Corporate Advocacy | Sterling Bank of Asia

Corporate Advocacy

We make sure that we make a difference in the communities we are in. Find out how we reach out.

Corporate Advocacy

Sterling Bank of Asia Gives Light This 2020

Corporate Advocacy

Sterling Bank of Asia extends help to victims of Taal

Build the light. Be the light.

Sterling Bank of Asia, in partnership with Liter of Light, engages in a new Corporate Social Responsibility program with a shared objective of giving access to sustainable energy to underprivileged communities.

Making this world brighter, one bottle at a time.

Sterling Bank of Asia signed a memorandum of agreement with My Shelter Foundation’s Isang Litrong Liwanag (A Liter of Light) -- a global movement that provides sustainable solar bottle bulb to underprivileged communities nationwide.

This initiative falls under the bank’s Kind Heart Gives Campaign, an annual CSR activity that allows every employee an opportunity to share and give back to the community.

“Since last year, we’ve been looking for a partner who promotes renewable energy that extends it to the grassroots level,” said Ma. Dulce Edillor, SBA’s First Vice President and HR Group Head. "Isang Litrong Liwanag provides affordable, sustainable solar lights to people with limited or no access to electricity" Edillor added.

This year’s Kind Heart Gives tagged as "Give Light on Christmas Day" is divided into two phases, the first phase is where Sterling Bank volunteers built solar lamps through a workshop conducted by Liter of Light founder, Mr. Illac Diaz.

The second phase of the partnership will take in 2020, where SBA employees will turn over the solar lamps to 120 families in its selected community on Angat Dam, Norzagaray Bulacan.

During the workshop, Diaz further stressed how the activity provides clean energy and how the technology is so simple and sustainable at the same time. He mentioned how brands, like Sterling Bank, plays a big role in reaching a wider market through its CSR program.

Isang Litrong Liwanag

"This type of endeavor certainly promotes awareness among Sterling Bank employees how an ounce of their time can go a long way in helping the lives of the less privileged", Mr. Dan Guevarra, SBA’s Vice President and Center for Learning Head."

Meanwhile, SBA’s Vice President and Compensation and Benefits Head Arlene Siongco is ecstatic on the immediate sense of accomplishment in building the solar bottle. “It's rewarding when you get to see the solar bottle light up and to know for a fact that it will help brighten someone’s home for the next five years,” Siongco added.

It was founded in 2011 and installed more than 350,000 bottle lights in more than 15 countries. It is also recognized by an international organization like the United Nations and adopted for use in some UNHCR camps. A proud recipient of the 2016 St. Andrew Prize for the Environment, the 2015 Zayed Future Energy Prize and 2014 – 2015 winner of the World Habitat Award.