Just as threads woven together form a fabric, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) likens its partners to individual threads contributing to the larger tapestry of a better Cebu. Over its 58 years of philanthropic work, RAFI has touched communities one at a time, acknowledging the triumphs shared with partners who have helped create meaningful impact within the broader fabric of life. 

On September 13, 2024, RAFI hosted a Partners’ Day to celebrate past achievements and envision future possibilities in pursuit of their collective dream. Inspired by the beauty and craftsmanship of hablon, a traditional Cebuano handmade fabric, RAFI themed this momentous annual event “Hablon sa Kaugmaon” (Weaving Tomorrow), symbolizing the combined contributions of partners through resources, knowledge, and expertise. 

RAFI’s President and CEO, Amaya A. Fansler, emphasized the vital role partnerships have played in helping RAFI achieve its dreams and fulfill its mission for the communities it serves, particularly in Cebu.  

“This evening, we chose the hablon, both the weaving process and a traditional Visayan fabric, to symbolize our work together. This metaphor illustrates how the challenges we face as a community are interconnected, much like the threads in a woven fabric. Poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition, lack of appreciation of our heritage, environmental degradation, vulnerability to disasters – each issue is layered on the other and, much like a tightly woven fabric, they are  

hard to untangle. Hablon, this time as a process, also symbolizes how we must work. National and local government, academe, NGOs working on the ground, private institutions – individuals and organizations – our work, from design to implementation, must be carefully interwoven, with each one’s thread contributing its unique color and texture with the intention to create a new, hopefully stronger social fabric we can call our own,” Amaya expressed. 

The day highlighted three key points, as RAFI aims not only to recognize its achievements but also to create opportunities for networking, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing. These highlights included: 

• DevTalks 2024 

• RAFI’s New Transformative Programs 

• Recognition and Partners’ Night 

DevTalks 2024 

RAFI believes that advocacy plays a pivotal role in fostering positive change through community engagement and multi-sectoral participation, driving the ultimate goal of sustainable development.  

Over 80 partners from various sectors came to participate in a day filled with learning. As the first part of the Patners’ Day, the DevTalks series exemplifies this by bringing together diverse stakeholders to deepen their understanding of best practices in social development. Focusing on innovative approaches that create significant impact across various sectors, these strategies are grounded in RAFI’s 3-Pillar Framework, which emphasizes inspiring action, enabling communities, and creating lasting impact. 

RAFI believes that advocacy is essential for fostering positive change through community engagement and multi-sectoral participation, ultimately driving sustainable development. RAFI invited three speakers to empower partners on the following topics: 

• Understanding Power and Influence in Systems Thinking by Glen A. de Castro, Executive Director of the Gerry Roxas Foundation 

• Embracing Transformation: Our Role in Driving Change by Jennifer Carisma Bretana, Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority 7 

• Communication as a Catalyst for Social Change by Dr. Glecy Atienza, Professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman 

RAFI’s Transformative Programs 

During its festivities, RAFI officially launched its new transformative programs aimed at fostering community well-being through 2030. Focused on three key areas, RAFI continues to serve Cebuanos with the following initiatives: 

PHYSICAL WELL-BEING  

• Disaster Resilience (Disaster Risk Reduction & Management) – Building Resilience and Adaptation in Vulnerable Ecosystems in Cebu (BRAVE)  

• Disaster Risk Reduction (Mitigation) – Greener Cebu 

• Primary Health Care – Communities with Access to Relevant and Equitable Primary Healthcare Services (CARES) 

• Early Childhood Care and Development – Sustainable Interventions for Nutrition and Growth (SINAG) 

SOCIAL WELL-BEING

• Basic Education – Transformative Actions for Literacy and Numeracy (TALINO) 

• Youth Civic Development, Engagement and Leadership – Bayanihan Actions for Impact (BAI) 

• Culture & Heritage – Cebloom

ECONOMIC WELL-BEING

• RAFI Microfinance, Inc. 

At the Partners’ Night dinner, RAFI’s Chief Operating Officer, Riella Mae Guioguio, the Vice President for Business Development of RAFI MFI Iris Dorado, along with the Well-being Cluster Heads—Miraflor Enecio for Physical Well-being and Marie Sol Gonzalvo for Social Well-being—shared inspiring stories from the communities served, highlighting the partnerships fostered through a shared vision. 

To enhance the introduction of these new programs, RAFI also conducted an exhibit showcasing its initiatives. 

The Hablon Exchange 

In line with the event’s theme, a ceremonial exchange hablon was held to symbolize the weaving together of efforts and recognition of the contributions made by each partner. Estee Marie Plunket, RAFI’s Chief Communications, Advocacy, and Partnerships Officer emphasized the significant impact of these partnerships on lives and the future.  

“Like the hablon you each hold, every one of you represents a thread in our beautiful tapestry. Each of you plays a vital role in shaping the future we dream of together. Given the time and challenges inherent in development work, the key driver for our multi-sectoral partnerships is the understanding that by combining our resources, we can achieve far more than we could alone. Tonight, we celebrate this collaborative advantage that showcases the true value of our joint efforts,” Estee expressed. 

RAFI also invited recipients of its programs to highlight the positive impacts on the communities it served. To immerse partners in the spirit of craftsmanship and collaboration, a live hablon weaving demonstration was also put on display. 

This annual celebration of partnerships is likened to a tapestry, showcasing the beauty and significance of collaborative efforts. It underscores that substantial progress can be achieved when the entire community unites to manifest the change and development they envision for the future.