2016 marks the 90th year of Colgate-Palmolive in the Philippines and with that, the various global brands that have helped improve the lives of Filipinos. These brands include: Colgate, Palmolive, Gard, Tender Care, Axion and Ajax.

Colgate continues to be the Oral Care brand most recommended by Dentists* and Palmolive remains to be the #1 Personal Care brand, in the Philippines**.

Keeping Philippines Smiling has been the mission of the company since it first opened its doors in 1926 at Binondo, Manila. For almost 20 years, Colgate-Palmolive has been driving oral health education in public schools across the country, together with the Department of Education thru the Colgate Bright Smiles Bright Futures Program. This program provides oral health education as well as oral care kits (toothbrush, toothpaste) to every first grade public student in the Philippines. In 2015 school-year alone, 2.3 Million students benefited from this program.

The company is also the exclusive partner of the Philippine Dental Association since 2001 to raise oral health awareness during Oral Health Month. This February, we will offer free dental check-up and free fluoride treatment to 100 kids in 100 barangays. That’s 10,000 kids that will have healthier smiles at the end of the month.

The team has also been working closely with Public Health agencies to further improve the reach of oral health education and fluoride treatment application, among communities that need this support the most.

In addition, aspiring dentists have the opportunity to receive scholarship grants from Colgate-Palmolive and the Philippine Association of Dental Colleges. Our first scholar in the 1980s: Ma. Jona Godoy, DMD became Dean of CEU’s College of Dentistry and is an active officer representing the Philippines at the International Association for Dental Research (Southeast Asia Division) since 2000. Since the partnership was officially forged in 2001, Colgate-Palmolive and PADC have granted 248 scholarships.

Stephen Lau, Vice President and General Manager for Colgate-Palmolive Philippines explains “Indeed, the company feels privileged to have this opportunity and capacity to make a meaningful impact to the community. At Colgate-Palmolive, we firmly believe that good oral health is a basic right of every citizen.”

To Keep the Philippines Smiling even more in 2016, Colgate-Palmolive has teamed up with Operation Smile Philippines Foundation, Inc.. Operation Smile brings groups of medical volunteers from across the world to help indigent children afflicted with oral cleft. It is estimated that 1 in every 500 new-born babies in the Philippines has oral cleft. This life-changing surgery not only improves the child’s oral health but significantly boosts their confidence and self-esteem.

Puregold is the retail partner for this endeavour to help raise funds for surgeries, dental check-up and fluoride treatment. When Puregold shoppers buy participating Colgate products from February 15 to April 17, the amount of Php5 from every product purchased will be donated to Operation Smile.

“This collaboration with Operation Smile is only one of several activities that Colgate-Palmolive Philippines will implement on its 90th year. We have allocated significant resources for this year-long campaign of giving back to the Filipinos. I am proud to see that the entire organization is extremely dedicated towards Keeping the Philippines Smiling more each day”, declares Stephen Lau.

* IPSOS Dentist Recommendation Survey 2015
** Kantar Brand Footprint 2015