Stories of inspiration

43 Years of Transforming Lives: PSFI Stands with Communities in Crisis

For 43 years, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) has been more than a partner in progress. It has been a steady hand in times of crisis. This August, we honor the Natibker spirit of the communities we serve. In Ilocano, Natibker means strong, unyielding, and steadfast in the face of challenges. It is the spirit that fuels resilience and recovery, and the partnerships that make them possible.

In July 2025, Typhoon Emong tore through La Union, leaving over 71,000 families reeling. Floodwaters swallowed homes, power lines collapsed, and more than PHP 1 billion in agriculture and infrastructure was lost. For many, the nights were long, dark, and uncertain.

PSFI, together with Shell Pilipinas Corporation, and local barangay leaders, acted without hesitation. From July 25 to August 1, we reached 202 displaced families in Barangays Poro, San Agustin, Canaoay, and Catbangen, bringing more than just supplies, but hope.

We provided:

  • Supplementary meals for over 1,000 evacuees in three shelters
  • Gallons of safe drinking water in containers
  • Basic hygiene kits to protect health in overcrowded spaces

Our teams braved flooded roads and long queues to secure provisions. In the shelters, we listened to urgent needs such as sleeping mats and high calcium milk for elderly evacuees and blankets for families sleeping on bare floors, and responded the same day.

During that time, Shell Poro Terminal opened its remaining power supply to the community, allowing families to charge their phones, reach loved ones from afar, and stay informed with vital emergency updates.

On July 31,  230 cleaning packs and 230 gallons of mineral water were distributed to evacuation sites and the Shell Poro Terminal. Even Shell staff and security guards impacted by the storm received rice and water to support their recovery.

This is the heart of PSFI’s mission: no community left behind. We work shoulder to shoulder with local leaders and volunteers, turning compassion into action, and action into lasting hope.

As we celebrate 43 years, we carry forward the same commitment that has guided us since day one, to stand with the Filipino people in every challenge, every rebuilding, and every triumph. This is what it means to be Natibker.

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Nourishing Communities, Strengthening Networks: Nutrition Month with a Cross-Program Collaboration

PSFI marked the second year of its Roots to Shoots initiative with a vibrant Nutrition Month celebration on July 29, 2025, at the Clark Training Center in Pampanga. The event gathered communities, partners, and local government units for a day of learning, contests, and shared meals, all under the theme “Masustansiyang Pagkain para sa Pamilyang Pinoy, Ating Ihain.”

Highlights included a cooking competition, nutri-costume parade, and quiz bee, alongside sessions on nutrition as a fundamental right. The celebration also showcased the program’s integrated approach, combining WASH, Mother and Child Care, and Food Security and Livelihood to address food and nutrition insecurity.

With strong participation from families, teachers, and community leaders, the day reflected the shared commitment to building healthier, more resilient communities.

43 Years of Transforming Lives: Ezra Lyn Valenzuela’s Journey with PSFI SKIL

Ezra Lyn Valenzuela, a young mother from Cagayan de Oro, joined PSFI’s SKIL Program in 2024 to build a better life for her daughter.

With Housekeeping NCII training and support from Shell Pilipinas Corporation’s North Mindanao Import Facility, she found work in Greece and now provides for her family.

Ezra’s journey reflects 43 years of PSFI empowering Filipinos through skills, hope, and opportunity.

Cultivating Change: AgrElevate Equips Leyte’s Agricultural Communities with Capital and Leadership Skills

In Leyte, farmers and fisherfolk are stepping up as community leaders through the AgrElevate Program by Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), supported by BPI Foundation. The program equips local groups with capital, training, and leadership skills to build sustainable businesses rooted in their communities.

Through financial literacy sessions, enterprise development workshops, and leadership training, beneficiaries are now implementing business plans tailored to their local resources and needs. Six community-designed livelihood projects have received capital support, ranging from oyster culture to rice harvest processing.

AgrElevate is fostering a new generation of community-based entrepreneurs—empowered, equipped, and ready to lead local development.

Growing Green Together: PSFI and Partners Nurture Hope at La Mesa Ecopark

As part of CSR Week 2025, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), through its Shell ACTS (A Community That Serves) program, joined fellow League of Corporate Foundation (LCF) members in a tree nurturing and seed bagging activity at La Mesa Ecopark. The initiative highlighted the power of collective action in preserving one of Metro Manila’s last remaining forests and reaffirmed each organization’s commitment to environmental stewardship and a low-carbon future.

Pagbabago ng Agos ng Buhay ni Christian: How the SKIL Program Shaped His Future

Christian, a 31-year-old fisherman from Malitam, Batangas, is now training in Automotive Servicing through the SKIL program of PSFI. With the support of Shell Pilipinas Corporation and Shell Import Facility Tabangao, he is gaining new skills to build a more secure future for his family. His story is one of resilience, sacrifice, and the unwavering hope of a father determined to turn his life around.

Tools for Tomorrow: SKIL Scholars Receive EIM Toolkits in Iloilo City

On July 15, 2025, ten SKIL scholars in Iloilo City took a significant step toward a brighter future as they received their Electrical Installation and Maintenance (EIM) toolkits through a ceremonial turnover at the Technical Institute of Iloilo City – Molo Campus.

Through the collaboration of Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), the City Government of Iloilo, PESO Iloilo City, and TIIC, this initiative equips young Filipinos with the tools they need to succeed in the technical field. More than just a handover, the event was a celebration of support, belief, and community—a testament to how public-private partnerships can help shape the country’s future workforce.

Each toolkit, complete with essential instruments for practical training, reinforces PSFI’s commitment to nurturing skilled professionals and creating inclusive opportunities for Filipino youth.