Lockton Legacy Awards

Christmas happens in a few days and along with that anticipated holiday break comes some downtime for reflecting over the year that was. In business, that winding down is considered a great time for re-strategizing and planning how one’s organization can be strengthened and become more agile for the challenges ahead.

Among the issues that I’ve consistently written about is the ecological crisis that is not only a hot topic amongst scientists, members of academe, and media but also among businessmen and industry leaders. The apocalypse that will be brought about by climate change has begun – pollution, rising seas, more distractive typhoons, droughts, and heat waves. 

This year, a child has stirred us to reopen our eyes to the growing travails of climate change. Sixteen-year-old Greta Thunberg has become the symbol for a global movement that aims to spur political and business leaders to seek immediate and radical solutions to the climate crisis. 

Here in the Philippines, I am heartened by the fact that there is a growing army of young people who share the same vision and  dreams as Thunberg. Lockton Philippines has just concluded the first half of the 1st Lockton Philippines Legacy Awards, a first of its kind college-based action research contest on environmental risk management. In this contest, participants pitch solutions on how a particular community in their respective areas of concern can alleviate their pressing environmental concerns. 

Five winning teams have been selected as the pioneering batch of awardees. There was a total of 36 participating schools and with 48 action research proposals. The action research is just the first part of this unique contest as the second half consists of a Student Partner Program where a participating company may fund and support the proposals. This is a great opportunity for a business establishment or corporation seeking meaningful CSR activity to adopt one of the student proposals and contribute to an important, long-lasting initiative. 

The board of judges was composed of distinguished members of academe and seasoned leaders and influencers from the fields of education, media, and environmental advocacy. The members of the board of judges were the following: Lockton board chairman Elfren Cruz, advertising trailblazer Emily Abrera; journalist and columnist Rina Jimenez-David; environmental leader Anna Oposa; Dr. Socorro Aguja, vice dean, Graduate School at De La Salle University-Araneta; education consultant Dr. Fe Hidalgo; and PUP professor Dr. Libertad Garcia.  Judging was tough, arguments and discussion were intense, but in the end, the result was a truly deserving list of winners.

Environmental risk management is always a win-win situation not just for businesses but for its surrounding communities as well. Hopefully the 1st Lockton Philippines Legacy Awards would become a platform for increased long-term sustainability through the engagement of our partner companies looking for CSR programs and the participating young student researchers in the contest.

The next step is to look for corporations and local government units that are willing to adopt at least one of the action research papers and implement it as their CSR project. 

Congratulations to all the winners of the 1st Lockton Legacy Awards. 

Overall grand prize winner University of Southern Philippines Foundation

“IbasuraIT: Online Monitoring and Tracking Solution of Smart Solid Waste Containers”

Members: Quade Preisselle C. Arcaya; Jhon Diode O. Catulpos; and John Nick Viduya

Advisor: Boi Archievald A. Ranay

2nd place, Luzon – De La Salle University, Manila

“PH Transportation and Mobility Sector Environmental Action Research through TAS Trans Corporation”

Members: Hans Gabriel C. Cochango; Eman-Reza Kazemi; Joseph R. Laurel; Anne Margarette V. Ong; and Peter P. Padre

Adviser: Patrick Hariramani

2nd place, Visayas – Cebu Normal University

“Women Empowerment, Waste Management, and Livelihood Building Capacity of the Community through Vermicomposting”

Members: Renz John Bryan Espinosa; Tyra Lee Ibale; and Dean James Duran 

Adviser: Dr. Jennifer D. Paño

2nd place, Mindanao entry – Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan

“Promotion of Sustainable Adoption of Agricultural Technologies (Black Soldier Fly and Self-Circulating Hydroponics) to Students of Balulang Elementary School Cagayan de Oro City”

Members: Aliyah Cabilin; Kent Anthony Delgado; Vhone Fulgarinas;  April Gador; Brix Mexy Palmes; Jade Tagotongan

Adviser: Mr. Floro Dalapag

Best Research on Risk Management Efforts for Marine Conservation

Bataan Peninsula State University

“Revive the River: Integration of Civic Engagement and Nature-Based Solutions for the Improvement of Sibacan River, Balanga, Bataan”

Members: Roxanne D. Lacson; Mark Jhon Paul M. Muit; Jefferson S. Ongoco; and Jessa Mae G. Panes

Adviser: Engr. Gil G. Cruz Jr. 

Best Research on Risk Management Efforts for an Indigenous Community and the Environment 

Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP), Quezon City

“An Impact Study of Building an Effective and Sustainable Community Capacity: Two Decades of Outreach Service to the Dumagat Tribe and Ipo Dam”

Members: Frinces Rizza B. Cornejo; Rica Jonell A. Millet; Rachel Denise S.

Perez; Daphne S. Riazmin; Frances O. Sotto

Adviser: Engr. Romalyn L. Galingan

Best Research on Risk Management Efforts for High Impact (United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals) 

Saint Louis University

“Rapid Composting of Urban Bio-waste and Its Application in Restoring Contaminated Soil from Mining Sites”

Members: Ken Norren Bandiola; Richard Zachary Co; Aldrin Benedict Mejia; Eugene Patrick Rabanes; and  Richert Evan Tan

Adviser: Engr. Marcelino Lunag, Jr. 

A Lockton team will visit the winning schools to personally present the check to the winners starting January 6, 2020. For more details, check the Lockton Philippines Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LocktonPhilippinesLegacyAwards/. Vic Valledor, Lockton President and CEO, promised a much bigger Lockton Legacy Awards contest next year. 

Creative Writing Classes for Kids and Teens

Young Writers’ Hangout on December 7 with Gail Villanueva & December 14 with Rin Chupeco (1:30 pm-3pm; stand-alone sessions) at Fully Booked BGC. For details and registration, email [email protected].

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Email: [email protected]