The SiGMA Foundation has formally donated 3,500 wheelchairs to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), supporting communities across the Philippines affected by the southwest monsoon and strengthening a longstanding partnership between the two organisations.
The ceremonial turnover took place on Wednesday, 16 September, at PAGCOR’s Corporate Office at the MET Live Building in Pasay City, Metro Manila. SiGMA Asia Managing Director Neil Shih represented the SiGMA Foundation, while PAGCOR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro H. Tengco represented the government corporation.
In its effort to help individuals in need across the province and cities, PAGCOR will distribute wheelchairs as part of its relief goods programme. The idea is to assist people with mobility problems in functioning more independently and participating in everyday activities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Shih highlighted the Foundation’s commitment to ensuring SiGMA’s presence in the Philippines extends beyond its role as an events organiser.
“For SiGMA, our presence in the Philippines has always been about more than organising an event. Since we established SiGMA Asia in Manila, we have received tremendous support from PAGCOR, the Philippine government, our industry partners and local communities.”
He added that the organisation’s growing presence in the country comes with a corresponding responsibility to contribute to the communities that support it.
“As our platform continues to grow in the Philippines, we also believe our responsibility to contribute to the community should grow with it.”
Supporting mobility and independence
The contribution demonstrates the SiGMA Foundation’s commitment to programmes that deliver real social impact. According to Shih, the importance of the wheelchair for the people who receive it is much bigger than the mere object itself.
“A wheelchair may appear to be a simple piece of equipment, but for the person receiving it, it can mean much more. It can mean mobility, independence, dignity and the ability to participate more fully in everyday life.”
The Foundation worked with PAGCOR to ensure wheelchairs could reach communities and individuals in need through PAGCOR’s established relief efforts.
For PAGCOR, the donation also represents an extension of its relationship with SiGMA, which has developed through three successful gaming summits held in Manila. Tengco recalled the early stages of the partnership, including his first meeting with Neil Shih when the organisation was seeking PAGCOR’s support to establish a gaming conference in the Philippines.
At the time, Shih told Tengco that he expected the inaugural event to attract at least 10,000 delegates. Tengco recalled questioning the scale of that projection, having recently attended a gaming conference in Macau with considerably fewer attendees. The first SiGMA Summit in Manila subsequently attracted close to 15,000 delegates.
A partnership beyond business
Reflecting on how the relationship has evolved since those early discussions, Tengco described the partnership between PAGCOR and the SiGMA Group as warm and established, with the two organisations now looking beyond events and industry development to community outreach.
He said the wheelchair initiative demonstrated what could be achieved through cooperation between the private sector and government.
Tengco thanked Shih and the SiGMA Group for their support, while signalling PAGCOR’s willingness to continue working together on future initiatives.
“The wheelchairs are ready to be distributed to the different parts, cities, municipalities and provinces of the Philippines. So, on behalf of PAGCOR, I would like to thank you [SiGMA Foundation] for the support that you are providing to PAGCOR ”
The PAGCOR Chairman also suggested that community-focused initiatives could become a regular part of the organisation’s relationship, with opportunities to identify further ways to support communities across the country.
Shih likewise emphasised the importance of the partnership, thanking Tengco, Senior Vice President Dan Cecilio and the wider PAGCOR team for their continued trust and cooperation.
“The relationship between SiGMA and PAGCOR has developed far beyond the traditional partnership. We share a common interest in supporting the responsible development of the industry while also creating a positive impact beyond the business community.”
Continuing the commitment
The event also brought together media, partners and stakeholders for interviews, photography and further engagement around the initiative.
For SiGMA Foundation, the donation forms part of its ongoing commitment to giving back to the communities in the markets where the SiGMA Group operates. In the Philippines, that commitment is being delivered in partnership with an organisation with an established national reach and infrastructure to distribute assistance to communities in need.
Shih said the initiative demonstrated the potential of collaboration between government and business when both sides share a focus on community support.
“Today, the ceremony is a meaningful example of what can be achieved when the private sector and government work together with a shared purpose. We hope these 3,500 wheelchairs will make a difference to thousands of Filipinos and their families.”
The donation also reinforces SiGMA’s continued commitment to the Philippines, where its events have brought together the international gaming industry and local operators, regulators, government representatives, and other stakeholders.
As the Foundation continues to develop its social impact work, the wheelchair donation provides a tangible example of how established industry partnerships can extend beyond commercial activity to support communities and individuals across the country.
For more information on SiGMA Foundation events and initiatives, visit the SiGMA website.
