Cardinal Antonio Tagle (seated, third from left) with Security Bank President & CEO Alfonso Salcedo, Jr. (seated, second from left), Ateneo College Class 1977 Foundation, Inc. President Irma L. Cecilio (seated, fourth from left) and Ateneo Office of Alumni Relations Director Fr. Norberto Bautista (seated, first from left) along with the beneficiaries of the project during the turnover ceremony.
After seeing an orchestra of orphans perform at the Carnegie Hall in New York, His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, D.D, expressed his dream of giving support and assistance to the indigent children in the Archdiocese of Manila through music and arts appreciation. This dream of his was realized by his batchmates in the Ateneo College Class ’77.
For their Ruby Jubilee Outreach Project, the Ateneo College Class ’77, in partnership with Security Bank Corporation (SBC), chose to shadow the good works of their batchmate Cardinal Tagle and initiated a Skills Development Program. The first phase of the program was dedicated for Tulay ng Kabataan Foundation (TNK), an organization that cares for the indigent children and youth in the Archdiocese of Manila. During his Apostolic visit to the Philippines in 2015, Pope Francis met with the children of TNK after he celebrated Mass at the Manila Cathedral. A turnover ceremony was held on August 7, 2017 at the Arzobispado, Calle Arzobispo, Intramuros, Manila to formally baptize the project.
The Skills Development Program is geared towards music and the arts, and computer education. It is a long-term and full circle commitment to support the children and youth until they are equipped with creative and computer skills. Aside from the purchase and turnover of musical instruments, art tools and materials, computers, and printers, the volunteers from the Ateneo College Class ’77 are also hands-on with the supervision and management of the program.
To ensure the progress of the beneficiaries, the Music & Arts Development Program covers the hiring of music and arts instructors. Likewise, the Basic Computer Skills Program includes a provision for the allowance of social workers who are tasked to teach basic computer skills to the beneficiaries.
Security Bank remains passionate in its corporate social responsibilities. Every year, the Bank donates a percentage of its net earnings to fund programs, projects, and activities that benefit communities. SBC firmly believes in the importance of education in opening valuable opportunities that can help the youth create a better future for themselves. Aside from the Music & Arts and Basic Computer Skills Program, Security Bank, through the Security Bank Foundation, Inc., spearheads many projects that support education like the Build A School, Build A Nation: The Classrooms Project, Student Excellence Awards, Resource Mobilization Campaign for public school students as well as trainings for teachers.
The establishment of the Skills Development Program is only the first step towards a better and brighter future for the children and youth in the Archdiocese of Manila. Aside from providing the tools for skills development, this initiative hopes to inspire more people to make it their mission to pay it forward.