A salute to rising up

Bangon.

Syllables uttered in the morning to get into the mindset of a new work day remind us of rituals of rubbing sleep from our eyes and again appreciating the taste of energizing coffee. To rise up late is also for the workers of the night shift, tending to the tasks that require alertness in the hours of the day when most are getting ready for rest.

Rousing ourselves from sleep again and again is a shared experience among the Filipino workforce as they carry out their different roles at work, for their families, or in their communities. And with the workforce being the backbone of the economy, it has always been important that the safety and well-being of every worker are protected.

In the early 1900s, Filipino workers Isabelo Delos Reyes and Herminigildo Cruz formed the first labor organization in the country to demand fair wages and proper working conditions from the government. The organization faced challenges where their leaders were arrested again and again, but they pushed on to defend the rights of the working class. To this day, labor unions and organizations continue to fight for workers’ rights.

Bangon.

These same syllables are what we hear when the times get tough at work or in life. As the struggle for optimal working conditions continue, workers tirelessly find ways to build things, get things done, and perform acts of service. We may get tired, face failure, or stumble, but there is nothing more satisfying than finding the strength to rise again and dust ourselves off to try one more time, which is truly something to be proud of.

This year, in celebration of Labor Day, Nescafé pays tribute to the struggles and triumphs of the Filipino workforce. Nescafé provides free coffee during this season to energize the spirit of every Pinoy worker – true to their battlecry of BANGON!

Nescafé coffee trucks visited transport stations and terminals in different parts of the Philippines to help perk up people’s days on their way to work. Pagbangon in both its literal and figurative meanings is something that every Pinoy worker faces bravely, and a cup of good coffee helps keep the spark inside alive.

"Ang bawat tasa ng kape ay pagkakataon para makapagsimula at bumangon sa anuman ang hinaharap. Mahalaga sa Nescafé na suportahan ang ating kapwa Pilipino na patuloy na bumabangon," says Justine Corpuz, senior brand manager of Nescafé Philippines.

Offices, construction sites, transport terminals, and more were filled with the aroma of the vibrant energy of Nescafé coffee. See 501,000 cups of Nescafé coffee reach Pinoy workers to pay tribute to the continuous hard work they put in every day:

Maraming salamat sa bawat manggagawang Pinoy!

Let’s continue to fight for the rights of every Filipino worker. Happy Labor Day! BANGON with Nescafé!