At Gapan East Integrated School (GEIS) in Nueva Ecija, greatness began with simple dreams and shared determination. Every day, more than 1,200 students fill classrooms that have long been too small, guided by teachers who make every corner a place to learn. Resources may be limited, but the spirit within these walls has always been abundant, the spirit to persevere, to believe, and to strive. And that spirit carried them far. In the School Year 2023–2024 National Achievement Test, GEIS ranked above average nationwide in problem-solving, information literacy, and critical thinking, even surpassing over 90% of schools in Metro Manila. Behind this success are stories of teachers who stay late to guide their students, of parents repainting old walls, and of learners using worn out chairs but never losing hope.
Recognizing that same spirit, Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI) extended its support to help the school sustain and grow its impact. On October 6, 2025, SBFI turned over a new two-storey, six-classroom school building to GEIS under its flagship “Build a School, Build a Nation” program. The donation gave students and teachers new spaces to learn and dream, another win for the learners, and a much-needed relief for a school that has long made do with so little.
During the turnover, SBFI Chairman Rafael F. Simpao, Jr. shared words that reflected both humility and conviction: “Some of us may feel that the task of addressing the problems of education in our country is so overwhelming that the efforts we are exerting would hardly make a difference. But I do not agree because I believe in the power of persistent cumulative influence.”
City Mayor Hon. Emary Joy D. Pascual also expressed her heartfelt thanks, reflecting on the joy of being on the receiving end of generosity. “Sanay po kami na ang LGU ang nagbibigay. Napakasarap po palang mabigyan at maalala,” she said with a smile. “Mahiyain po kami kaya kami na bahala sa repair.”
For Dr. Enrique E. Angeles Jr., CESO VI, Schools Division Superintendent of Gapan City, the donation was also a reminder that hope grows stronger when shared. “Sa pagtanggap ng gusaling ito, pangako naming pupunuin ang bawat silid ng mga kwento ng inspirasyon, pag-asa, at pagmamahal, mga kwentong huhubog sa mga kabataang magiging pag-asa at pagbabago ng ating bayan,” he said.
The light laughter that followed spoke volumes—gratitude, humility, and shared joy between public servants and private partners united for a single cause: education.
Beyond constructing classrooms, SBFI also invests in educators who bring these spaces to life. In partnership with Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle Philippines, the Foundation runs training programs for teachers and school leaders. Notably, the former Assistant Principal of GEIS, now the Principal of Lupang Pangarap Elementary School, is undergoing SBFI’s three-year Principals’ Training Program, continuing the cycle of growth and mentorship.
To date, the Security Bank Foundation has donated 851 classrooms to 146 schools across 87 cities and municipalities, each one a standing testament to the belief that nation-building begins with a single classroom.
For Gapan East Integrated School, that classroom is more than a room for learning. It is a promise that no matter how limited the means, a community that believes in its children will always find a way to make them soar.
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