Makati, Philippines — September 5, 2023 — Araw Hospitality Group, the umbrella organization behind exciting concepts like Lihim Resorts in El Nido, Palawan, UNWND Boutique Hotel Chain, One Hagdan Villas, Kommons by Kamino in Boracay and more, announced a landmark partnership with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) on September 4, 2023. The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was officially signed at a momentous event hosted at Mamser in UNWND Boutique Hotel.
Committed to Cultural Sensitivity and Socio-Economic Development
A recent benchmark has been achieved within the Philippine hospitality industry because the Araw Hospitality Group and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA). This agreement will create opportunities for Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) within the locations where Araw Hospitality Group hotels, resorts, and restaurants are situated.
The event was graced by Araw Hospitality Group’s CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier, COO Cornelio V. Caedo, and CSR Champion and Corporate Wellness Manager Cybille Barcebal, while NCIP was represented by Chairperson Allen A. Capuyan, Acting Director Glenda Pua, and Commissioner Gaspar A. Cayat (via Zoom).
The event’s theme, “A Tapestry of Harmony,” symbolizes their unity and shared vision of a hospitality industry that works towards a more inclusive future for the Philippines’ ICCs and IPs. This groundbreaking partnership is committed to IPs and ICCs in various facets, corresponding to livelihood, training, and business opportunities. The collaboration relies on a multi-pronged approach:
- Livelihood Opportunities: Araw Hospitality Group will extend livelihood and business opportunities in its vast service sectors like resorts, hotels, bars, and restaurants, specifically for qualified ICCs and IPs to boost their socio-economic status.
- Fair Trade: Araw Hospitality Group pledges to buy goods from ICCs and IPs at fair market value under the agreement, thereby appreciating the artisans’ unique skills and
- Capability-Constructing: The partnership will initiate projects geared toward improving the economic and social well-being of chosen ICCs and IPs, specializing in skills development and capacity-building.
- Nurturing Ingenuity: Additional programs are within the pipeline to harness the innate creativity and abilities of ICCs and IPs, propelling them toward greater self-sufficiency and community development.
NCIP Director Glenda Pua expressed her gratitude to Araw Hospitality Group, stating, “We heavily depend on partnerships, and we cannot do it without private sector partners like Araw. They function our multiplier in creating more opportunities, eradicating poverty, and promoting the wonder and wonders of indigenous communities.”
Meanwhile, Jean Henri Lhuillier hopes that Araw Hospitality Group’s partnership with NCIP becomes a logo for other hospitality institutions to follow. He explains, “The ICC/IP community is actually the essence of a real Filipino, and I feel that with all our assets spread throughout the country, we might help tell their story and supply a reason why our assets are positioned there. We are going to make sure that all our clients who visit our major hotel brands, Lihim, UNWND, and Kommons, learn in regards to the NCIP and the IP communities living in those areas.”
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