Chinatrust Philippines and National Book Store Foundation, Inc. (NBSFI) once again brings the benefits of the “Better Readers. Brighter Future.” mobile library program this time to Makati City schools. During the recent launch at the West Rembo Elementary School, Chinatrust Philippines North Cluster Head Ces Treyes (left); and NBSFI Program Coordinator Bea Torres (right) donated well-chosen books to the school represented by its principal, Osarlo Cantos (Center). Since 2011, Chinatrust has been donating books and refurbishing libraries in designated public elementary schools in Metro Manila and other key provincial cities where it maintains its presence. To date, eleven public elementary schools have benefited from the Bank’s reading and literacy enhancement program.

Chinatrust Philippines, a subsidiary of the largest and most awarded bank in Taiwan recently brought some holiday cheer to public elementary schools in Carmona Cavite. Dubbed as "Mas Masaya Ang Pasko Pag Kaakibat Ang Libro", employees from the Bank's South Cluster visited Milagrosa West Elementary School and Maduya Elementary School to entertain and share holiday meals with the students as well as donate 250 brand new and well-chosen storybooks to each school. Since 2011, Chinatrust has been donating books and refurbishing libraries as part of its "Better Readers. Brighter Future." reading and literacy program. To date, eleven public elementary schools (with the inclusion of these 2 schools) have benefited from it. Leading the book turnover ceremony at Milagrosa West Elementary School were Chinatrust South Cluster Head Betty Salgado (second from left) and Chinatrust Carmona Branch Manager Marvin Longno (leftmost). On hand to receive the donation on behalf of the school were Principal Wilhelmina Magboo (second from right) and Parents-Teachers Association President Jay Catarining (rightmost).

In support of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) adoption of the Updated Anti-Money Laundering Rules and Regulations, Chinatrust Philippines recently conducted an Anti-Money Laundering Seminar for its Remittance and Payroll partners. Around thirty executives from different companies attended the seminar which focused on the increasing importance of customer due diligence standards, money laundering scheme identification and techniques, suspicious transactions reporting, among others. The seminar, which is the first of several planned for the year for the Bank's covered and non-covered partner institutions, was conducted by Noel Flores, Chinatrust Philippines' Compliance Head.

In thanksgiving for a successful 2011 and in celebration of partnerships, Chinatrust Philippines recently treated the clients of its Makati and Taguig branches to cocktails and entertainment at Bahia, Intercontinental Manila. During the event, clients were also provided with an opportunity to showcase their products and services to the other prime clients of the Bank. Photo shows Chinatrust senior officials (from left): president and CEO Mark Chen; vice chairman William Go; chairman Jack Lee, who flew in from Taipei to take the lead in welcoming clients; Noureddine Ayed, president of Industrial Maintenance International; and Nida Sarmiento, Marketing Director of Eagle Arbola Philippines Trading Corp.

After the successful run of the "Better Readers. Brighter Future." mobile library program in three Muntinlupa City Public Elementary Schools late last year, the program proponents --- Chinatrust Philippines and National Book Store Foundation, Inc. (NBSFI) now brings the benefits of the program to Caloocan City schools. At the recent launch at Gregoria de Jesus Elementary School, representatives from Chinatrust Philippines led by president and CEO Mark Chen and NBSFI chairman Trina Alindogan explained the objectives of the program and gave messages of thanks to the school officials for their commitment to pursue reading advocacy and for providing employees of both companies the opportunity to fulfill their corporate social responsibilities. The "Better Readers. Brighter Future." Program will run for a period of ten days at the school before moving on to another beneficiary school. During this period, Chinatrust Philippines and NBSFI employee-volunteers will be conducting various reading and literacy enhancement activities for elementary students aimed at stimulating the students' interest in reading and eventually help them develop the habit for it. To start off the school's library collection, Chinatrust Philippines president and CEO Mark Chen (center) and NBSFI Chairman Trina Alindogan (second from left) donated two hundred well-chosen books to the school represented by its principal, Dra. Cynthia Ayles (fourth from left). Also in photo are officials from Department of Education: Careen Sedilla, Caloocan education supervisor for English; and Jocelyn Alinab, Adopt-a-School coordinator.