.K. Ty has instilled in each of us” said MBFI president and GTFI executive director Aniceto Sobrepeña.

“He envisioned this project to be able to reach out to those who are marginalized who do not have much. It is heart-warming to see the effort and presence of the Ty family and the rest of the Metrobank Group in keeping this tradition alive,” Sobrepeña added.

Consistent with Metrobank’s heart for the community core value, almost 2,000 volunteers generously donated their time to repack and distribute goods in the different distribution sites. The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, in coordination with select Catholic archdioceses, served as key partners in the site implementation.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, in coordination with select Catholic archdioceses, serve as key partners in the site implementation.

Distributions for 500 families each were conducted in the succeeding days in churches located at Cubao, Quezon City; Marikina City; Imus City, Cavite; and 400 families each for, Malolos, Bulacan; Angeles, Pampanga, Vigan, Ilocos Sur; Tuguegarao, Cagayan; Calamba City, Laguna; Naga City, Camarines Sur; Tabunok, Cebu; Bacolod, Negros Occidental; General Luna, Iloilo; Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental; Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur; and Davao City, Davao del Sur.