CAHS names Hotel Sogo Managing Director, Ed Las distinguished alumnus

Ed Las, also known as S1 in the corporate world, the Managing Director of Hotel Sogo, has been named Most Distinguished Alumnus last 2021 by Cayetano Arellano High School. Ed Las has prominent awards under his belt but most notable through his charitable works of selflessness by sharing his success to the people he could reach out through Hotel Sogo and his foundation.

He was behind the enormous success of Hotel Sogo, the largest hotel chain in the country, with 44 branches nationwide and more in its pipeline and its Corporate Social Responsibility Program –Sogo Cares.

Ed Las formally introduce Sogo Cares to the public last 2015 with a slogan of "We Bridge Gaps to Build Better Communities." Since then, it continuously extends its humanitarian services by donating materials such as towels, food, linen, clothing, and bottled water to indigent communities.

"I was aware of what the guests need and what they deserve when it comes to accommodation. In the same manner I knew that there is a need to help those who have less in life, a way to give back to our fellow kababayans. That why we established Sogo Cares, Hotel Sogo Corporate Social Responsibility program " –Ed Las, Hotel Sogo Managing Director Bannering, the Sogo Cares program, is the Doctors-on-Wheels (DOW) that provides free medical missions and consultations, laboratory examinations, and medications to underserved communities. The DOW already reached and provided medical assistance to remote areas of Pangasinan,Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bataan, Zambales, Bicol and Iloilo. To date, Hotel Sogo has conducted more than 400 medical missions and served more than 270,000 Filipinos.

"Our company believes so much in the value of giving. I want to inspire other people. In doing so, the cycle of sharing and helping never ends. We have to be present in the lives of others. It is our joy to do good and give hope during these dark times and be an aspiration to younger businessmen". Mr. Ed -added.

During the lockdown period last 2020, Ed Las and the company provided P80M worth of free accommodation to healthcare workers and frontliners in different Hotel Sogo branches. Aside from the DOW program, there are advocacies and humanitarian activities such as the Heroes Assistance for Filipino Policemen, Adopt-a-Family program, Balik-Eskwela, and Donations and Relief Operations.

With the most recent Typhoon Odette, SOGO CARES immediately distributed thousands of linens, towels, sacks of rice, canned goods, bottled water, noodles, coffee, and other necessities to Cebu, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Surigao, Siargao Island, Limasawa Island, and Palawan in coordination with DSWD, Philippine Air Force and other local government units. "It was not an easy journey for me to achieve all my accomplishments and be regarded as one of the most distinguished man of today. It was not an overnight success. There were lots of struggles and hard work that I withstood with resilience. I am most grateful for my familys support and other businessmen who encouraged me to pursue my dreams. There were other good men who were also distinguished and extra helpful in their ways that may be called distinguished men too, but I believe it is a true passion to help others that made me the "one," stated by S1.

With the support of his entire family, S1 established the Las, Tuazon & Sons Foundation to empower the youth in pursuing their dreams. To date, his foundation has provided financial support to (10) scholars of the Pamantasan Ng Lungsod Ng Maynila Scholars Foundation, Inc. (PLMSFI), (50) grantees from Arellano High School, and (5) independent scholars from various schools. Moreover, S1 has also provided housing and educational assistance to (10) orphans of the House of Mary Foundation based in Sta. Maria Bulacan.

"Being known as one of the Most Distinguished Alumni is one thing, but being known as a good and humble man is what success is all about," S1 shares proudly.

Hotel Sogo is the fastest-growing hospitality and lodging provider in the Philippines with 44 branches across the archipelago that provides top notch hotel services and facilities at very affordable rate.

For more information about Hotel Sogo visit www.hotelsogo.com or like/follow their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram page @hotelsogo.