More than 8,000 students of Zamboanga City High School Main (ZCHSM) learned to live with limits. With over 200 class sections but only 136 available classrooms, the school operated on a strict two-shift system—some learners beginning their day before sunrise, others ending classes near dusk. Specialized subjects like Technical and Livelihood Education (TLE), which require proper laboratory spaces for hands-on learning, were especially affected. Yet despite the shortage of rooms, students continued to show up, teachers continued to teach, and the school pressed on, holding firmly to the belief that education must go on—no matter how constrained the space or how long the day.

That long-standing challenge found renewed hope on December 5, 2025, when Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI) turned over a new two-storey, six-classroom building to ZCHSM which housed SBFI’s 900th classroom. The structure will be used specifically for TLE programs, providing students with safe and dedicated spaces for caregiving, dressmaking, drafting, cookery, and other life-shaping skills. The milestone was made even more meaningful as it echoed SBFI’s history with the city—Zamboanga was also the recipient of the Foundation’s 100th classroom back in 2014, making this latest donation a powerful symbol of more than a decade-long commitment to education.

Led by SBFI Chairman Rafael Simpao Jr., the turnover ceremony marked more than the unveiling of a building—it celebrated the resilience of a school that never stopped serving its learners. “This 900th classroom is not just a milestone for the Foundation, but a testament to the countless students and educators who continue to persevere despite limitations,” Simpao said. “Zamboanga City has been part of our journey from early on, and we are honored to continue building alongside this community.”

For Dr. Anna Bella Espinosa, Principal of ZCHSM, the new building answers a need she has seen firsthand since assuming leadership of the school. “Our biggest challenge was never the number of learners—it was finding enough spaces where meaningful learning could happen,” she shared. “TLE subjects demand laboratories where students can practice skills with dignity and safety. This building finally allows our learners to experience what quality, hands-on education truly looks like.”

With the turnover of its 900th classroom, Security Bank Foundation has now donated 901 classrooms to 153 schools in 92 cities and municipalities nationwide, impacting the lives of more than 40,000 learners each year.

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