(TRAVPR.COM) PHILIPPINES - February 28th, 2014 – The Ascott Limited (http://www.the-ascott.com/en/groupindex.html) (Ascott) in the Philippines and CapitaLand Hope Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Ascott’s parent company, CapitaLand, have donated a total of PHP1.87 million to World Vision for its relief and rehabilitation efforts in areas devastated by the super typhoon Yolanda in November 2013.

The donation includes contribution from Ascott’s local and international employees and its residents staying in its three operating serviced residences in the Philippines – Ascott Makati, Somerset Millennium Makati and Somerset Olympia Makati (http://www.somerset.com/en/philippines/manila/somerset_olympia_makati.html). CapitaLand Hope Foundation contributed a total of PHP850,000 from its online donation drive wherein it donated PHP70 for every electronic Christmas greeting card sent from its website.

Mr Arthur Gindap, Ascott’s Regional General Manager for the Philippines and Thailand, said: “We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming support we’ve received from our residents, local staff and colleagues abroad for our donation drive to aid the victims of typhoon Yolanda through World Vision. Together with CapitaLand Hope Foundation, we hope that our contribution will help in rebuilding the lives of the people affected.”

Mr Gindap added: “Aside from financial aid, about 40 of our employees have volunteered daily for one week in the packing of relief goods bound for Tacloban. We are also planning to go to Tacloban to assist World Vision in the construction of new homes.”

Mr Tan Seng Chai, CapitaLand Limited’s Group Chief Corporate Officer and CapitaLand Hope Foundation’s Executive Director, said: “Typhoon Yolanda unfortunately affected the livelihoods of thousands in the Philippines. Many of the victims are children. We hope that these donations can help to bring some relief during this difficult time and contribute towards rebuilding the lives of these children and their families. The reliefs, which include basic necessities such as food, water and shelter, will hopefully bring them comfort and hope. These efforts reinforce CapitaLand Hope Foundation’s commitment to promote social growth and development of underprivileged children in their education, healthcare and shelter needs.”

Since launching its relief response, World Vision has distributed food, non-food items such as blankets and mosquito nets, hygiene kits and shelter kits to over 105,000 families in seven provinces. To ease traumas following disasters, the child-focused humanitarian agency has also set up 45 child-friendly spaces that have benefitted close to 15,000 children.

Mr Jun Godornes, World Vision’s Associate Director for National Resource Development said: “World Vision is truly grateful to the people of Ascott and CapitaLand Hope Foundation, for their hearts and generosity to share hope with thousands of the survivors. With your support and prayers, you have enabled World Vision to reach about 570,000 typhoon survivors in the hardest hit areas of Cebu, Samar, Leyte, Iloilo, Capiz, Antique and Aklan. With your continued partnership, we can help people rebuild their homes, livelihood, and ensure the well-being of children through interventions in education and health."

Supporting disaster relief efforts is one of the ways Ascott does its part for the communities which it operates in. With the support of CapitaLand Hope Foundation, Ascott has also extended emergency relief to victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in 2011,the Sumatra earthquake in Indonesia and typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines in 2009. Ascott in the Philippines also donated relief items for the victims of the earthquake in Bohol and Cebu in October 2013.

About The Ascott Limited

The Ascott Limited is a Singapore company that has grown to be the world's largest international serviced residence owner-operator. It has about 23,000 operating serviced residence units in key cities of Asia Pacific, Europe and the Gulf region, as well as over 10,000 units which are under development, making a total of more than 33,000 units in over 200 properties.

The company operates three brands – Ascott, Citadines (http://www.citadines.com/en/index.html) and Somerset (http://www.somerset.com/en/index.html). Its portfolio spans 82 cities across more than 20 countries, 21 of which are new cities in Ascott’s portfolio where its serviced residences are being developed.

Ascott, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CapitaLand Limited, pioneered Asia Pacific’s first international-class serviced residence with the opening of The Ascott Singapore in 1984. In 2006, it established the world’s first Pan-Asian serviced residence real estate investment trust, Ascott Residence Trust. Today, the company boasts a 30-year industry track record and award-winning serviced residence brands that enjoy recognition worldwide.

Ascott’s achievements have been recognised internationally. Recent awards include World Travel Awards 2013 for ‘World’s Leading Serviced Apartment Brand’ and ‘Leading Serviced Apartment Brand’ in Asia and Europe, DestinAsian Readers’ Choice Awards 2013 for ‘Best Serviced Apartment/Residence Operator’, Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards 2013 for ‘Best Serviced Residence Brand’ and ‘Best Serviced Residence’, Business Traveller China Awards 2013 for ‘Best Serviced Residence Brand’, Business Traveller UK Awards 2013 for ‘Best Serviced Apartment Company’ and TTG China Travel Awards 2013 for ‘Best Serviced Residence Operator in China’.
Visit www.the-ascott.com for more information and connect with us on social media at www.the-ascott.com/connect.

About CapitaLand Hope Foundation

CapitaLand Hope Foundation, the philanthropic arm of CapitaLand, was established in 2005 to further CapitaLand’s community development commitment to ‘Building People – Building For Tomorrow’, by recognising that the long-term success of the company’s business is closely intertwined with the health and prosperity of the communities in which it operates.

Every year, CapitaLand allocates up to 0.5% of its net profit to the Foundation to promote social growth and development of underprivileged children with respect to their education, healthcare and shelter needs. CapitaLand Hope Foundation is a registered charity in Singapore and strongly believes each child has within them the potential for greatness, which if nurtured and built upon, can bring significant value to future societies.

Going beyond donations associated with charitable giving, the Foundation also focuses on giving time and attention to the children beneficiaries through advocating volunteerism. The strong commitment of volunteers embodies the true spirit of community development at CapitaLand.
About CapitaLand Limited

CapitaLand is one of Asia’s largest real estate companies. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, the company’s businesses in real estate and real estate fund management are focused on its core markets of Singapore and China.
The company’s diversified real estate portfolio primarily includes homes, offices, shopping malls, serviced residences and mixed developments. The company also has one of the largest real estate fund management businesses with assets located in Asia. CapitaLand leverages its significant asset base, real estate domain knowledge, product design and development capabilities, active capital management strategies and extensive market network to develop real estate products and services in its markets.

The listed entities of the CapitaLand Group include Australand, CapitaMalls Asia, Ascott Residence Trust, CapitaCommercial Trust, CapitaMall Trust, CapitaMalls Malaysia Trust, CapitaRetail China Trust and Quill Capita Trust.

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