On the 30th Apolinario Mabini Awards, Caravan Food Group Inc., (CFGI) was recognized with a Manuel V. Agcaoili Award or Employer of the Year Award for the Small Company Category at the Heroes Hall, Malacanang Palace, last July 18, 2023.
This ceremony was organized by The Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled with its Awards Committee Chairperson, Audrey Tan-Zubiri.
This prestigious award-giving body was named after the country’s renowned hero, Apolinario Mabini or the Sublime Paralytic who gave inspiration during the Philippine revolution despite being diagnosed with polio.
It aims to recognize individuals, groups, and agencies that create outstanding contributions to persons with disabilities and to further acknowledge the disabled community as productive members of the society.
Caravan Food Group Inc. (CFGI) bagged the award for continuing to provide opportunities to persons with disabilities, particularly from the Filipino Deaf Community.
CFGI’s persons with disabilities employees currently make up 57.38% of the company’s workforce, which they proudly call Friendly and Capable Deaf Partners.
They are assigned to operate the chain of pastry and dessert shops with 10 branches across Metro Manila, Overdoughs and Elait – respectively, while others are assigned at their commissary to prepare orders for its online store which are RAW Juice Bar, and Mary & Martha.
CFGI’s CEO, Francis Reyes, aims to showcase the epitome of genuine service through their Deaf Partners; hence, putting them on the forefront of their branches.
Moreso, CFGI further builds opportunities and career advancement for its Deaf Partners through a series of training that will equip them to be competent and efficient employees.
Two of which were promoted as area supervisors and a total of 5 branch team leaders who continue to excel in their assigned tasks while serving as an inspiration to their fellow deaf and to persons with disabilities.
Alongside CFGI are Accenture Inc. (Phils.) and Tahanan Walang Hagdanan, Inc., who also received the Manuel V. Agcaoili Award or Employer of the Year for the Large and Medium Company Categories, respectively.
Other awardees include Jose Go Ranola for the Filipino with Disability Award, and Antonio D. Llanes Jr. for the Apolinario Mabini Life Achievement Award.
The awarding ceremony was attended by personalities from private and public companies and institutions who share a common goal of creating a more inclusive community to persons with disabilities.
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