Stories of inspiration

PSFI’s Roots to Shoots Wins Most Outstanding CSR Collaboration Project at 2025 LCF CSR Guild Awards; IFBS Program Named Finalist in Enterprise Development

Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) was recognized at the 2025 League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) CSR Guild Awards for two of its flagship programs. Roots to Shoots was awarded Most Outstanding CSR Project in Collaboration, while the Integrated Farming Bio-System (IFBS) Training Program was honored as a finalist in Outstanding CSR Project in Enterprise Development. These distinctions reflect PSFI’s ongoing commitment to delivering inclusive, community-driven solutions that create long-term, sustainable impact across health, livelihood, and development sectors.

Roots to Shoots: Collaboration That Creates Ripples of Change

After being submitted for the third time, Roots to Shoots finally received the highest honor in the collaboration category. This recognition affirms the program’s deep and measurable impact through strong partnerships and meaningful community engagement.

In her acceptance speech, Pam Castro, Program Manager of Roots to Shoots, highlighted what the award truly represents:

“This award is not just our achievement. It reflects the collective effort of our partners, the communities we work with, and our shared agenda to bring about continuous sustainable change.”

She extended her gratitude to PSFI’s partners, including Metrobank Foundation (funding partner), Manila Water Foundation (delivery partner), Bloomberry Cultural Foundation, Inc., Clark Development Corporation, World Vision Development Foundation, National Commission on Indigenous People, and the local government units of Camarines Sur, Pampanga, and Tarlac.

Launched in 2021, Roots to Shoots addresses malnutrition and poverty through a convergence approach that integrates Maternal and Child Health, Food Security and Livelihood, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH). Its interventions target the crucial first 1,000 days of a child’s life while strengthening household resilience through livelihood and nutrition support.

RTS 2024 Milestones:

  • 35 children achieved normal weight or gained at least 900 grams
  • 197 caregivers completed Go Baby Go parenting sessions
  • 86 pregnant mothers received First 1,000 Days seminars and Buntis Kits
  • 222 caregivers completed home gardening training
  • 95 home gardens established, producing over 3,443 kilograms of vegetables
  • 286 farmers trained under IFBS and received farm inputs
  • Two static water tanks installed in Bamban
  • Construction of one deep well facility commenced in Sitio Burog, San Vicente
  • Formation of a WASH group to sustain sanitation infrastructure

Castro emphasized that Roots to Shoots is more than a program. It is a model of inclusive, community-led action.

“This also demonstrates inclusiveness in nutrition, as it ensures equitable access and culturally sensitive approaches to solving malnutrition.”  She concluded with PSFI’s rallying call: “Sama-samang pagtulong, sabay-sabay na pagsulong.”

IFBS: Empowering Farmers and Growing Enterprises

Recognized as a finalist for Outstanding CSR Project in Enterprise Development, PSFI’s Integrated Farming Bio-System (IFBS) Training Program equips smallholder farmers with practical, systems-based skills in sustainable agriculture.

Conducted at the Shell Training Farm in Bombon, Camarines Sur, the program promotes agro-entrepreneurship, soil and waste management, crop and animal production, and inclusive leadership. It also places emphasis on empowering women and Indigenous Peoples to lead agri-enterprises in their communities.

IFBS 2024 Highlights:

  • 1,432 farmers trained in climate-smart, sustainable agriculture
  • ₱4.73 million in additional income generated by farmer groups
  • 48.27 hectares of land revitalized
  • Creation of community enterprises such as LAWPA (a women-led swine group), S-TIPFA (an Indigenous vegetable farm), and PHVCPA (integrated crop-livestock model)
By aligning with national policies and fostering local ownership, IFBS continues to help rural communities build long-term economic resilience.

A Testament to Convergence and Community Leadership

PSFI’s recognition at the 2025 LCF CSR Guild Awards is more than a celebration of program success. It is a reflection of what is possible when the government, private sector, and communities work together for inclusive and sustainable development. From improving child nutrition to scaling agri-enterprises, PSFI continues to create ripples of change by turning shared values into collective action.

Related stories:

BCFI and PSFI Celebrate 99 Caregiver Graduates, Opening Pathways to Employment and Transformation

BCFI and PSFI recently celebrated the graduation of 99 caregiver scholars under the MetamorphoCare 2025 program, held at Eastwood Richmonde Hotel in Quezon City. The ceremony highlighted powerful stories of second chances, from working mothers and sidewalk vendors to determined breadwinners who turned challenges into opportunities through education and skills training.

Through the Technical Vocational Caregiving Scholarship Program, part of a five–year partnership between BCFI and PSFI, scholars are equipped with NC II certification, career readiness, and direct access to employment opportunities through career talks and a linkages fair with hiring partners. Beyond certificates, the graduates carry renewed dignity, hope, and purpose as they step into their roles as caregivers, ready to uplift their families and serve communities with compassion.

Anchored by Love: The Story of Bong Fernan Tumanda

For years, former seafarer Bong Fernan Tumanda crossed oceans to provide for his family, spending more time at sea than at home. When the pandemic hit and his wife was pregnant, he chose to come home for good and start over through PSFI’s SKIL program in Electrical Installation and Maintenance. Today, Bong works close to his family, helps grow their small business, and treasures simple moments with his children, proving that with courage, faith, and the right support, a father’s love can chart a new course home.

From Sea Waste to Showcase: Candy’s Journey of Creativity and Purpose

In the coastal community of Bagong Silang, Puerto Princesa, Candelaria “Candy” Germata found beauty in discarded plastics and turned them into purpose. Through her enterprise, Candy’s Eco-Friendly Recycled Plastic Bottles, she transforms marine litter into colorful pots and home décor that inspire sustainable living. With guidance from Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) and Shell Pilipinas Corporation through the Shell LiveWIRE Program, Candy gained the confidence and skills to grow her small business and prove that creativity and care for the environment can change lives.

Stronger Together: PSFI and Shell Pilipinas Corporation Celebrate Culmination Day Honoring Stories of Growth and Resilience in Palawan

Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) and Shell Pilipinas Corporation (SPC) celebrated the 2025 Culmination Day of the Palawan Social Development Program, highlighting inspiring stories of growth and resilience among local communities. The event honored the achievements of community enterprises under Shell LiveWIRE and strengthened disaster preparedness through the RESCUE Program, reflecting PSFI’s ongoing commitment to empower lives and build sustainable, resilient communities in Palawan.

Guided by Service, Grounded in Hope: The Story of Captain Cesar Rellos, Jr.

In Barangay 1, Bacolod City, Captain Cesar Rellos leads with compassion and purpose. Through his partnership with Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), his community has embraced programs that open doors to livelihood, education, and preparedness. From the SKIL training for out-of-school youth to the RESCUE program’s bucket brigade drills with the Bureau of Fire Protection, he continues to inspire collective action and bayanihan. PSFI celebrates leaders like Captain Cesar—partners in progress who help build stronger, more resilient, and more hopeful communities across the country.