ABOUT THE COVER

Highlights of Unity

In the face of the worldwide pandemic, the significance of the Filipino’s long-standing spirit of bayanihan has never been more important. Ayala has had an extensive history of championing the call to unify our nation. In this time of great need, our drive to respond meaningfully with a united front has grown only stronger. In the cover, Ayala’s Project Pananagutan is seen in action where the employees of the group donated ₱149 million to distribute food to urban poor residents most impacted by the health crisis. Highlighted is the very act of humanity as we emphasize the impact that deeds of compassion and solidarity can create in these trying times. Combined with Ayala’s other projects, the group’s total contributions to anti-COVID initiatives have reached ₱13.2 billion for 2020.

While the pandemic exposed inadequacies in our healthcare system, it also showcased the sublime courage, skill and resourcefulness of our frontliners. Yes, the pandemic led to social dislocation as mobility restrictions cleared our highways of traffic and our malls from meet-ups. Yet technology and digital infrastructure ramped up to power industries, to multiply connections and dialogue by cutting travel time from one meeting to the next. And, for many, working from home restored connections with families we had previously seen less often than our workmates. Yes, the pandemic led to the worst economic contraction recorded in many parts of the world. In the Philippines, our economy declined by -9.5 percent. Yet the pandemic also showcased the best of our bayanihan spirit helping those who were challenged to help themselves“

Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala
Chairman and CEO