“Kitang-kita ko ang saya at ginhawa sa mata ng anak ko pag-uwi niya, suot na niya ang kanyang bagong salamin. Simula pa noong siya’y Grade 1, iniinda na niya ang panlalabo ng paningin, pero hindi namin siya agad naipatingin o nabili ng salamin dahil kapos kami sa budget,” shared Mrs. Solis, mother of Maria, a Grade 6 student who recently received a free pair of prescription eyeglasses.
Maria is one of 1,012 public school students from Batangas and Laguna who received free prescription eyeglasses from Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI) and Ideal Vision Center. For many of them, it was their first time to see clearly—and their smiles and expressions of “wow” upon first wearing eyeglasses say it all.
The eyeglasses, produced and donated by Ideal Vision Center during the first quarter of 2025, are the result of comprehensive eye screenings conducted in the last quarter of 2024. A total of 1,415 students underwent vision screening through the efforts of Ideal Vision’s volunteer optometrists and support staff, ensuring that each pair met the specific needs of every child.
Among the beneficiaries is Sto. Tomas North Central School, whose principal, Emelda Malolos, expressed deep gratitude. “Your kindness and commitment to improving vision have made a profound impact on our students. They now see the world with more joy and their dreams more clearly. This initiative has not only enhanced their learning experience but also eased the burden on both parents and teachers.”
Teacher Karen Micosa of Sta. Anastacia Elementary School also observed noticeable changes in her students. “Their confidence and enthusiasm for learning have greatly improved. Before, many struggled to read the board and often felt discouraged. Now, they’re more attentive, interactive, and independent. Their handwriting improved, reading became smoother, and they needed less assistance in class,” she shared.
The pilot run of this eyeglasses program has reached several schools in Batangas and Laguna with donated SBFI school buildings, including Laguna Resettlement Community School (San Pedro, Laguna), San Pablo Central Elementary School (San Pablo, Laguna), Caingin Elementary School (Sta. Rosa, Laguna), Lemery Pilot Elementary School (Lemery, Batangas), Sta. Anastacia Elementary School (Sto. Tomas, Batangas), and Sto. Tomas North Central Elementary School (Sto. Tomas, Batangas).
“These eyeglasses will remain instrumental in supporting the education of our students, provided these are consistently worn and taken care of. We therefore urge the students, with the assistance of their parents, to always wear the eyeglasses and keep these clean and in good condition,” said SBFI Chairman Rafael Simpao, Jr.
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