It was a business program yet unseen in the automotive industry. When Universal Motors Corporation launched the innovative Ur Van, Ur Business (UVUB) Program in 2006, it revolutionized vehicle marketing and its role in encouraging entreprenueurship.

UVUB responded to the entrepreneurial spirit of the Filipino. It promotes and encourages entrepreneurship with the versatile Nissan Urvan as the ideal business partner.

UVUB is not only a marketing program. It is an advocacy to contribute to the development of Filipino society. Under the program, P1,000 is donated to the non-profit organization Center for Community Transformation (CCT) for every Nissan Urvan sold.

The program provides seed money to assist underprivileged microentrepreneurs as well as provide funding for Entrep-Skwela, a grassroots level entrepreneurship training program.

Today, UVUB has helped over 3,000 families and assisted in the creation of more than 4,400 individual jobs.

UVUB partnered with SGV Foundation and the ABS-CBN News Channel for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year – Philippines 2009 awards banquet held recently at the Makati Shangri-la Hotel. UVUB honored selected entrepreneurs who share the program’s mission.

Recipient of the UVUB Inspiring Entrepreneur Award is Ricardo Reyes, Jr., popularly known as Ricky Reyes. His inspiring rags-to-riches story has been retold many times.

Beyond his success is a compassion for others that is evident in Reyes’ numerous charities. He runs the nationwide livelihood program Hanapbuhay at Bagong Buhay sa Isang Gunting at Isang Suklay, which trains people from impoverished communities to become hairdressers. Reyes is also the founder of CHILD Haus (Center for Health Improvement and Life Development), a 220-bed home for children with cancer.

The UVUB Social Awareness Award was also given to Mary Grace Arboleda-Young, president of the Cordillera Coffee Company, Inc. A native of Kalinga Apayao, she put up a social enterprise that benefited the native coffee farmers by establishing fair trade practices and protecting them from exploitation.

At the same time, the company aims to promote the rich cultural heritage of the Cordillera region.
Eventually, the company established Coffee AID (Assistance for Indigenous Development) to empower coffee farming communities by providing them with volunteer and investment opportunities and spearheading various community livelihood and development projects.