A total of 100 women from disadvantaged communities celebrated a major milestone in their journey towards financial stability and independence as they became the first batch of graduates from the livelihood program of the Globe-led Hapag Movement.

The Hapag Movement is Globe's and its partners' unified fight against involuntary hunger, aiming to provide support for 500,000 Filipinos through tech-driven channels. A crucial part of it is livelihood training, which empowers Filipinos with relevant skills that will allow them to create sustainable income sources. The training program complements the supplemental feeding program in a 12-week engagement which will be done with various communities nationwide.

In a special ceremony held recently in Quezon City, the pioneer batch was recognized by Globe, the Ayala Foundation, and partner organization Virlanie Foundation.

The graduates came from partner communities at the Manila North Cemetery, Parola, Rolling Hills, and Bagong Silangan in Quezon City. They were enrolled in various programs including beauty care, baking, food processing, rags making and sewing, and mushroom and urban gardening.

"The Hapag Movement is an important initiative for Globe, as it not only helps to address hunger in the Philippines, but it also empowers communities to be self-sufficient through key skills and training. We look forward to continuing to support our fellow Filipinos as they build a sustainable livelihood for themselves and their families," said Apple Evangelista, Head of Sustainability and Social Responsibility at Globe.

During the ceremony, the graduates showcased and sold some of their products, including macaroons, banana bread, banana muffins, chocolate chip cookies, rags, potholders, and custom-designed tote bags. They are also proud GCash users and able to conduct cashless transactions.

Beauty care graduates even volunteered to style and help each other with their makeup in preparation for the ceremony.

The program achieved several milestones, including improving product quality, reducing competition among members, adjusting prices to be more competitive, and helping communities become formal cooperatives.

"Noon, nakikipagkompetensya kami sa isa't isa sa presyo at hindi pare-pareho ang quality ng aming trabaho. Dahil sa Hapag, nagawa naming i-standardize ang kalidad ng aming mga produkto at nakabuo pa kami ng isang grupo. 'Pag mas mataas ang quality, mas malaki din ang kita," said Abigail Mamita, 44, leader of beneficiaries for the rag-weaving group from Quezon City.

The graduates were presented with certificates of completion for their participation in the program and for mastering new skills that are in high demand within the local job market.

Cel Amores, Senior Director for Corporate Communications at Ayala Foundation said: "We believe in the power of education to create positive and lasting change in the lives of individuals and communities. The Hapag Movement is a testament to this belief, as it has allowed us to create more opportunities for our beneficiaries outside of our usual efforts."

"The Hapag Movement is a perfect example of how organizations can work together to support vulnerable communities. We are grateful to have partnered with Globe and Ayala Foundation to provide these 100 graduates with the tools and skills they need to build sustainable livelihood and improve their lives," said Arlyne Fernandez, RSW, Executive Director for Virlanie Foundation Philippines.

The initiative is part of Globe's commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG No. 9, which highlights the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development.

The Hapag Movement is particularly important given the current unemployment rate in the Philippines, which was 5% in September 2022, translating to 2.50 million unemployed Filipinos out of 50.08 million in the labor force. The services sector consistently dominates the labor market, registering the largest share of 58.9% of the total employed population.