UNITED IN ONE CAUSE: Security Bank Foundation donated eight Knowledge Channel Portable Media Libraries (PMLs) and 306 sets of keychain microscopes to eight public schools in the Ilocos Region. Present during the turnover were (from left to right): Knowledge Channel Resource Mobilization Officer, Liberty Reyes; Security Bank La Union Branch Business Manager Hazel Casuga; Department of Education Region I Director, Dr. Tolentino Aquino; Security Bank Foundation Program Manager, Louie Boy De Real; and Makeroscope Inventor, Jeremy De Leon.

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, LA UNION – Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI), the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of Security Bank Corporation, augmented its support for the Department of Education (DepEd) by equipping schools in the Ilocos region with much-needed learning resources for school year 2022-2023.

SBFI donated eight Knowledge Channel Portable Media Libraries (PMLs) and 306 Makeroscopes (keychain microscope sets) to eight SBFI Classrooms Project beneficiary schools in Ilocos Region which were received by DepEd Region I Director Dr. Tolentino Aquino.

“While at first we were worried as to how to jump start classes given our region’s situation, we are thankful that Security Bank Foundation’s donation allows for learning to continue within or outside the four walls of the classroom,” says Dr. Aquino.

The learning resources will allow students to learn offsite if there are limited classrooms. Students can also enrich their knowledge through the home videos and experiment at home with the portability of keychain microscopes.

The Knowledge Channel PMLs are external hard drives containing over 1,500 Knowledge Channel-developed video lessons, e-games, and e-session guides aligned with the Department of Education K-12 curriculum.

The beneficiaries are: Ayusan-Paoa Elementary School (Vigan City, Ilocos Sur) Balatong Integrated School (Laoag City, Ilocos Norte), Dagupan City National High School (Dagupan City, Pangasinan), Ilocos Norte National High School (Laoag City, Ilocos Norte) Ilocos Sur National High School (Vigan City, Ilocos Sur), Lingsat Integrated School (San Fernando City, La Union), San Fernando North Central School (San Fernando City, La Union), and Vigan Central School (Vigan City, Ilocos Norte).

The Makeroscopes, invented by Filipino engineer Jeremy De Leon, are keychain microscopes attached to mobile device front cameras to enable the viewing of microscopic samples up to x265 zoom. Each set comes with sample slides of animal and plant cells. The schools that received the keychain microscopes were Dagupan City National High School, Ilocos Norte National High School, and Ilocos Sur National High School.

SBFI’s provision of learning resources is part of its holistic approach to provide access to quality education through its flagship program, the Build A School, Build A Nation: the Classrooms Project.

“Our program was designed to have a holistic approach. Security Bank Foundation would finance the construction of the classrooms. The Department of Education and the Local Government Units would provide various counterpart support. Our academic institution partners, the Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle Philippines, would design training and support programs that will help improve the teaching expertise of the teachers and subsequently, the academic performance of the students,” says Rafael F. Simpao, Jr., SBFI Chairman.

To learn more about SBFI’s initiatives and how you can help a scholar, visit www.securitybank.com/sustainability or Security Bank’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SecurityBank.