Stories of inspiration

Neighbors for Nature: PSFI and SPC Join Puerto Princesa to Restore Balance at the 40th International Coastal Cleanup

October 9, 2025

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY | September 20, 2025

When hundreds of citizens came together at the Puerto Princesa Baywalk for the 40th International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), the air was filled with both urgency and hope. With the theme “Clean Seas Against the Climate Crisis: Tayo ang Solusyon,” the day was more than just about picking up litter. It was about people rising as one to protect the place they call home.

Students, employees, government agencies, private organizations, and local residents showed up in force. Among them were representatives of Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), Ms. Cheilo Padilla and Mr. Edong Magpayo, together with Shell Pilipinas Corporation (SPC), led by Puerto Princesa Terminal Manager Mr. Chester Rey.

Volunteers not only collected waste along the Baywalk but also took part in a symbolic act during the 17th Save the Puerto Princesa Bays celebration. They threw “MudBalls” into the bay, eco-friendly spheres that help restore balance by reducing water pollutants and foul odors. It was a small yet meaningful gesture of healing the waters.

Beyond the Baywalk, PSFI and SPC teams rolled up their sleeves at the back entrance of the Shell Terminal in Barangay Bagong Silang. In a matter of hours, they filled two sacks with garbage, mostly single-use plastics. The piles of collected waste served as a reminder of the ongoing challenge to reduce plastic use at the source.

At a time when coastal communities face the brunt of the climate crisis, initiatives like these remind us that action cannot wait. Every bottle collected, every piece of plastic removed, and every MudBall thrown marks a step toward resilience.

As the social arm of Shell companies in the Philippines, PSFI believes that being a good neighbor means standing shoulder to shoulder with communities in the shared work of environmental stewardship. It is not just about fueling lives with energy. It is about ensuring that those lives can flourish in safe, sustainable, and thriving environments.

By working together, citizen by citizen and neighbor by neighbor, change begins with awareness, grows through collective effort, and endures through partnership.

Through its continued presence in local initiatives, PSFI reaffirms that community thrives when people care not only for one another but also for the environment that sustains them. On that September morning in Puerto Princesa, hope floated not just in the waters of the bay but in the hands of every volunteer determined to clean, restore, and protect it

Once a PSFI scholar, Louise Victoria Zaide has come full circle as a Program Excellence Officer who helps preserve the lessons, stories, and knowledge behind the Foundation’s work. Through her quiet but meaningful contributions, she reminds us that lasting change is built not only in communities, but also through the people and systems that help every opportunity grow into greater impact.

The Opportunity That Changed Everything: How Cheilo Padilla Found Her Calling in Helping Others Thrive

From rebuilding her life as a single mother to helping scholars, entrepreneurs, and communities in Palawan pursue better futures, Cheilo Padilla’s journey reflects the transformative power of opportunity. As PSFI celebrates 44 years of service, her story reminds us that meaningful change touches not only the people we serve, but also those who dedicate themselves to making it possible.

EJ’s Calling to Serve: A Life Dedicated to Community Empowerment

Driven by a passion for working with communities, EJ San Jose finds purpose in helping families strengthen their livelihoods, improve food security, and recognize new possibilities for their future. Through every home visit, training session, and conversation, he builds the trust that turns opportunities into meaningful and lasting change. As PSFI celebrates its 44th anniversary, EJ’s story reflects how its mission continues to move forward through people who choose to listen, serve, and empower others.

Where Bayanihan Lives: Maezel Cardel and a Community That Chose Hope

As PSFI celebrates its 44th anniversary, Maezel Cardel’s journey reflects the spirit of “Driven by Purpose. Powered by People.” From earning the affectionate nickname “Mae-Shell” to inspiring communities to take ownership of change, her story shows how trust, collaboration, and bayanihan can transform a shared purpose into lasting impact.

Growing Food, Growing Futures: Roots to Shoots Pasacao 2.0 Helps Caregivers Build Healthier, More Resilient Families

Through the Roots to Shoots Pasacao 2.0 Program, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc., with the support of Metrobank Foundation, Inc., is empowering child caregivers in Pasacao with practical skills in home gardening and financial management, helping families improve nutrition, strengthen livelihoods, and build more resilient communities.

Mula sa Maliit na Tindahan Patungo sa Mas Matatag na Kinabukasan: Ang Kwento ni Alma Cajan

Sa pamamagitan ng Roots to Shoots (RTS) Pasacao 2.0 Program, na ipinatutupad ng Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. sa suporta ng Metrobank Foundation, Inc., unti-unting nababago ang buhay ni Alma Cajan. Mula sa masustansyang pagkain para sa kanyang anak hanggang sa pagpapalago ng kanilang sari-sari store, ipinapakita ng kanyang kuwento kung paano ang kaalaman at oportunidad ay maaaring magbukas ng daan tungo sa mas matatag na kinabukasan.

Stories of inspiration

Neighbors for Nature: PSFI and SPC Join Puerto Princesa to Restore Balance at the 40th International Coastal Cleanup

Related stories:

The Stories Behind the Numbers: How Louise turns knowledge and learning into lasting impact at PSFI