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I’ve always been a fan of traveling around the Philippines especially if the location has a beautiful beach waiting for me. And I probably haven’t visited half of the picturesque places the Philippines has in store. That was confirmed while at the Lako Lokal launch held on last November 17 at the R.O.X. (Recreational Outdoor eXchange) in Bonifacio High Street. Lako Lokal is a partnership between R.O.X., ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya’s Bantay Kalikasan, and i.L.O.V.E. Foundation, initiated its plans to foster the growth of local and small-scale village economies as well as environmental preservation through a series of meaningful activities. R.O.X. is a one-stop shop for premium outdoor gears and on a personal note, a place where I could probably spend hours eyeing their products. Bantay Kalikasan protects the country’s natural resources through projects like watershed rehabilitation and management, recovery and recycling of Used Lead Acid Batteries (ULABs) and used oil, advocacy building through Information and Education Campaigns (IEC) and Sustainable Area Development. While i.L.O.V.E. (Investments in Loving Organizations for Village Economies) Foundation on the other hand, is a non-profit organization that connects with local communities, assess their area’s natural potential, invest in a sustainable plan, and work together to help them prosper.
The collaboration is going to support the communities of Tawi – Tawi, Lake Sebu and Polomolok in South Cotabato, Sta. Cruz Islands in Zamboanga, Maramag in Bukidnon, Bulusan in Sorsogon, Upi in Maguindanao and Tublay in Benguet, as well as extending its support to the Bantay Kalikasan communities of Mt. Guiting – Guiting in Sibuyan Island, Romblon, Mt. Nalayag in Lobo, Batangas and, New La Union Watertubing in Sarangani. The beneficiaries of Loka Lokal will receive P2M worth of R.O.X. merchandise from brands such as Poler, Herschel, Black Diamond, Fox Racing, Hi-Tec, Montbell, Coghlan’s, Roxy, Eureka, Keen, 360 Degrees, and Mountain Safety Research. Over 150 bags from Herschel were also donated alongside assorted backpacks from customers who donated through R.O.X. stores nationwide.
Guests during the Lako Lokal announcement were treated to a delicious spread of Pinoy food. Representatives from R.O.X. and Bantay Kalikasan also took turns to share how excited they are with this partnership. It was my first time to listen to Ms. Gina Lopez, chairman of i.L.O.V.E. Foundation and founder of Bantay Kalikasan, give a remarkable and engaging talk about the accomplishments and future projects of her foundation, which gave such a lasting impression on me. She radiates such a powerful and passionate soul. That day also introduced an all-new local section of R.O.X. that features local Filipino brands such as G Stuff, Gouache, and Siklo to name a few.
For more details regarding Lako Lokal and to know how you can be involved, visit R.O.X. Philippines on Instagram and Facebook and https://www.facebook.com/questforloveph/.
Denise J. Mallabo 