“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”
Last December 3, BDO conducted a virtual learning workshop for bloggers titled SUSTAINABILITY IN FOCUS.
First speaker was Ms. Elle David, UP-CIFAL Philippines Communications Officer, who talked about GETTING TO KNOW THE SDGs: History, Pillars, Principles and the 17 SDGs.
In her presentation, she discussed the 5 Pillars of the SDGs:
People Pillar
The goals aim “to end poverty and hunger, in all their forms and dimensions, and to ensure that all human beings can fulfill their potential in dignity and equality and in a healthy environment”.
Prosperity Pillar
The goals seek to “ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives and that economic, social, and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature”.
Planet Pillar
The goals commit to protecting the planet “so it can support the needs of the present and future generations” and recognize how connected and fundamental climate change is to global development.
Peace Pillar
“There can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development” as such, the goals were set out to foster peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.
Partnership Pillar
The goals embody “a spirit of strengthened global solidarity” problems that cross geographies and sectors require collaboration.
One key takeaway from her presentation was that sustainability doesn’t need to be big or complicated—it can start with simple, meaningful actions shaped by the community you’re in. Because sustainability is customizable, each place can define what matters most based on its needs, culture, and resources: a coastal town might focus on protecting its waters, a farming community on soil health, or a city neighborhood on waste reduction and energy saving. What makes sustainability powerful is that it adapts to local realities while still contributing to long-term well-being. By embracing solutions that fit their context, communities can create lasting, practical change that supports both people today and future generations.
Another takeaway was that Philippines is not a hopeless case. In Sustainable Development Report 2025, the SDSN press release noted that the Philippines is among the fastest-improving countries (in terms of points gained since 2015), gaining +8.6 points over the decade. From 98th in 2024 to 87th rank in 2025, the country has demonstrated its seriousness in advancing sustainable development.
Next speaker was Ms. Marla Garin-Alvarez, BDO First Vice President & Head of the Sustainability Office, who presented how BDO defines sustainability broadly — not just as environmental protection, but as a mix of economic, social, environmental, and governance (ESG) efforts; that their sustainability strategy includes offering banking products and financial services designed to support sustainable development goals (SDGs), including access to underserved markets; and that internally, BDO works on embedding sustainability across its operations: ensuring that environmental and social risks are assessed and managed, and integrating ESG considerations into lending, investments, and operations.
Since 2010, BDO’s “Sustainable Finance Program” has financed renewable energy, green buildings, energy-efficiency, and other environmentally sound projects covering clean energy, infrastructure, water, transport, and community development.
BDO has been recognized multiple times for its sustainability leadership here and abroad: awards include Philippines’ Best Bank and Philippines’ Best Bank for ESG Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2024, 2025 Singapore; Platinum Award (14th consecutive year) and Best Sustainability Team in Asia (2nd consecutive year) The Asset ESG Corporate Excellence Awards 2024, 2025 Singapore; and Green Innovation & Solution Award for the BDO Green Finance Framework Global Good Governance Awards 2024, Manila.
“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” perfectly describes sustainability.
Sustainability, in simple terms, means using what we need today without messing things up for future generations.
It’s like:
- Not using things faster than they can be replaced (e.g., trees, clean water).
- Not creating waste or pollution that the planet can’t handle.
- Making choices that keep our environment, economy, and communities healthy in the long run.
Always keep in mind that what we have today is borrowed from the future and it is our responsibility to return it in good condition.
If Earth were a bank account, sustainability means living off the interest, not spending all the savings.