Floirendo Foundation donates classrooms to Panabo grade school
At some point in our lives, we were made to believe that our school is our second home. This is why we grew accustomed to caring for our blackboards, tables, and chairs the same way we treat pieces of furniture in our own living room.
But this is not always the case, especially to those who do not find comfort in their learning environment. To some of them, school feels light years away from being their second home.
In hopes of creating a positive learning environment for the youth, the Don Antonio O. Floirendo, Sr. Foundation, Inc., in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), donated three new classrooms to Roxas Elementary School in Barangay Lower Panaga, Panabo City.
The rooms, which were inaugurated last July 23, can accommodate a total of 140 students.
One of the faculty members of the school, Niña Pasa, considered this a great improvement since her students no longer have to bear the burden of sitting elbow to elbow with their classmates.
“You cannot imagine how difficult it is for a child to concentrate in an overpopulated room, that’s why it’s really inadvisable to combine two grade levels in one classroom,” she admitted.
One of Pasa’s students, fourth grader Jessa Mae Mamacus, agreed that several factors brought by the confined space, such as intense heat and unbearable noise, distracted them from their lessons.
“Of course all of us are excited to transfer to the new rooms. Now I feel motivated to participate in class,” Mamacus said.
Before the turnover ceremony, the school only had three classrooms for the 157 currently enrolled. At least two grade levels were crammed in one classroom, making it extremely challenging for both teachers and students to pay full attention to their lessons. There was no space left for interaction and class activities. This obstacle proved to be the most difficult to overcome since they expect an increase in their population every year.
“The Floirendo Foundation blessed us with these gifts. In the future, there will be more students enrolled in our school and they too will benefit from these rooms,” said Roberto Candelasa, Jr., Roxas ES School Head, in his acceptance message.
“This building will bring significant changes to the lives of our students,” he concluded.
Also present in the ceremony was Victoria Floirendo-Brias, daughter of Floirendo Foundation President Maricris Brias, and Executive Director Russell U. Barrizo.
Speaking on behalf of her mother, the young Brias expressed how the foundation places heavy importance on education. This initiative to make conducive educational setting for them is a manifestation of the foundation’s commitment to help children gain worthwhile experiences in school and mould them to become responsible citizens in the future.
“Education is very important to us. Thank you for allowing us to come to your barangay. My wish is that you will be able to use these classrooms in the years to come,” Brias said.
The Floirendo Foundation is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of the Anflo Group of Companies. For several years, it has successfully carried out its mission in administering public-oriented services to different communities, particularly to the marginalized sectors in the society.
The foundation exists to fulfil its purpose to improve lives and develop communities through its health care, livelihood, educational, and environmental programs.
