The Grand Anvil is presented by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) to a public relations program that stands out among the Gold Anvil winners. The Anvil, known in the Philippines as the Oscars of the public relations business, represents excellence in public relations and is given out by a distinguished multi-sectoral jury to excellent public relations programs and instruments. On February 24, 2022, the Gabi ng Parangal was held virtually.
The most vulnerable people struggled to feed their families and put food on the table due to disrupted food supply chains and limited livelihood prospects due to limitations. The Filipinos demonstrated their inventiveness and compassion in response to this need. Community pantries began to spring up in numerous cities, bringing people together to provide food assistance.
In collaboration with GT Foundation, Inc. (GTFI), the project was able to bring people together for a common cause, demonstrate solidarity, and offer hope and inspiration to Filipinos whose lives and livelihoods were adversely impacted by the pandemic.
Using its emphasis of promoting multi-stakeholder collaborations, supported community pantries in Manila, Quezon City, Makati City, Mandaluyong City, Marikina City, and Taguig City offered food assistance to 13, 926 poor households over four weeks, from May 22 to June 12. Other affected sectors, like as local farmers and displaced jeepney drivers, were also helped through collaboration with the Society of Jesuits-run Tanging Yaman Foundation, Inc. Working with the Tanging Yaman Foundation allowed MBFI to obtain vegetables and dried fish directly from farmers and fishermen in Northern Luzon and the Visayas, using a "farm-to-community pantry" model.
"This Grand Anvil is dedicated to the national movement to curb hunger," MBFI president Aniceto Sobrepea said in his acceptance address. We celebrate this win with our government and private-sector partners and every frontline worker and Filipino who works to protect communities. May we all cling to hope and be the hope that our country so desperately needs as we work to build a better future for all."
The combined efforts of MBFI and GTFI have benefited more than 31, 926 families across the country, demonstrating their dedication to providing food for the poor. These projects include feeding programs and the distribution of food bags to those who have been afflicted by the epidemic and those who have been victims of natural catastrophes.
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The "2021 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos" is another Gold Anvil recipient. This public relations initiative, which was also nominated for the Grand Anvil, is the Philippines' most prestigious career-service award, honoring outstanding teachers, soldiers, and police personnel. Since its inception, it has honored 685 Outstanding Filipinos who have gone above and beyond their call of duty as public servants. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic's constraints, the program was postponed until 2020. By moving to a totally virtual program in 2021, MBFI shows its continued commitment to rewarding these public servants for their unshakeable commitment to good governance, particularly amid a national crisis.
These honors paved the path for MBFI's nomination for the prestigious "Company of the Year," an award granted to the company that gathered the highest points based on its trophies.
In contrast, GTFI, the Ty family's family charity, was awarded a Silver Anvil for the 2021 Bags of Blessing (BOB). BOB is a gift-giving initiative started by the late Metrobank Group Chairman Dr. George Ty Siao Kian. It is celebrated every Chinese New Year and brings together Metrobank Group employees and institutional partners to continue the legacy of "paying it forward." BOB distributed 18,000 sacks of food worth Php 1,000 to 18,000 impoverished households in 33 locations statewide last year.
Since 1985, MBFI has been the recipient of the Anvil Awards. To date, it has received 95 Anvil awards for its various public relations programs and tools, making it the first corporate foundation to win a back-to-back Grand Anvil (Metrobank Foundation Search for Outstanding Teachers in 2010 and National Teachers' Month Campaign in 2011), as well as two Platinum Anvils (“Launching Dreams:” The Metrobank Foundation, Inc. 35th anniversary Celebration in 2015 and “Empowering Filipinos, Building the Nation” 2014 Metrobank Foundation Annual Report in 2016).
The Metrobank Art & Design Excellence (MADE) (2016), the Metrobank Math Challenge (2018), and the National Teachers' Month (2018) have all been awarded MBFI Hall of Fame Awards (2020). During the 51st Anvil Awards in 2016, it was also named Company of the Year.