Stories of inspiration

PSFI and MBFI Launched ‘Roots to Shoots: Pasacao 2.0’ to Scale Up Local Health and Nutrition in Camarines Sur  

PSFI and MBFI Launched 'Roots to Shoots: Pasacao 2.0' to Scale Up Local Health and Nutrition in Camarines Sur

On January 17, 2024, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) and Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI) officially sealed their commitment with the Municipality of Pasacao to launch the ‘Roots to Shoots: Pasacao 2.0’ program.   

 

Local partners graced the event with the participation of Pasacao Local Government Unit officials and personnel led by Mayor Jorge Bengua and Vice Mayor Maryol Tayco. Also in attendance were Pilipinas Shell Foundation’s Director for Programs, Sherwin Yap, and Senior Program Manager on Nutrition and Food Security, Maria Pamela Castro; Shell Pilipinas Corporation’s (SPC) Pasacao Terminal Operations Supervisor, Rone Mark Narciso; MBFI’s President Aniceto Sobrepeña, Executive Vice President Philip Dy, and Grants and Partnerships Unit Head Marievic Mariano; Manila Water Foundation’s (MWF) Program Manager – Integrated WASH, Blessille Par; and World Vision Development Foundation’s (WVDF) Corporate Engagement Officer, Rafael Quimel. The multi-sectoral effort responds to the critical issue of malnutrition affecting children under the age of 5, particularly during their first 1,000 days (about 2.5 years). 

 

PSFI Director for Programs Sherwin Yap emphasized the crucial importance of the first 1,000 days in a child’s development, which impact extends to the nation’s prosperity. This prompted PSFI to collaborate with experts to create a strong program that gave birth to Roots to Shoots.   

 

Aligned with a shared vision, the partnership will adopt a holistic, community-based approach, integrating food security and livelihood (FSL), mother and child care (MCC) and nutrition, and water access, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). These components aim to improve food security and water and sanitation access, promote good hygiene practices, and elevate the nutrition status of caregivers and their children.  

 

MBFI President Aniceto Sobrepeña highlighted that in the Foundation’s 45th Anniversary this year, ‘Roots to Shoots: Pasacao 2.0’ is one of its flagship programs in Grants and the significance of the partnership as MBFI’s grants programming transitions to integrated, holistic, and multi-sectoral approach. He also added that with the program’s impact and successful results from previous implementations of ‘Roots to Shoots’, it only proves that the endeavor is worth the investment for a scalable program.  

 

Barangay Sta. Rosa del Sur, grappling with a high prevalence of severe stunting and underweight children, becomes the focus of ‘Roots to Shoots: Pasacao 2.0.’ Building on the success of its pilot implementation, the expansion program aims to create conditions for the next generation to thrive and contribute positively to society. PSFI, in collaboration with WVDF and the MWF, will lead the implementation, while MBFI will provide support and funding.   

 

The previous ‘Roots to Shoots’ implementation from 2019 to 2022 in Pasacao, Camarines Sur resulted in reduced incidences of stunting by 10.57%, wasting by 5.39%, and the number of underweight children by 6.91%. The new partnership aspires not only to address immediate health and nutrition challenges but to lay the foundation for a healthier and more resilient future for the community of Pasacao.   

 

#PadagosRTSPasacao2.0 #PilipinasShellFoundation #FilipinoForward

Related stories:

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.

Empowering First Responders: PSFI’s RESCUE Program Trains 73 Batangas Volunteers in Life-Saving Skills

To strengthen community resilience in times of crisis, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. trained 73 volunteers from TALIM communities in Batangas through its Response to Community Under Emergency (RESCUE) Program. The Basic Life Support and First Aid Training equipped participants with practical life-saving skills such as bandaging, splinting, and rescue transfer methods. Since 2001, the RESCUE Program has empowered over 9,600 individuals in Batangas to serve as local first responders, reinforcing PSFI’s mission of sama-samang pagtulong, sabay-sabay na pagsulong toward safer, more prepared communities.