PBSP brings education projects to students in Olango

For Juana Soon, teaching dressmaking to senior high school students of Sta. Rosa National High School (NHS) for the first time was a tough challenge, especially when there are no sewing machines to use.

Still, she continued to find ways to make her students learn as much as they can because she knows the lessons will help them have a better life.

Olango Island, located five kilometers from LapuLapu City in Cebu, is home to more than 500 SHS students who are studying in three schools, including Sta. Rosa NHS. Being far from the city, the island is challenged with lack of facilities and equipment for students, including industry equipment necessary for their practical lessons.

“They need to learn how to use sewing machines so they can be capable interns and potential employees. The city has many locators (investors) in need of people with dressmaking skills. Even if it was hard, I just took the challenge as an exciting adventure. I used my gut in sealing partnerships with the local government units so we can use their workshop area for our classes every week. I had to make other arrangements for their transportation,” shared Soon, who is also a work immersion teacher of Sta. Rosa NHS. EDUCATING FOR A BETTER LIFE

It was therefore a dream come true when Soon’s school was given five new sewing machines by the Philippine Business for Social Progress, PBSP, together with Philippine Swimming, Inc. and sponsors, turned over three classrooms to Talima Elementary School. through the Olango Challenge (OC). The donation is part of the educational assistance project funded through the proceeds of OC open-water swimming race in Cebu.

The project, which will run for one year, aims to support the senior high school education of 190 students from Sta. Rosa NHS and Nemesio-Epifania Memorial NHS. Other components of the intervention include the provision of shielded metal arc welding equipment, immersion uniforms, assessment fees for national and technical vocational certifications, and monthly allowances for the students.

“Education is really important for them, and I was chosen to be their teacher because I know how important dressmaking is. I finished my studies from making clothes. If I can share this passion and skill to my students completely, I know I can give them another option to have a better life. The machines will really help them level up their practical skills,” Soon added.

PBSP Trustee and Visayas Regional Committee Chairman Jose Antonio Aboitiz led the recent launch of the project which was also attended by sponsors, supporters and OC organizers. Aside from the educational assistance, the event also turned over classrooms funded by the open water swim.

“We changed our focus (of the OC) this year and we decided to support the K to 12 program of DepEd by providing some scholarship assistance. With some of these, hopefully you can get very good work when you’re done,” Aboitiz said during the launch.

Beneficiaries of the scholarship assistance took the Accountancy, Business and Management; General Academic; and Humanities and Social Sciences strands of the Academic track and the Technical-Vocational Livelihood track of the SHS program.

CLASSROOMS FOR TALIMA

Company sponsors that joined the launch include AAI Worldwide Logistics, Cathay Pacific, Oriental Port & Allied Services Corporation, and Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc.

They visited the dressmaking workshop at Sta. Rosa NHS and observed the students using the newly donated machines. In the afternoon, the group trooped to Talima Elementary School and turned over three classrooms to the pupils.

“It has always been challenging to run the event and build the classroom, and many swimmers have done quite a bit of effort to be able to participate in this challenge. Now that you’ve seen how many different groups have come together to be able to help you to achieve your goals, the only way that you can pay us back is to do well and to one day help others to achieve their goals,” Aboitiz told the students.

Talima is the fourth school to receive classrooms (seventh to ninth) from the OC proceeds. Others are Caw-oy, Candagsao, and Tungasan, which each received two classrooms.

SWIMMING FOR EDUCATION

Launched in 2008, the Olango Challenge was organized by PBSP and Philippine Swimming, Inc. to promote open-water swimming as a sport in the country and raise funds for classrooms on Olango island. Since its launch, the event has pooled more than PhP 15 million from 900 swimmers and at least 30 corporate sponsors and individual donors.

This year, the focus of the event shifted to providing support to the K to 12 program of the Department of Education. This is through scholarship grants to senior high school students.