SUSTAINABILITY IS A COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY

CHAYE CABAL-REVILLA shares her passion for sustainability and how everyone can respond to the urgent call for action to save the world, our communities, and our loved ones

- GELO DIONORA

Eat ka na rin, my dear,” Chaye CabalRevilla tells me as I offer her a plate of salad during our interview.

We are dining al fresco at Blackbird, observing strict social distancing and safety measures at all times. A relaxing atmosphere surrounds us: the sun has just set, the night city lights are slowly illuminating Ayala Triangle, and large speakers are playing a mix of jazz and acoustic classics. Following her cue, I munch on a beetroot before I proceed with my next question.

Admittedly, I was nervous prior to this dinner interview. With friends, it’s easy to eat and engage in hearty conversations. However, a discussion with Metro Pacific Investment Corporation’s chief finance officer and chief sustainability officer, a multi-awarded finance leader, and a 2013 The Outstanding Young Men awardee for community service is a completely different story.

“Conversational lang tayo, honey,” she assures me with a sweet smile, as if she knew what was bugging me all afternoon. With my worries gone, I take a sip of water and resume our interview.

A SENSE OF DUTY

“I grew up in a service-oriented environment,” Cabal-Revilla replies when I ask her about how her sense of civic responsibility came about.

Her parents, Jun and Betty Cabal, are government officials in their home province of Leyte. The finance executive fondly remembers how her father would open their doors to people from all walks of life, inviting them over for a meal or two.

“As a kid, I got used to sharing breakfast, lunch, and even dinner with visitors and people that we didn’t know but we were helping,” she recalls. “I was raised with the mindset that our blessings aren’t for us to keep, but for us to share.”