Building blocks of time

MANILA, Philippines - From the voices and leadership of the youth springs a partnership that breaks new ground for fashion and goodwill. Swatch Philippines teams with the Habitat Youth Council to create a limited edition Habitat Watch by Swatch launched last Dec. 7 in The Gallery, Greenbelt 5.

Designed to reflect the colors of this year’s Christmas season, the silver and gold Habitat watch also symbolizes the generosity of spirit of Filipinos. With only 2,000 watches up for circulation, the Habitat Watch by Swatch hypes Christmas shopping in line with charity giving. The launch event alone has already sold 300 watches.

“It never fails to amaze me how much happiness we could generate just by buying a watch,” says Isabel Martel-Francisco, Habitat Youth Council President. “The funds produced will be used for the construction of houses during the Youth Build 2012 next year.”

The Youth Council, composed of Isabel Martel-Francisco, Kevin Yang, Pedro T. Roxas, Simon Tantoco, and co-founded and chaired by Alex Eduque, serves as a Youth Capital Campaign Cabinet that drives youth leadership role in social development. Through the leadership of the Youth Council, the youth have raised funds and led projects that help uplift the lives of Filipino families in need, provide opportunities for the youth to be actively involved and establish avenues for partnership and collaboration. The Habitat Youth program is again one of first in the country to have a youth-led Disaster Response for Relief, Rehabilitation, and Relocation.

Angelica Panganiban, Swatch owner Virgie Ramos and Derek Ramsey

Funds raised by Swatch Philippines will be used during Youth Build 2012. On May 12, 2012, Habitat for Humanity Philippines will gather 2,000 volunteers to build 200 homes in Brgy. Tanza, Navotas City. This is a part of the Asia Pacific-wide simultaneous build event in five countries — China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand.

The limited-edition Habitat Watch by Swatch is already available in all Ayala Malls Swatch outlets.

For more information visit www.habitat.org.ph or call Claire Algarme or Rose Maniano at 846-2177.