Security Bank employee volunteers take a photo in front of the school building before starting their painting task, together with SBFI Chairman Rafael F. Simpao, Jr. and Trustee Melissa R. Aquino.
The holistic and multi-sectoral nature of Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI)’s Build a School, Build a Nation program became very much alive in Carmona City, Cavite with the Department of Education, the local government unit (LGU) and Security Bank employees joining hands for a volunteerism painting activity of the 2-storey, 10-classroom school building to be donated to Carmona Elementary School.
A total of 100 Security Bank employees from Head Office departments, SB Finance, banking centers, Metro Manila and Area 25 Laguna branches painted the first coat of the building last August 10, 2024.
It was on May 17, 2023 that the SBFI team inspected the school to identify the proposed location for the classroom donation and discussed the project with Carmona Mayor Hon. Dahlia Loyola and Cavite Province 5th District Congressman Hon. Roy Loyola. The Agreement was sealed with its formal signing during the flag raising ceremony last June 5, 2023, witnessed by the local government employees. The strong support and cooperation of the LGU was further evidenced by its project counterparts including demolition and site preparation, waiving of building permit fees, and sufficient electricity and water connection during construction. The LGU also went beyond by sponsoring the students and teachers’ chairs and tables plus whiteboards for all the classrooms.
Assisted by the building contractor’s personnel, Security Bank employees demonstrated enthusiasm to diligently paint the walls of the school building with two teams producing the best painted rooms and two employees being recognized as most passionate painters.
“One thing we learned throughout our journey of improving the quality of education in our country is that we cannot do this alone. We need to work with various stakeholders,” said Rafael F. Simpao, Jr., SBFI Chairman. “This is also the reason why we invited you, our Security Bank officers and employees, to participate in today’s painting activity. We want you to be personally involved in making our classrooms a conducive and exciting structure that will incentivize the learning of our students,” Simpao added.
In attendance during the painting activity, Congressman Loyola expressed, “Ang building na ito ay sagisag ng pagkalinga at pagmamahal natin sa edukasyon ng kabataan, sagisag ng Bayanihan na mananatiling buhay sa kasaysayan ng aming Lungsod.”
The school painting activity signals that the school building is nearing the completion stage and the turnover of the school building to the learners of CES by early 4th quarter of this year.
On top of the infrastructure support, Carmona Elementary School teachers and school principal will also take advantage of the Mentoring Future Leaders for Nation-Building program, a 3-year training program sponsored by SBFI and organized by Ateneo de Manila University. The principals’ training features international modules and certification through partnership with The HEAD Foundation Singapore and University of Bristol United Kingdom.