GT Foundation celebrates decade of giving Bags of Blessing

MANILA, Philippines — GT Foundation Inc. (GTFI) and Metrobank Foundation Inc. (MBFI) virtually kicked off their sustained gift-giving tradition known as “Bags of Blessing” last Feb.1 as part of their Chinese New Year celebrations.

This Year of the Water Tiger marks over a decade of the program which has touched the lives of 98,000 families across 195 sites nationwide since 2011.

The custom endures as Bags of Blessing will assist a new batch of 10,000 families in 20 sites across the country in partnership with Caritas Philippines and the Philippine National Police, with the support of select Metrobank branches.

The priority beneficiaries chosen this year are families whose source of living and income was affected by the ongoing pandemic, victims of recent natural calamities, and members of indigenous peoples’ tribes. They will receive food packages worth P1,000 by presenting their issued vouchers in identified parishes in their localities.

The kickoff ceremony was led by Metrobank Group chairman Arthur Ty, Federal Land chairman and GTFI president Alfred Ty, GTFI honorary chair Mary Ty, GTFI vice president Anjanette Dy-Buncio, GTFI corporate secretary Alesandra Ty and MBFI president Aniceto Sobrepeña.

Joining them were Caritas Philippines national director Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, Caritas Philippines executive secretary Fr. Antonio Labiao, and Philippine National Police director for Police Community Affairs Development Group Brig. Gen. Eric Noble.

Bags of Blessing seeks to reinforce the value of continued giving despite the quarantine restrictions and downscaled festivities. “As we’re learning to live with the reality of a different normal brought by the pandemic, the need to aid the indigent becomes more urgent, and our collective capacity to care is tested,” said Alfred Ty.

Meanwhile, Sobrepeña highlighted the synergy with partner institutions that animates the program. “On our second year of conducting Bags of Blessing amid the pandemic, we aim to contribute to food security in communities hit hardest by the health emergency,” he said.

Bags of Blessing is the brainchild of the late Metrobank Group founder and chairman Dr. George Ty Siao Kian. It is inspired by the traditional exchange of ang-pao, a red packet containing cash meant to deliver best wishes, favorable fortune, and good energy. Instead of cash-giving, specially designed red bags containing P1,000 worth of food packages are distributed to indigent families.