Present during the turnover of Makeroscopes in Bataan National High School were (from left to right) Jeremy De Leon (Makeroscope Inventor), Charlene Pineda (Security Bank Balanga Branch Sales Officer), Louie Boy De Real (Security Bank Foundation Program Manager), Ma. Theresa Esguerra (Security Bank Balanga Branch Channel Manager), Dr. Ronnie Mallari, CESO VI (Department of Education Balanga City Schools Division Superintendent), Gemma Manalo (Bataan National High School Head Teacher in Science), and Dr. Alma Poblete (Bataan National High School Principal).

BALANGA CITY, BATAAN – Security Bank Corporation’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm, Security Bank Foundation, Inc., (SBFI), has expanded its distance learning support interventions for its classrooms project beneficiary schools by donating keychain microscopes called “Makeroscopes”.

Invented by Filipino engineer Jeremy De Leon, Makeroscopes are single-lens keychain microscopes that are attached to a mobile device’s front camera to enable the viewing of microscopic samples up to x265 zoom.

“Even before the pandemic, millions of Filipino public-school students already lacked the opportunity to even experience using microscopes during their student life due to limited resources. The pandemic worsened the gap with the absence of face-to-face classes, which made students unable to access the schools’ science laboratories. We’re very excited that this invention democratizes Filipino students’ access to a critical scientific tool,” says Louie Boy De Real, Security Bank Foundation Program Manager.

For its pilot run, SBFI partnered with its classrooms project beneficiary school Bataan National High School located in Balanga City, Bataan. Makeroscopes were distributed to 60 Grade 7 students enrolled in the Science and Technology Education program along with their two Science teachers.

Each Makeroscope comes with two plant cell sample slides, one animal cell sample slide, and one glass blank slide to support immediate class integration and provide opportunity for experimentation. The program also included training for teachers on how to use the Makeroscopes and integrate it into the curriculum. The pilot run was made possible by the donation of Security Bank Area Heads from Branch Banking Group Region 3 in  celebration of the milestone of their Region Head.

“Innovative learning tools such as the Makeroscope are critical in Science learning because this discipline involves application and testing of scientific theories. With the Makeroscope, we can engage students in experiential learning that is a key factor for a quality education,” added Dr. Alma Poblete, Bataan National High School Principal.

To expand the program’s reach, Security Bank provided additional funding for the donation of 1,000 Makeroscopes to ten more SBFI classrooms project beneficiary high schools.

To know more about Security Bank Foundation and its CSR and sustainability initiatives, visit www.securitybank.com/foundation or Security Bank’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SecurityBank.