Holcim Philippines bags three Quills for communication programs

Cement manufacturer Holcim Philippines received three Awards for its internal and external communication programs from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) during the recent Philippine Quill 2013.

The company’s 2012 Annual Report, "Our Life’s Journey," received a citation under the Publication Design Category. Holcim Philippines’s internal newsletters Marker and Newsbreak and its Business Briefings, quarterly town hall meetings for employees on company performance, were also conferred with awards under the publications and employee communications categories, respectively. The awards were held on Nov. 11 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Holcim Philippines shared that its 2012 annual report was meant to commemorate a special year wherein it achieved record performance and joined the Holcim group in celebrating the centennial of the global brand. The company did this by packaging the annual report like a journal of a former Holcim employee turned overseas Filipino worker and compared his story to the company's milestones. His story was told in the section breakers, alongside illustrations that suggest doodles of the journal owner.

Holcim Philippines also shared how its internal newsletters, which come in print and digital formats, form the main pillars of an integrated, multi-channel program that have helped establish a culture of transparency and open communication in the company. Finally, Holcim Philippines discussed that its Business Briefings are a powerful venue for top management to cascade company performance as well as key issues and developments, surface employee feedback and sentiments, get support for key initiatives, and promote a stronger sense of unity and family.

Said Beng Prado, Holcim Philippines Vice President for Communications: “Our company believes that engaging both internal and external stakeholders is important to business success. Open and honest communication lines are crucial to strengthening engagement, and we are honored that the IABC recognizes our initiatives to contribute to this objective.”