Anchel Cruz (2nd from left) and her colleagues at the San Lorenzo Ruiz Home for the ElderlyThe quintuple bottom line framework to sustainable development consists of people, planet, profit, economic contribution and ethics. Anchel Cruz of First Balfour Inc. provides a “people” perspective to the effort.

Cruz shares her experience at NAPA Day Care Center, a school chosen by First Balfour under its Rehabilitate a School project. Even before they reached the site, they were already greeted by the parents expressing their thanks for the renovation of the school of their children.

“At that moment I knew that what we were going to do would be worth it,” Cruz says.

She was also at Francisco Legaspi Memorial School in Pasig, where she served as a teacher for a day when First Balfour donated a Knowledge Channel learning package.

“I studied the study module to prepare for the volunteering tasks. But because I am a mother, I could also use the module with my kids,” she notes.

What Cruz wants to do and what First Balfour is doing are fully aligned.

“Those are good causes supported by my company. As an employee, I am able to assist my company in its program to help the present and the future generations. On a personal level, my volunteering has made me feel like a good citizen who has a responsibility to the community. The experience taught me to have more patience with my children,” Cruz says. (Story/photos by Dario Pagcaliwagan)