Muntinlupa City | October 6, 2025
In a shared commitment to nurture communities and empower lives, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) and Thaison Builder and Developer Inc. (TBDI) officially sealed their partnership for the Roots to Shoots (RTS) Light: Community Nutrition and Resilience Project through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing held at the Continental Restaurant, Palms Country Club.
The partnership brings new light—both literally and figuratively—to Aeta communities in the Sacobia area of Bamban, Tarlac, and Mabalacat City, Pampanga. It focuses on improving nutrition, food security, access to clean water and energy, and sustainable livelihoods.
A Partnership Grounded in Purpose
In his opening message, PSFI Executive Director Sebastian C. Quiniones Jr. emphasized that the partnership transcends traditional boundaries between infrastructure and social development.
“Roots to Shoots focuses on nutrition, food security, and community resilience. With TBDI’s AAAA-level construction expertise, we can now scale our impact with durable, context-sensitive infrastructure—from community kitchens to food hubs and agri-processing centers,” Quiniones shared.
He added that both PSFI and TBDI share a “DNA of local empowerment.”
“Both organizations have deep roots in community engagement—TBDI through its work with LGUs and hospitals, and PSFI through decades of social investment. Together, we’re reinforcing a place-based development model where infrastructure is not just built but embedded in local ecosystems,” he explained.
A Shared Vision for Nation-Building
TBDI President Arthur Cantor expressed gratitude and optimism for the collaboration.
“I’m here today filled with excitement as we begin what we hope will be a strong and lasting partnership,” Cantor said. “PSFI has been instrumental in creating programs that uplift communities across the country, and we are honored to be part of that vision.”
He underscored that the collaboration goes beyond financial support. It is about meaningful participation in nation-building.
“This commitment goes beyond sponsorship. It’s about fueling progress, empowering communities, and building a stronger nation that thrives because we choose to work together,” he added.
Beyond their work with local government units and hospitals, TBDI has long championed infrastructure that empowers people and enhances quality of life. The company’s legacy includes building community-centered spaces, from health and education facilities to sustainable mixed-use developments, that serve as anchors for local growth. This philosophy of building with purpose mirrors PSFI’s mission to ensure that every project contributes to long-term, inclusive progress.
Cantor’s words reflected TBDI’s belief that construction is not just about erecting structures but about creating spaces that nurture life and opportunity, a vision that aligns seamlessly with PSFI’s purpose.
Lighting Pathways, Nourishing Lives
The Roots to Shoots Light Project, a six-month extension of PSFI’s flagship Roots to Shoots program, aims to combat malnutrition, food insecurity, and poverty among Aeta families through an integrated approach combining nutrition, livelihood, water, and energy access.
PSFI Senior Program Officer Michelle Calica elaborated on the project’s holistic framework.
“The goal is to reduce the prevalence of malnutrition among children, starting from the first 1,000 days of life. We’ll achieve this through an integrated approach focusing on Mother and Child Care, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), and Food Security and Livelihood (FSL),” she shared.
With TBDI’s ₱3 million funding support, the initiative will deliver tangible results for Sacobia’s Aeta communities, including:
- Monthly feeding and nutrition education for 143 children aged 3–5 years old.
- Establishment of Family Care Centers and home gardens for 200 households.
- Agricultural training and support for 100 individual farmers and five farmer groups.
- Installation of solar home kits and a community water storage tank for at least 100 households.
- Upgrading one Family Care Center to ensure safety and child-friendly spaces
From Concrete to Community
The MOA was signed by Mr. Sebastian C. Quiniones Jr., PSFI Executive Director, and Mr. Arthur Cantor, TBDI President, with Ms. Ma. Katrina Cantor, TBDI Chief Growth Officer, serving as witness.
The ceremony concluded with photo opportunities and a shared lunch that celebrated not only the partnership but also the promise it holds.
Through Roots to Shoots Light, PSFI and TBDI reaffirm their shared belief that true development is not only measured in structures built but in lives transformed—where every foundation laid helps communities grow stronger, together.
