Volunteers join PBSP’s ‘Ready for School’

For many employees, weekends are something to look forward to. Spending a well-deserved day-off with family and friends is enough after days of hard work. But some, including Project Management Analyst Ryan Allen Mariano, are willing to sacrifice this precious time once in a while to do something special for people whom they’ve never even met.

Recently, Mariano and other employee-volunteers from Accenture Philippines joined the kick-off activity of Ready for School (RFS) 2017 organized by Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)  on May 13 (Saturday) at Sto. Niño Elementary School, Marikina City.

In support to the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Brigada Eskwela, he helped prepare the school by covering textbooks and repainting chairs, something that has become a tradition for him.

“This is my third time to participate in a school clean-up week. As I was painting chairs, I was thinking and imagining that a child will be sitting there a few weeks from now and I hope that he or she will feel comfortable on it. I think that if pupils see their armchairs looking good as new, they’ll be more eager to go and learn at school,” Mariano shared.

He might have missed a weekend bonding with his family but he said taking part in a noble cause is also something worthwhile, especially knowing that in his simple way, he has contributed in supporting young talents.

“To those who always volunteer to share their time and passion, keep on doing it, and to those who haven’t yet tried to join a volunteer activity, I encourage you to experience it! I guarantee that you’ll love the feeling– that you have created an impact on others and touched your life at the same time,” he said.

For first time volunteer Catalino Bueno, a Human Resources Analyst, having studied in a public school makes his participation even more meaningful.

“What I like about volunteering here is that you know that you’re part of improving the school’s facilities which in turn will motivate the pupils to study harder. The experience was very fulfilling especially for someone like me who went to a public school. All the time and effort that I put into it was all worth it because I know that somehow, I contributed something to children’s education,” he said.

TOGETHER FOR EDUCATION

RFS started in 2007 to support public schools prepare for the school year. Since then, PBSP has been rallying its member-companies and corporate partners who year after year work together for a common purpose – help uplift the quality of education.

“We are on our 10th year now of giving partner companies’ an opportunity to help get the schools ready so that when the students come back from vacation, they don’t have to clean up anymore and proceed straight to learning since everything’s already clean and in order, and minor damages have already been repaired,” said PBSP Education Program Management Office Director, Dr. Marylin Muncada.

She shared that when students are in a neat learning environment, they become more inspired and excited to go to school and are less likely to drop out. Muncada added that a clean and orderly classroom will help diminish distraction which means kids will be able to focus on their lessons better.

Accenture Philippines Country Managing Director, Manolito Tayag also joined to volunteer by repainting armchairs as well. He shared that for years, Accenture has deployed more than 400 employees in the activity, the most number of employee-volunteers to participate in RFS.

He said, “We are really honored to partner with PBSP and the Department of Education (DepEd) and to participate in this activity because I believe education is an important component of building the skills of the people who will be part of the industry in the future. We want to be able to share and help our communities. This is one of our major activities we have in PBSP’s Corporate Citizenship as we help the schools and the rest of the students to prepare for the school year opening.”

RFS will continue to run in various schools in Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Cebu, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro until May 20.

Other participating companies include Citi Philippines, Inc.; Contact Center Association of the Philippines; Deloitte Philippines; ePLDT, Inc; Hino Motors Corporation; Intellicare (Asalus Corporation); Mabuhay Vinyl Corporation; Medicard Philippines, Inc.; Philippine Daily Inquirer; Philippine Spring Water Resources, Inc.; PLDT, Inc.; Sagrex Corporation; Sycip Salazar Hernandez and Gatmaitan; UBS Securities Philippines, Inc.; TSM Group, Inc.; The Bellevue Manila; Telstra Foundation Philippines, Inc.; The Net Group; as well as the USC Campus Lions Club. In-kind and cash donations were also provided by Pacific Paint (Boysen) Philippines, Inc. and the Philippine Stock Exchange.