In photo (L–R):
Seated: Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Philippines, Her Excellency Marielle Geraedts; Signify Country Leader, Raghuraman Chandrasekhar; SBFI Chairman, Rafael F. Simpao, Jr.; and SBFI Trustee, Melissa Aquino.
Standing: Senior Commercial Officer of the Embassy of the Netherlands to the Philippines, Patricia Alvendia; Signify Integrated Communications Manager, Ghie Papa; Signify Channel Marketing Manager, Vannessa Velarde; Security Bank Corporation Branch Banking Head, Leslie Cham; SBFI Executive Director, Louie De Real; SBFI Program Officer, Jamiel Galimba; and SBFI Communications Officer, Ricardo Llego.
Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI) continues to build and donate classrooms to public schools across the Philippines and now has a new partner in its “Build a School, Build the Nation Program.” A donation agreement was recently signed between SBFI and Signify, the makers of Philips lighting products.
With on-ground implementation support from Signify Philippines, the Signify Foundation is donating sustainable LED lighting for at least 50 new public school classrooms that SBFI will build nationwide in 2026.
The partnership was formally signed on October 22, 2025, at the Security Bank Centre in Makati City, led by SBFI Chairman Rafael F. Simpao, Jr. and Signify Country Leader Raghuraman Chandrasekhar with the presence of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Philippines, Her Excellency Marielle Geraedts.
The collaboration brings together two organizations united by a shared goal, to make education brighter, safer, and more sustainable for Filipino learners.
“The donation of light bulbs from Signify is a powerful reminder that elevating education in the Philippines is a shared responsibility where every resource is vital to increase and enhance our public school facilities,” said SBFI Chairman Rafael Simpao, Jr.
Through its Build a School, Build a Nation Program launched in 2011, SBFI helps address the country’s critical classroom shortage by constructing school buildings, training teachers, and supporting scholars. This new partnership strengthens the program by integrating sustainable lighting solutions that enhance both learning quality and environmental responsibility.
“Light has the power to uplift lives—it brings safety, hope, and opportunity,” said Yue Cui, Director of the Signify Foundation. “Through this partnership, we are illuminating more than classrooms; we are lighting up the dreams of Filipino children who deserve every chance to learn and thrive. Across the world, the Signify Foundation is committed to bringing light to communities where it is needed most, and here in the Philippines, we are proud to help create brighter, more inspiring learning environments that empower every child to believe in a better tomorrow.”
Also present during the signing were Security Bank Corporation Branch Banking Head Leslie Cham, SBFI Trustee Melissa Aquino, Executive Director Louie De Real, and Officers Jamiel Galimba and Ricardo Llego. Signify was represented by Channel Marketing Manager Vannessa Velarde and Integrated Communications Manager Ghie Papa. The event was likewise attended by Patricia Alvendia, Senior Commercial Officer of the Embassy of the Netherlands to the Philippines.
Globally, the Signify Foundation works to increase access to sustainable lighting in underserved communities, promoting education, safety, and well-being while advancing social equity and environmental sustainability.
“At Signify, we believe in the power of light to create meaningful change. Through this project, we are not only lighting up classrooms, we are helping students see, learn, and create under better light,” said Raghuraman Chandrasekhar, Commercial Leader for Professional Signify Philippines.
Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Philippines, Her Excellency Marielle Geraedts, commended the collaboration, saying, “By combining your resources to build more classrooms around the country, you are advancing education in the Philippines and empowering Filipino students. Signify, a Dutch company, is a world leader in connected LED lighting systems. I hope that more Dutch companies will follow your lead.”
Together, Security Bank Foundation and Signify Foundation are lighting the way toward a brighter, smarter, and more sustainable future, proving that when organizations join hands with purpose, they can create Brighter Lives and a Better World for generations to come.
#BetterBankingIsSustainable #SecurityBankFoundation