Story by John Laurence L. Teologo, Communications Officer
Purpose does not always begin with a grand plan. Sometimes, it starts with a simple decision: to serve, to stay, and to keep believing that meaningful work can improve people’s lives.
For 44 years, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) has been shaped by people who made these decisions. Behind every scholarship, growing enterprise, and empowered community are team members who believe that development is not simply about implementing programs. It is about working alongside communities and helping them build the knowledge and capabilities to move forward.
One of them is Joshua Israel Banog, known to his colleagues as Ryle, Program Coordinator for Shell-Funded Programs at PSFI. His journey reflects what it means to be Driven by Purpose. Powered by People.
Finding a shared purpose
When Ryle joined PSFI nearly two years ago, it was more than another career move. It was a decision grounded in values he had carried long before becoming part of the Foundation.
Having worked closely with farmers, fisherfolk, laborers, and transport workers, he had witnessed the challenges faced by grassroots communities. He had also seen their determination to improve their lives when given the right opportunities and support.
Ryle recognized that corporate resources, when guided by a genuine understanding of communities, could reach more people and help create sustainable impact.
Pwede ko naman itong gawin kahit saan. Pero bakit dito? Kasi pareho kami ng pinaniniwalaan. Tugma ang values ng PSFI sa values ko. Dito, alam kong makakatulong akong palaguin hindi lang ang organisasyon kundi pati ang mga komunidad.
This shared purpose led him to contribute to programs such as Shell LiveWIRE, PUNLA, Shell ACTS, Disaster Resilience, and Re-Shell. While each program responds to different needs, they share a commitment to building the confidence, capabilities, and opportunities of communities.
Seeing lessons come to life
Before assuming his current role, Ryle served as a program officer for Shell LiveWIRE, working closely with aspiring entrepreneurs who began with little more than an idea and the courage to try.
He saw them develop their products, strengthen their businesses, and become more confident as entrepreneurs. Today, many are earning more consistently, supporting their families, and creating opportunities for others in their communities.
For Ryle, their progress shows that the lessons shared through the program continue long after a training session ends.
Kapag nakikita kong nagsimula pa lamang sila tapos ngayon mas marami na silang naibebenta at nakakatulong na sila sa pamilya nila, doon ko nakikita na buhay ang mga tinuturo namin.
Every enterprise represents more than sales or income.
A growing food business can help provide regular meals for a family. A stable livelihood can help parents pay household expenses and keep their children in school. An entrepreneur who once needed guidance can eventually become a source of support for others.
These stories remind Ryle that communities do not simply need assistance. They need opportunities, trust, and people who are willing to believe in their potential.
Putting people at the center
For Ryle, development is never only about projects, processes, or targets. Behind every activity and decision are people whose experiences and needs must be understood.
Sa kabilang panig ng bawat proseso, tao rin ang nandoon. Kaya dapat laging may dignidad, malasakit, at pag-unawa sa tunay na pangangailangan ng komunidad.
His journey at PSFI has taken him across different programs, from livelihood and education to disaster resilience and sustainability. Each transition has widened his perspective and reinforced the importance of continuous learning and collaboration.
It has also shown him that communities cannot be reduced to figures in reports. Every result represents a person, a family, or a community working toward a better future.
Returning to his “why”
What keeps Ryle at PSFI is not the comfort of familiarity. It is the belief that there is still more work to do and more that he can contribute.
“Hindi pa tapos ang trabaho. At kahit hindi man ito matapos sa kasalukuyan, alam kong marami pa akong maiaambag.”
Like anyone engaged in demanding work, Ryle experiences days when deadlines pile up and responsibilities feel overwhelming. During those moments, he returns to the reason he chose this path.
Minsan kailangan kong bumalik sa dahilan kung bakit ko ito sinimulan. Kapag nalulunod ka na sa trabaho, ang ‘why’ mo ang magbabalik sa’yo sa tamang direksyon.
For Ryle, that “why” is found in the people whose lives have changed through the programs he has helped implement. It can be seen in entrepreneurs who are now providing more confidently for their families and in communities that have gained the skills to shape their own development.
Empowerment beyond assistance
One of PSFI’s greatest strengths, Ryle believes, is its commitment to go beyond simply providing assistance. Its programs aim to share the knowledge, skills, and opportunities that communities can continue building on.
“Hindi tayo nagse-settle sa pagbibigay lang. Ang ibinabahagi natin ay kaalaman at kakayahan para umusad ang bawat Pilipino.”
This approach can be seen in every entrepreneur supported through Shell LiveWIRE, every learner introduced to new opportunities through education, and every community strengthened through disaster resilience and sustainability initiatives.
It is also reflected in beneficiaries who eventually become mentors, employers, community leaders, and changemakers themselves.
Carrying the purpose forward
After 44 years, PSFI’s legacy is not measured only by the programs it has implemented or the number of people it has reached. It can also be seen in the people who continue carrying its purpose forward.
They are the team members who choose to serve, the partners who continue to collaborate, and the communities that transform opportunities into lasting progress.
As PSFI celebrates its 44th anniversary, Ryle hopes the Foundation will continue expanding what corporate social responsibility can accomplish. This means responding to present needs while helping Filipino communities prepare for future challenges and opportunities.
