The holiday season is a time for feasting and sharing. We feast because we want to celebrate life and our loved ones, and to reward ourselves for the year’s achievements. We share because we want to pay it forward and also to extend a little help to those who need it most.
Right after the double typhoon event hit the country in November, I felt the need to do a little something for one of the affected communities. And so with a friend’s help and the full support of my company, Italpinas, I was able to distribute bags of goods to some residents of Tumana in Marikina, an area that was heavily flooded after the typhoons.
I was impressed to see how the people were able to show positivity and composure despite their difficult experience. The distribution went well mainly because of everyone’s cooperation; and it made me realize that I want to do more of the same, and on a regular basis.
In recent months, Italpinas managed to launch CSR activities in Cagayan de Oro and in the Sto. Tomas, Batangas area. We were able to distribute meals to hospitals in Sto. Tomas and Calamba: Sto. Tomas General Hospital, St. Frances Cabrini Medical Center and Cancer Institute, and Calamba Medical Hospital. PPEs and medical kits were also donated to QualiMed Medical Hospital in Sta. Rosa.
In line with Italpinas’ mandate to support the housing-related efforts of our chosen non-profit organization, we recently turned over the last tranche of our donation to Habitat for Humanity Philippines. As a proud and avid supporter of the organization since 2012, Italpinas is honored to stand behind its outstanding work as a housing organization in building affordable homes for families. The partnership has helped 69 families to own new, safe, and decent homes. I wish to thank Lala Baldelovar, Chief Development Officer, and her team for representing the organization.
On this note, I would like to wish everyone a meaningful and blessed holiday celebration. Let’s stay home and stay safe. I have no big plans this year except to enjoy noche buena and media noche at home with my family. There are many similarities in how we celebrate the holidays here and in Italy. Veglia di Natale, literally the dinner of Christmas, is usually celebrated with family with a hearty meal of gnocchi, polenta with salsiccia, and plenty of sweets. We open the gifts at midnight and put the Baby Jesus in the Belen.
A mainstay during Christmas lunch would be the tortellini soup and some pesce dish. Finally, during veglione (New Year’s Eve), every Italian family eats cotechino with lenticchie (pork sausage dish with lentils) and opens a bottle of Spumante during the countdown to the new year. Despite the restrictions and limitations this year, I wish we’d all find meaningful ways to celebrate the occasion. Happy holidays, everyone!
About Architect Romolo Nati
Romolo Valentino Benedetto Nati known as Romolo Nati or RVN, is a multi-awarded Italian architect and businessman with interest in sustainable development (energy and real estate). He is the current Executive Chairman and CEO of Italpinas Development Corporation (IDC), an Italian-Filipino real estate development firm that specializes in the design and development of sustainable buildings. He is also the Vice Chairman of the Philippine renewable energy company Constellation Energy Corporation (CEC) that focuses in acquiring, financing and developing small to medium-scale renewable energy projects across the Philippines. Follow Architect Nati on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.