We’re proud to share with you an update on the current school building construction through funds from the Olango Challenge at Caw-oy! It is through your generous support that we can now provide proper classrooms for the kids in the area.

School: Alas-as Elementary School, San Nicolas, Batangas

Turnover: May 11, 2012

In response to the call of the Department of Education to help address the country’s classroom gap, Jollibee has committed to build 40 classrooms beginning 2011 under its Build-A-Classroom Project. Jollibee is one of the companies that serve as forefront in Bayanihang Pampaaralan.

(Photos courtesy of Jollibee Foundation)

As one of the endorsers of the new bottled water brand Hope in a Bottle, Boy graces its launch at the Kenny Rogers Roasters Katipunan on March 20. Hope in a Bottle is launched by Friends of Hope, Inc. (FOH), a non-profit organization that aims to empower the youth through education. It hopes to achieve its main goal of helping build classrooms in public schools all over the country with the full profits from the sale of Hope in a Bottle.

How a bottle helps

As a proud product of public schooling, Boy readily jumped at the chance to be part of this advocacy. Aside from him, the campaign is hinged on several other celebrities that trace their roots to public schools: Jericho Rosales, Bea Alonzo and Joey De Leon; as well as broadcaster, professor, writer and economist Winnie Monsod.

These endorsers also appear on a TVC that was first shown to the media at the press briefing, directed by Yam Laranaz, another former public school student.

Boy would say about the TVC, “Para sa akin, hindi po ito isang kwento, ito po ay isang karanasan. This is a real story for me. Pinagdaanan ko po ‘yung walang bubong [ang silid aralan]; totoo ‘yan, ‘yung nasa ilalim ng [punong-] kahoy lalo na pag halimbawa’y nasisira ‘yung mga classrooms namin.”

Speaking on behalf of the other endorsers, Boy enjoins, “[Kami ay] nanghihikayat sa buong kabayanan na magtulungan, at sa pamamagitan nga ng Hope in a Bottle, ay sana’y makapagpatayo tayo ng mas maraming classrooms. 60,000 plus classrooms ang kulang sa atin sa bansa.”

A band of hopefuls

Before the launch, Hope in a Bottle is already being made available though their partner establishments that, Nanette says, “all came forward very early on and said we’re going to support you. And we’re so grateful to them. These are the people na talagang mapapansin mo na it’s not always about the money. They were really so generous.”

This, the bottled water brand is available now at Krispy Kreme, Jamba Juice, Seattle’s Best, Rustan’s Shopwise, Kenny Rogers Roasters, Super 8, Suy Sing, Landmark, Ultra Mega Wholesale and Retail Mart, South Supermarkets and select Robinsons Supermarkets.

One early supporter of the project, though, was Dolphy, who couldn’t participate further due to his current condition. But he “will always be a part of Hope,” Nanette says.

“It was really an effort,” Nanette says. “But the Filipino really has this sense of collective heroism, which is why sa atin nanggaling ‘yung People Power, ‘di ba? So we baka we could use this for good, and put it towards something very tangible.”

As explained at the media gathering, the FOH and its partner PBSP [Philippine Business for Social Progress] will manage the sales profits, working on the list of schools that need the funds most provided by the Deparment of Education [DepEd]. Supporters can then view the development on Facebook page, which would soon carry the Hope Meter to show the fundraising progress. With enough funds, a school is chosen and thus announced on the FB page along with the amount allocated, the contractor that would build the classrooms, and the names of the school principal and the DepEd administrator—all in the interest of transparency.

Aside from other celebrities and ordinary folks taking up the cause, Boy and the people behind the movement are hoping the owners of the major networks, as well as other businesses would jump in and band together for this worthy endeavor.

For more information, check out Hope In A Bottle on Facebook or follow @HopeInABottle on Twitter.

Written by Annie Alejo, 22 March 2012, Manila Bulletin

apl.de.ap (a.k.a. Allan Pineda-Lindo, Jr.) was recently in Cagayan de Oro for the groundbreaking ceremony of a two-storey, four-classroom schoolbuilding he donated for students of Balulang Elementary School. The project is funded by the “We Can Be Anything” education campaign in coordination with the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF).

We Can Be Anything is an education advocacy campaign, born of a partnership between the Apl.de.Ap Foundation (AdAF) and NCAF.
The campaign was conceived after apl.de.ap, the Filipino-American member of the world-famous Black Eyed Peas, expressed his desire to help improve the education situation in the Philippines.

From his own experience, he knew that, many Filipinos are mired in poverty or in other difficult circumstances. Education is the only long-term ticket to a better life. Unfortunately, millions of youth are deprived of this ticket. One basic obstacle is the severe shortage of public school classrooms; the Department of Education (DepEd) estimates the backlog at 66,800 classrooms as of schoolyear 2010-2011, Another factor is the barren environment for learning in many parts of the country due to scarce resources with which to set up libraries and similar facilities.

Several organizations have launched programs to address these and many other problems besetting the Philippine educational system. Through his foundation, apl.de.ap wants to be able to help some of these programs.

To give apl.de.ap a platform for his advocacy, NCAF appointed him as special ambassador for education of the iamninoy-iamcory Movement in February 2011.

Through the We Can Be Anything campaign, he lends music and personal network to rally a massive support for key education initiatives, while reinforcing the broader message on the importance of education.

Proceeds of the campaign will benefit the Bayanihang Pampaaralan initiative of thr 57-75 Movement for educational reform and the MyLibrary program of Ayala Foundation/ Philippine Development Foundation.

The  campaign is made possible by the generous support of sponsors like PLDT-Smart Foundation, Meralco Foundation, Philippine Airlines, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

Sangay Integrated School now has three (3) fully-furnished classrooms to use donated by the Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores Y De Cooperacion and AECID in partnership with Fundacion Humanismo Y Democracia and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).

Two (2) classrooms were recently turned over to Sacol Elementary School in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte by the Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores Y De Cooperacion and AECID in partnership with Fundacion Humanismo Y Democracia and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).

Teachers and students of Magallanes National High School no longer need to hold classes in a place not conducive for studying. Recently, three (3) classrooms were turned over to them by the Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores Y De Cooperacion and AECID in partnership with Fundacion Humanismo Y Democracia and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).

Carmen National High School recently opened two (2) new classrooms for its students in Carmen, Agusan del Norte. The construction was made possible through the Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores Y De Cooperacion and AECID in partnership with Fundacion Humanismo Y Democracia and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).

In 2011, Philam Foundation has embarked on a project called “Philam Paaralan,” which aims to improve the quality of education in the Philippines through classroom construction in underprivileged communities including typhoon-devastated provinces. Recently, they have enrolled this project in the Bayanihang Pampaaralan initiative starting off with the building of eight (8) classrooms with restrooms for four (4) schools in Isabela.

Tigpalay Elementary School in Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay opened three (3) new classrooms built through the efforts of Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores Y De Cooperacion and AECID in partnership with Fundacion Humanismo Y Democracia and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).

Date of Construction: December 27, 2010
Date of Turnover : March 22, 2011

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines—The devastation brought by tropical storm “Sendong” should not prevent students from fulfilling their dreams of becoming professionals one day.

This was the message conveyed by international pop sensation apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda in real life) when he led the groundbreaking for the construction of a two-story building at the Balulang Elementary School on Friday.

The school sustained heavy damage during the onslaught of Sendong.

Of the school’s 27 classrooms, 10 were damaged beyond repair. The school also lost 7,765 textbooks, 36 television sets, several computers, DVD players and other school supplies.

Among its 1,450 students, 9 remain missing.

But apl.de.ap, who grew up in Pampanga province, said there had to be places where dreams could be nurtured and the classroom being built would be one of them.

Nurturing dreams

“I want everybody to keep on dreaming, and to do that, there has to be a place for you to dream,” apl.de.ap said of the project, funded under the “We Can Be Anything” education campaign in coordination with the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF).

The Black Eyed Peas member, who first visited this city immediately after the devastating December flood, said constructing the school building was necessary in the case of the Balulang Elementary School.

“I’ve seen a lot of schools devastated and I’ve seen that it was really needed here,” he said.

According to apl.de.ap, the groundbreaking only marked the start of the effort to rebuild the damaged school buildings.

Joining him in the groundbreaking ceremony were Dr. Myrna Motoomull, Department of Education assistant director for Northern Mindanao; Anita Gomez, Balulang Elementary School principal; NCAF president Rafael Lopa; Polo Molina, manager of the Black Eyed Peas, and Audie Vergara, his manager.

Beautiful beginning

“This is a beautiful beginning, a beautiful rebuilding, especially in education,” he said amid the jubilation of students who came to see him.

“We are here to provide help and service, the building of a school is really a great idea,” apl.de.ap said.

The ongoing WCBA campaign has so far raised more than P4 million from fundraising events and online contributions through www.wecanbeanything.com. More are expected to be raised through WCBA events in Boracay, Manila, Singapore, London, Cannes (France), and the United States in the next few months.

Special way

The advocacy started after apl.de.ap was appointed special ambassador for education of the IamNinoy-IamCory Movement, NCAF’s program to tap the heroic side of the Filipino youth in February 2011.

Subsequently, apl.de.ap composed the song “We Can Be Anything” to inspire children to “get an education” to “change their situation” and achieve their dreams in life.

A music video of that song became the main marketing material for the WCBA campaign and has been viewed countless times on television and online through the official and allied sites, YouTube, Facebook and other social networks.

(Written by Cai Panlilio, Inquirer Mindanao, 25 February 2012)

Filipino-American entertainer apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas takes time out from his commercial engagements tomorrow, February 24, to attend the groundbreaking ceremonies for a two-storey building to house four new classrooms in Balulang Elementary School in Barangay Balulang, Cagayan de Oro (CDO) City.

Balulang Elementary School, which has 1,450 students, is one of many CDO schools that sustained heavy losses in terms of human casualties and damaged facilities as a result of massive floods induced by Typhoon Sendong last December. The body of one student of the school has so far been found, and nine other students are still missing. Ten of the school’s 27 classrooms, plus its science laboratory, were damaged beyond repair, requiring the construction of new facilities.

The school also lost 7,765 text books, 36 sets of television and DVD players, three computers and printers, as well as school supplies, teaching aids, reference materials, work books, and lesson guides, among others.

The Cagayan de Oro City Schools Division of the Department of Education estimated total damage to schools in the city at PhP17,100,000.

In the aftermath of Typhoon Sendong last December, apl.de.ap visited CDO for a first-hand look at the damage wrought on classrooms in the city. After that visit, he chose Balulang Elementary School as the site of the first classroom to be built out of funds raised through the “We Can Be Anything” (WCBA) education advocacy.

Launched last October, WCBA is a partnership between the apl.de.ap Foundation and the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF). Its main beneficiary is Bayanihang Pampaaralan, the consolidated private sector effort to build 10,000 public school classrooms to help address the severe classroom backlog nationwide.

The ongoing WCBA campaign has so far generated over PhP4 million from fund-raising events and online contributions through www.wecanbeanything.com. Much more will be raised through WCBA events in Boracay, Manila, Singapore, London, Cannes (France), and the United States in the next few months.

The advocacy concept was hatched after apl was appointed special ambassador for education of the iamninoy-iamcory movement, NCAF’s program to surface the heroic side of the Filipino youth in February 2011. Subsequently, apl composed the song “We Can Be Anything” to inspire kids to “get an education” to “change their situation” and achieve their dreams in life. A music video of that song became the main marketing material for the WCBA campaign and has been viewed countless times on television and online through the official and allied sites, YouTube, Facebook and other social networks.

Joining apl.de.ap in the groundbreaking ceremony are: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­Dr. Myrna S. Motoomull, Assistant Regional Director, Region X, Department of Education; Anita S. Gomez, Balulang Elementary School Principal; Rafael C. Lopa, NCAF President; Polo Molina, Manager of the Black Eyed Peas; and Audie Vergara, Manager of apl.de.ap.

Source: http://iamninoy.com/index.php/news/article/d595124a-5dbb-11e1-a746-001617d92dea

MANILA, Philippines – Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Armin Luistro receives from Ayala Corporation chairman emeritus Jaime Zobel de Ayala, chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, and president and COO Fernando Zobel de Ayala, the company’s pledge of P2.5 million to support TEN Moves!, a private sector-led campaign to help DepEd address classroom shortage nationwide. The Ayala Young Leaders Congress, Integrated Micro-Electronicsemployees and Ayala Multi-Purpose Cooperative also donated more than P1 million to the cause. With Luistro and the Zobels are (from left) Ayala managing director John Philip Orbeta, Vicky Garchitorena, Ayala Foundation president Luli Heras-de Leon and senior director Mario Deriquito.

Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=776681&publicationSubCategoryId=473

MANILA, Philippines—A public-private fund-raising initiative aimed at addressing the perennial shortage in public school classrooms will focus its efforts on rebuilding damaged schools in cities devastated by Tropical Storm “Sendong” for the meantime.

TEN Moves (The Entire Nation Moves), a project of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the corporate-led 57-75 Movement, aims to raise P6 billion for the construction of public school classrooms nationwide by encouraging individuals to donate P10 per day for the next 10 months. The project was launched in October last year.

But in the first quarter of the year, TEN Moves will channel donations to the rehabilitation of classrooms partially or completely destroyed by the storm that lashed and flooded Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities in northern Mindanao on Dec. 17.

“The government alone cannot respond to all these needs as it also has to attend to other rehabilitation requirements such as health, relocation, housing, livelihood and others,” TEN Moves said.

“Thus, for the first quarter of 2012, we will be directing TEN Moves contributions to the construction of classrooms in the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro,” the organization said on its website.

The widespread flooding in northern Mindanao caused some P114.9 million in damage to classrooms, school equipment and learning materials in about 60 schools across the region.

TEN Moves renewed its call on Filipinos to support its effort by making donations through bank deposit, wire transfer, credit card or text. Details are posted on the TEN Moves website, www.tenmoves.org.

“We encourage everyone to help in this urgent rebuilding effort. If you have already made your pledge but haven’t had a chance to send in your donation, this would be the best time to do it. Likewise, we appeal for your support in promoting TEN Moves with people who are looking for an avenue to help the typhoon victims,” the organization said.

TEN Moves said it collected P3.29 million in donations from more than 1,000 individuals from October to December last year.

With the TEN Moves project, the DepEd hopes to address the need for at least 50,000 classrooms in the next two years.

(Written by Tarra Quismundo, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 22 January 2012)

The Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores Y De Cooperacion and AECID in partnership with Fundacion Humanismo Y Democracia and Philippine Business for Social Progress turned over three (3) new classrooms to San Jose Elementary School in Ocampo, Camarines Sur.

Construction Started: September 28, 2010
Classroom Turnover: March 17, 2011

Two (2) new classrooms were built for Bayandong Elementary School in Bacacay, Albay under the Bayanihang Pampaaralan. The project was made possible by the Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores Y De Cooperacion and AECID in partnership with Fundacion Humanismo Y Democracia and Philippine Business for Social Progress.

Construction Started: September 28, 2010
Classroom Turnover: March 16, 2011

MANILA, Philippines—From providing free advertising and promotion to initiating fund-raisers among employees, corporations are making all the right moves for education.

Joining the ranks of Filipinos who have lent a hand to the cause, companies both here and abroad are taking part in TEN Moves (The Entire Nation Moves), a public-private effort to address the classroom backlog in public schools by raising P6 billion by October this year.

Initiated by the Department of Education (DepEd) and corporate-led education advocacy group 57-75 movement, the campaign hopes to encourage Filipinos around the world to contribute P10 a day for 10 months for the construction of new public school classrooms.

“Whenever we talk to people about it, we sense that people are excited because, first, it’s easy to do, it’s very doable,” says TEN Moves convenor Mario Derequito.

“It’s very clear, very easy, and time-bound. And because it’s time-bound, there is a sense of urgency. You know that you will not be giving forever. [You can give] even just once,” he tells the Inquirer.

For one, cinemas in Ayala Malls have started airing TEN Moves advertisements in Metro Manila, Pampanga, Cebu and Davao, according to TEN Moves.

The ads will run until the campaign ends in October 2012.

Ayala Corp. has also handed over donations and pledges from employees, apart from the P100,000 it gave through its youth development arm, the Ayala Young Leaders Congress.

Multinationals including Coca-Cola, Thomson Reuters and Integrated Microelectronics Inc. have also initiated their own fund-raisers for TEN Moves, encouraging employees to pitch in.

DN Steel, Lafarge Cement and members of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce also gathered funds for the construction of a primary school in Mt. Pulag in Benguet.

Japan’s Mitsubishi Corp. also donated $65,000 (about P2.8 million) to fund the reconstruction of classrooms in Northern Mindanao, where schools were wiped out following the devastation of Tropical Storm Sendong in December.

TEN Moves has decided to devote funds raised in the first quarter of the year to classroom reconstruction efforts in the disaster-stricken region.

Aside from corporations and their employees, students in some of the country’s top universities have also initiated their own fund-raisers to help the cause.

TEN Moves says groups of students from Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University are setting up their own campaigns at school.

Newlyweds Isabel Lacson and Lester Estrada also decided to donate P10,000 to TEN Moves as the souvenir of their February 4 wedding at the Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus at the Newport development in Pasay City.

Their 300 guests came home with a donation in their name and a thank you note from the couple that read: “In lieu of souvenirs, we have decided to spread the joy of our wedding beyond today by placing a donation on behalf of our guests to the TEN Moves Program.”

“We felt strongly that making a charitable donation created a more lasting impression on our guests, and also provided a good opportunity to drive awareness for a specific cause,” Lacson says.

“We hope that the information would allow our monetary contribution to TEN Moves to grow beyond being a one-time activity, but rather a first step; that our contribution of 10,000 pesos would snowball into greater awareness among our 300 guests, and with that even more support for the cause of education,” Lacson adds.

Filipinos in Australia have also started a campaign to collect $10 a month for 10 months from their 50,000-strong community, TEN Moves says.

At the Philippine Embassy in New Zealand, Filipinos have also adopted the campaign, distributing information about TEN Moves through their mobile consular services.

“We’re hopeful that perhaps in the next two to three months, the campaign should catch fire,” says Derequito.

(Written by Tarra Quismundo, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 20 February 2012)

Students of the new Mt. Pulag Primary School in Brgy. Bashoy, Kabayan, Benguet, possibly the highest school in the PHL at 7748 ft., receive Christmas gifts during ‘Oplan Pultak Para sa Mt. Pulag’ day. The school was built with the help of the group Ten Moves. (Rick Rocamora)

Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/photo/13177/students-on-mt-pulag-get-new-school-and-gifts

San Beda College of Law Batch ’86 turned over its donations to Children’s Hour during their Alumni Homecoming in Club Filipino, San Juan City. SBC Law Batch ’86 raised funds to help build one classroom in Cataingan, Masbate, under the Bayanihang Pampaaralan program. Children’s Hour Trustee, Atty. Michael T. Toledo attended the celebration to receive the donation and personally thank SBC Law Batch ’86.

Photo shows (L-R): Judge Ruben Reynaldo G. Roxas (SBC Law Batch ‘86), Constantino Navarro III (SBC Law Batch ’86), Solomon M. Hermosura (SBC Law Batch ’86), Ma. Eliza C. Hermosura (SBC Law Batch ’91), and Children’s Hour Trustee Atty. Michael T. Toledo.

Source: http://www.childrenshour.org.ph/news-a-updates/96-san-beda-college-of-law-batch-86-commemorates-silver-jubilee-with-childrens-hour