Bringing together volunteers from over 20 corporations, the servathon is a wonderful example of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in action, as the executives and employees of the participating companies spend the morning together, bonding over activities that benefit the targeted non-government organizations (NGOs) and selected advocacies.

In previous years, the activity would favor the war-torn children of Marawi, promoting vegetable gardens during the Covid health crisis by packing seedlings, and for the last two years, addressing the sad fate of Filipino children due to malnutrition and stunting. There’s the dismal statistic of how one out of every three Filipino children five years and younger are severely malnourished, when 90 percent of crucial brain development occurs.

Nursing covers, lactation booster kits, and educational flash cards earmarked as infant toys were assigned to the different tables of the over 1,100 volunteers who showed up. It’s so encouraging to see volunteerism organized on this kind of scale, and with such measurable results. If more companies wish to join, head to the Hands On Manila website for information and details.