Last February 19, leaders from both private and public sectors temporarily took off their business suits for casual T-shirts and carried out a bold endeavour to build homes and re-build lives.   

Spearheaded by Habitat for Humanity Philippines capital campaign chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala, business leaders, government officials, journalists and movie personalities braved the scorching heat, carried concrete hollow blocks and worked hand-in-hand in laying the framework for the rows of houses that were being constructed in Calauan, Laguna. Aptly dubbed “iBuild”, the project aims to ultimately provide suitable dwellings for over 50,000 Filipino families whose present homes perilously line the banks of the heavily-polluted Pasig River.

Max’s Restaurant, represented by its top executives Jim and Sharon Fuentebella, has actively made a stand to support the cause. “This experience has strengthened our personal conviction to be part of the solution to the problems that plague our country today – because one person can make a difference. Together, we can make change possible,” said Max’s Jim Fuentebella.

Other advocates who participated in the activity are Senator Chiz Escudero, journalist Karen Davila, entrepreneur Cristalle Belo Henares, and film actor Derek Ramsey, among others.

Since 1988, Habitat for Humanity Philippines has built more than 32,000 homes, 300 classrooms and 174 communities all over the country. It aims to benefit more Filipino families by building 4,000 homes this year and increasing its construction rate to 10,000 homes annually by 2014. The Habitat for Humanity Philippines iBuild Project is in partnership with the National Housing Authority and ABS-CBN Foundation.