A mantra is not merely a collection of words—it is a living covenant that binds our vision to our actions. At Waves, our mantra fuses indigenous wisdom, historical memory, and contemporary governance into a coherent way of life for our enterprise. It is composed of seven guiding images—Funnel of Love, Rock of Truth, River of Justice, Mountain of Peace, Fountain of Joy, Ocean of Abundance, and Canvas of Beauty. Each image is deeply rooted in our people’s history, interpreted through our corporate ethics, and embodied in our daily operations.
Rock of Truth (Bato ng Katotohanan ᜊᜆᜓ ᜈᜅ᜔ ᜃᜆᜓᜆᜓᜑᜈᜈ᜔)
The Rock of Truth is the immovable foundation of our corporate being and character. In the dap-ay or ato councils of the Cordillera highlands during the precolonial and early colonial periods, elders upheld truth as the decisive factor in resolving disputes. Their authority was grounded in their role as custodians of communal memory, ensuring that testimonies and verdicts reflected verifiable events rather than political convenience (Scott, 1994). This heritage guides our commitment to transparency in our finances, authenticity in our communications, and integrity in every agreement we enter. We view truth as a non-negotiable asset; without it, trust erodes and enterprise collapses. Every ledger entry, public statement, and contractual clause must therefore pass the test of factual accuracy and ethical soundness.
Funnel of Love (Lagusan ng Pag-ibig ᜎᜄᜓᜐᜈ᜔ ᜈᜅ᜔ ᜉᜄ᜔ᜁᜊᜒᜄ᜔)
The Funnel of Love channels our relationships into meaningful and mutually beneficial connections. Our cultural memory recalls the bayanihan tradition, where entire villages joined to carry a neighbor’s house to a new location, an act rooted not in charity but in reciprocal solidarity (Covar, 1998). In our community life, this means cultivating empathy in leadership, fairness in negotiations, and genuine concern for the well-being of employees, partners, and host communities. Just as the bayanihan spirit filtered diverse contributions into a single act of uplift, we filter the complexity of human experience into decisions and strategies that are life-giving and people-centered. In doing so, we strengthen the web of trust that sustains both community and commerce.
River of Justice (Ilog ng Katarungan ᜁᜎᜓᜄ᜔ ᜈᜅ᜔ ᜃᜆᜇᜓᜅᜈ᜔)
The River of Justice flows through our operations with a relentless commitment to fairness. In the pre-Hispanic Visayas, the Sanduguan or blood compact established alliances grounded in mutual protection, equitable exchange, and shared responsibility for one another’s welfare (Agoncillo, 1990). This practice recognized that justice was relational; to betray fairness was to betray kinship. In our time, this translates into wage equity across gender and ethnic lines, prioritizing suppliers from marginalized communities, and taking public stands against exploitative practices in industries connected to our work. Justice, like a river, must keep moving. We therefore see advocacy, fair trade, and ethical labor as essential currents in our corporate journey toward a more equitable economy.
Mountain of Peace (Bundok ng Kapayapaan ᜊᜓᜈ᜔ᜇᜓᜃ᜔ ᜈᜅ᜔ ᜃᜉᜌᜉᜀᜈ᜔)
The Mountain of Peace represents the elevated perspective from which we make decisions, resisting the temptation to be drawn into the valleys of conflict without vision for the whole landscape. In Mindanao, historic kasabutan peace pacts between Lumad and Moro leaders were often negotiated in highland areas, both for security and as a symbolic act of rising above hostilities (Rodil, 2000). This heritage informs our refusal to operate in ways that exacerbate violence, our investment in interfaith and intercultural dialogue, and our reliance on mediation and restorative justice in resolving disputes. Peace in our corporate culture does not mean the absence of disagreement, but the presence of processes that lead to reconciliation, mutual respect, and collaborative solutions.
Fountain of Joy (Bukal ng Kagalakan ᜊᜓᜃᜎ᜔ ᜈᜅ᜔ ᜃᜄᜎᜃᜈ᜔)
The Fountain of Joy is our renewable source of energy, flowing from gratitude rather than mere profit. The pahiyas festival in Lucban, Quezon, celebrates the harvest regardless of its size, adorning homes with vibrant displays in an expression of thanks and communal resilience. This joy was never contingent on surplus but on the recognition of life’s gifts. In our corporate life, we embrace joy as a morale-building force, celebrating milestones, acknowledging the contributions of every team member, and encouraging volunteerism and acts of kindness. By keeping this fountain active, we maintain resilience and creativity even in seasons of economic uncertainty.
Ocean of Abundance (Karagatan ng Kasaganaan ᜃᜇᜄᜆᜈ᜔ ᜈᜅ᜔ ᜃᜐᜄᜈᜀᜈ᜔)
The Ocean of Abundance is the deep assurance that there is enough for all when resources are stewarded wisely. The Sama-Bajau seafaring communities of the Sulu Archipelago sustained their livelihoods through practices that balanced human need with ecological regeneration, ensuring that the sea’s bounty could support future generations (Nimmo, 2001). This history informs our rejection of scarcity-driven competition in favor of resource-sharing models, sustainable sourcing, and triple bottom line accounting—measuring success not only in profit but in positive impact on people and the planet. We see abundance not as excess accumulation, but as the capacity to meet the needs of the present without compromising the future.
Canvas of Beauty (Kanbas ng Kagandahan ᜃᜈᜊᜐ᜔ ᜈᜅ᜔ ᜃᜄᜈᜇᜑᜈ᜔)
Finally, the Canvas of Beauty is our commitment to ensure that everything we create reflects harmony, dignity, and cultural respect. The okir woodcarvings of the Maranao and the ukit craftsmanship of the Ifugao were never merely decorative—they embodied values of symmetry, balance, and the integration of human artistry with natural forms. In our work, beauty is expressed in the design of products, the ethics of production, and the environments in which our people labor. Every decision, from packaging to workplace architecture, is a brushstroke in the greater artwork of our mission.
Together, these seven images form a single living covenant. At Waves, the mantra is not a slogan hung on the wall, but a binding principle in boardroom decisions, community engagements, and daily workplace culture. Love, truth, justice, peace, joy, abundance, and beauty are not independent ideals; they are interdependent forces. The absence of one weakens the whole, while the presence of all creates a self-sustaining ecosystem of trust, prosperity, and harmony. By living this mantra, we seek to become more than a business—we aspire to be a peacebuilding and transformative body rooted in the wisdom of our ancestors, faithful to the Creator’s harmony, and committed to the flourishing of all.
References
Agoncillo, Teodoro A. History of the Filipino People. Garotech Publishing, 1990.
Covar, Prospero R. Larangan: Seminal Essays on Philippine Culture. University of the Philippines Press, 1998.
Nimmo, Harry Arlo. Magosaha: An Ethnography of the Tawi-Tawi Sama Dilaut. Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2001.
Rodil, B. R. The Minoritization of the Indigenous Communities of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. Alternate Forum for Research in Mindanao, 2000.
Scott, William Henry. Barangay: Sixteenth-Century Philippine Culture and Society. Ateneo de Manila University Press, 1994.
