Mighty Corp changes the lives of tobacco farmers in Northern Luzon

The joint project between Bulacan-based tobacco manufacturer, Mighty Corp and an NGO partnered to uplift the lives of farming families in Northern Luzon.

The said partnership was sealed both Mighty and National Federation of Tobacco Farmers and Cooperatives, Inc. officials. The memorandum of agreement was held last February 8 as officials from Mighty retired general Edilberto P. Adan, retired judge Oscar P. Barrientos, and Mario Cabasal, head of NAFTC.

Meanwhile, Wong Chu King Foundation Inc., Mighty's charitable arm handed over at least 16 units of hand tractors worth P2.5 million and 90 units of water pumps worth P1.1 million to chapter delegations from seven provinces in Northern Luzon. 

 “We are happy that  Mighty Corporation has stood firm on its commitments to help the 65,000 strong tobacco farmers in the Philippines with their pronouncements this year to purchase 10-million kilograms of tobacco leaves and the P10-million outreach projects for tobacco farmers,” said Cabasal after the agreement was signed by the new partners.

“This is definitely a big help to us, tobacco farmers,” added Cabasal.

Mighty Corp boost the morale of tobacco farmers by gain production

Filipino-owned cigarette manufacturer, Mighty Corp sealed an agreement between local tobacco farmers, and National Federation of Tobacco Farmers and Cooperatives, Inc. last February. The said project which aim to uplift the lives of farming families under the theme, “Sama-sama Tayong Pilipino sa Pagyabong ng Industriya ng Tabako.”

The deal was signed by Mighty Corporation President Edilberto P. Adan and Executive Vice President Oscar P. Barrientos with Mario Cabasal, head of the National Federation of Tobacco Farmers and Cooperatives, Inc.. Then, a consultative meeting was held between Mighty executives and 200 tobacco farmer-leaders from Northern Luzon.

They announced a pledge for a P10-million fund for three-pronged programs that will help tobacco farmers produce quality tobacco for the company.

Meanwhile, the said program includes irrigation pumps and tractors for the farmers, sending college students via their scholarship grants and the institutional support for the annual search for outstanding tobacco farmers and cooperatives.

“We are happy that Mighty Corporation has stood firm on its commitments to help the 65,000 strong tobacco farmers in the Philippines with their pronouncements this year to purchase 10-million kilograms of tobacco leaves and the P10-million outreach projects for tobacco farmers,” Cabasal said.

“This is a big help to tobacco farmers,” Cabasal added. He elated over Mighty's initiative to buy at least 10 million kilograms of tobacco leaves.

Mighty Corp’s charitable arm, Wong Chu King Foundation, Inc. turned over 16 units of hand tractors worth P2.5 million and 90 units of water pumps worth P1.1 million that was distributed to the seven tobacco-producing provinces in Northern Luzon.

Wong Chu King Foundation funded chapel in Xavier School

Mighty Corp's CSR arm, Wong Chu King Foundation funded the construction of Xavier School's Sacred Heart Chapel. The said chapel is located at the Senior High School Building. The religious structure is in honor of Mr. Wong Chu King, the patriarch of the family that formed the foundation.

According to Caesar Wongchuking, Wong Chu King Foundation’s vice president says that the Sacred Heart Chapel of Xavier School’s senior high school building is being built for the cause and passion for education by his father.

“Fr. Desautels went door-to-door in Manila for donations to buy the land needed to set up the school,” Wongchuking recalled on how the founders of the school and his father met.  “At 3:30 pm on December 15, 1955, Fr. Desautels closed the deal and purchased the land barely an hour and a half before the 5 p.m. deadline agreed on with the seller of the land on which the school was eventually built.”

“All of us, my siblings and I, graduated from Xavier School and imbibed the Jesuit’s God, education and service-centered mission,” he added.

“This project is our way of honoring our father’s friendship with the Jesuit community and paying forward for the excellent education we received from the school,” said Alex Wongchuking, the foundation’s executive director said.

During the signing the deed of donation for the construction of the chapel, it was attended by Marietta Wongchuking- Co Chien, Wong Chu King Foundation Director; Johnip Cua, Xavier School chairman of the board of trustees; and Fr. Aristotle Dy, school president and director.

With this initiative of Wong Chu King Foundation and Mighty Corp, they vowed to rebuild churches, not only in Xavier...they also reconstruct churches in the country.

Mighty Corp targets increase of tobacco purchase this year

Mighty Corp, a Bulacan-based tobacco manufacturer aims to purchase 10 million kilograms of tobacco products worth millions of pesos from farmers in Northern Luzon. 

This is according to executive vice president of Mighty, Oscar Barrientos. In the letter of intent that was sent to National Tobacco Administration administrator Edgardo Zaragoza that Wongchuking-owned company will buy tobacco from farmers 100 percent more than the five million kilograms his firm bought in 2013.

“This is to assure our tobacco farmers of our willingness to help in response to the published report of the market leader in the tobacco industry to lessen production this year,” Barrientos added.

Mighty’s market shares surged to 20 percent of the low-priced cigarette brands in which resulted in paying P8.2 billion in excise taxes.

Wong Chu King Foundation turned over 18th century church in Cavite

One of the historical landmarks in Cavite, The Diocesan Shrine of Immaculate Concepcion in Naic was recently turned over by Mighty Corp’s charitable arm, Wong Chu King Foundation.

The said church is one of the oldest and largest churches in the country. The Wong Chu King Foundation called their deed as a duty to church and society.

“We cannot allow this historic church to go into a state of disrepair,” said Alex Wongchuking, Executive Director of Wong Chu King Foundation said.

The said institution has been devoted its resources to rebuilding churches in the country since 2009. They're also helping out students to get educated and other charitable works.

“The church strengthened the Filipino faith and it stands as a mute witness to the martyrdom of the defenders of Philippine freedom and nationhood,” Wongchuking said.

The church in Naic was built by the Spanish friars which has a low-roofed stone structure in 1835. Eventually, it was rebuilt and completed with a neo-Gothic convent complex in 1872.  In 2013, it was renovated done by Wong Chu King Foundation and made a symbolic turnover to church officials last March 30 which coincided the foundation’s 24th anniversary.

According to Cavite Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista says that he was grateful and said the restoration of the church to its original architecture will “encourage people to grow in their faith, in a life of prayer and in a life of holiness, which is God’s desire for all of us.”

  

He also added that the church’s the roof and the walls were crumbling and the church’s interior gradually deteriorating. Suddenly, Wong Chu King Foundation  came in and offered them to rebuild the church.

“With this beautiful church, one can say that the presence of God is really felt by the people,” Bishop Evangelista said.

Aside from rebuilding the church, the foundation also built a new garden with a fountain, Navarette said.

“The project aims to maintain the original structure, essence and sanctity of the church,” he added.

Wong Chu King Foundation offers scholarship grants

The charitable arm of Mighty Corp, Wong Chu King Foundation reaching out to the poor yet deserving students to receive scholarship grants in the northern part of Luzon.

“Education is known to be a powerful equalizer. It gives children from low-income families a fighting chance to uplift themselves and their families from poverty and lead productive and meaningful lives.” said Mighty Corp president Edilberto Adan.

Adan also said the educational assistance that the foundation gives out 100 scholarship grants to deserving students which are children of tobacco farmers in Northern Luzon.

“Formal schooling is often too expensive and priced well beyond the reach of the poor, including tobacco farmers,” he said.

The said program is one of three components of a P10-million joint CSR project of Mighty Corp. and the National Federation of Tobacco Farmers and Cooperatives Inc.. It aimed to benefit 65,000 farmers in the northern part of Luzon.

“This is our way of thanking the farmers for helping to make our company what it is today,” said Adan.

“We are happy that Mighty Corporation, through its Wong Chu King Foundation, has stood firm on its commitment to help 65,000 tobacco farmers in the Philippines,” said Mario Cabasal, NAFTAC national president.

Meanwhile, according to Mighty Corp’s executive vice president and spokesperson Oscar Barrientos said the foundation initially offered scholarships to the dependents of active Mighty employees. Later on, it was expanded for dependents of retired Mighty employees and unfortunate but deserving students with excellent academic records.

“Through this program, we hope to help the farmers and their children become competitive in the global market and earn sustainable incomes,” Barrientos said.

The scholarship program is in support of the National Tobacco Administration’s scholarship program for poor but deserving graduating high school students and dependents of tobacco farmers.

The foundation has six high school and 14 college students unde their scholarship program.

Mighty Corp, Wong Chu King Foundation cited for their charitable works

Mighty Corp, a Filipino owned tobacco manufacturer known for the quality cigarettes in the country has been cited over their charitable works. 

With the help of their foundation, Wong Chu King Foundation which prioritized Catholic education in its programs and projects.

According to Bishop Rodolfo Beltran of San Fernando City said Mighty Corp and its humanitarian armdonated to church projects and funded the education of poor students in Lagawe, Bontoc. 

“The parents of these students are low-income farmers producing only for local consumption. You can imagine the positive impact this kind of support has for them,” Beltran said.

The foundation also renovated the churches in the Visayas region, the Basilica Minore of Our Lady of Piat Church in Piat, Cagayan in 2012 and the Diocesan Shrine of Immaculate Conception in Naic, Cavite last year.

Auxiliary Bishop Ricardo Baccay of Tuguegarao City said that Wong Chu King and Mighty's good deeds as a step in the direction ... if Wong Chu King is out to help schools, putting up libraries is the best form of help it can give.

Meanwhile, Archbishop emeritus Diosdado Talamayan of Archdiocese of Tuguegarao City said: “I have personally known Mrs. Nelia Wong Chu King, chariman of the board of trustees of the foundation. She and her family are great devotees of Our Lady of Piat. They have erected a chapel in Malolos City, Bulacan, dedicated to Our Lady of Piat, which was blessed by many Bishops led by Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales in 2012.”