by Mai Gacilo Sangalang · Published on BusinessMirror November 13, 2025
NEWS headlines the other day carried how the Sierra Madre and other mountain ranges in Luzon weakened strong winds and heavy rains of Super Typhoon “Uwan” (international name Fung-wong) after it made landfall in Aurora last Sunday evening. This unbroken wall of mountains serves as natural barrier against typhoons and worst possible flooding but until when can they serve and save us if they are also suffering from abuse and neglect.
Continuing environmental degradation of our mountain ranges caused by illegal mining, massive quarrying among others is stripping more portions bare and causing deforestation. We have to play our part in protecting, preserving and conserving our natural resources.
We are reminded again about how crucial it is to incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into our personal choices, and for corporations and financial institutions, into investment and financing decisions to promote climate resilience and long-term sustainability and national development. This is called sustainable financing.
Sustainable financing means allocating funds to sustainable activities such as mitigating ESG risks, investing in renewable energy projects, and aligning business returns and economic activities with sustainable development goals.
Sustainable financing also includes integration of ESG criteria in business decisions and practices, such as carbon emission reduction, and even social criteria like equitable labor practices and corporate governance criteria.
Banks nowadays have supported this through issuances of green bonds for their corporate clients, setting stricter lending criteria to comply with ESG standards, advising them with their net zero transition, supporting and financing their sustainable projects like renewable energy and clean technology.
Individually, we can contribute by reducing consumption and waste, conserving resources and participating and local efforts such as clean-up drives, tree planting and the likes.
6th BMA set to announce winners
ON November 28, winners of the 6th Bank Marketing Awards (BMA), a biennial awards program of the BMAP, is set to be announced in an awarding ceremony at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) complex in Malate, Manila.
BS Deputy Governor for Regional Operations and Advocacy Sector Bernadette Romulo-Puyat will be the keynote speaker and will hand over the trophies by Ronald Castrillo, a Filipino sculptor famous for his metalwork and expressive figurative artworks.
For this year’s BMA, seven banks will be recognized for their outstanding marketing and communication programs and campaigns for the following categories: Best Product Program; Best Brand Program; Best Electronic Channel Program; Best Digital Marketing Program; Best Financial Inclusion Program; Best Customer-Centric Product or Service; and, Best Sustainability Drive.
We thank our esteemed panel of judges: former BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi G. Fonacier; Grupo Agatep Chairman and CEO Norman A. Agatep; Hungry Workhorse Consultancy CEO Reynaldo C. Lugtu Jr.; and, Forest Foundation Philippines Board Member Ma. Aurora F. Tolentino for their participation. We also express gratitude to our sponsors GoTyme, LandBank, PNB, BDO, BPI, DBP and RCBC for the support.
Best of luck to all the participating banks, and let the awards ceremony be a celebration of everyone’s exceptional work and achievements.
Mai Gacilo Sangalang is the immediate past president of the Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines (BMAP) and currently the BMAP’s director for Industry Relations, Banking Code and Financial Inclusion. Sangalang is the Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing of Standard Chartered Bank Philippines. She can be reached by emailing maigsangalang@yahoo.com. The writer’s views do not necessarily reflect those of Standard Chartered Bank, the BusinessMirrorand the BMAP.