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Malabon and Navotas are cities in the threshold of development.
Both are known for its fishing industry and factories that
manufacture various consumer goods. However, both cities are also
infamous for its marginalized sector which continues to be a
challenge for the local governments of the respective areas.
The local governments have been doing its best
especially in catering to the needs of the youngest sector of the
society—the schoolchildren. Believing that they are the hope
of the future, much resources is allocated to ensure their welfare
in the aspects of health, security, and education. However, the
local government cannot do it alone. It needs the assistance of
civic-minded and socially-responsible private groups and institution
in order to deliver what is best for the kids.
This is where Meralco’s corporate social
responsibility is put into full gear. The utility company, led by
its chairman and CEO Manuel M. Lopez, believes that education is the
strongest and most powerful tool to uplift the lives of individuals
and improve the status of communities. Thus, it has brought the
Meralco Sibol School in various Gawad Kalinga communities and the
Liwanag Learning Center in various schools in the country, with
support from the Department of Education.
“We believe that if a child is nurtured well,
he or she will grow up to become a responsible citizen. A
responsible citizen will then be a valuable member of a community.
If we have vibrant communities, then we will have a progressive
nation,” said Mr. Lopez, who is also the “bearer of light”
since he has never missed any of the inauguration of the Sibol
Schools and Liwanag Learning Centers.
In the spirit of the recent holiday season,
Meralco reached out to the cities of Malabon and Navotas with the
unveiling of a Liwanag Learning Center inside the Epifanio delos
Santos Elementary School and Dagat-dagatan Elementary School,
respectively. It was attended by Meralco officials led by Lopez, and
the city’s top government officials with Vice Mayor Arnold
Vicencio leading the Malabon contingent and Mayor Toby Tiangco
gracing the event in Navotas.
“It is a privilege to bring the first Liwanag
Learning Center of Meralco to the people of Malabon. It is my wish
to see that this city become a very progressive one someday through
ensuring that the pre-school kids receive the proper education and
learn in a conducive environment,” said Mr. Lopez in his speech
which stressed that the preschool kids who are exposed to the
correct learning will be the “moral fiber for the future of our
country.”
On behalf of Vice-Mayor Vicencio of Malabon City
lauded Meralco for bringing the “light” to the lives of the
preschool kids in Malabon. “This will surely help a lot in paving
the way for a brighter future for these kids. This is a worthy
endeavor worthy of emulation by other companies,” he said.
This sentiment was further underscored by Dr.
Catalina Casenas, Principal of the Epifanio de los Santos Elementary
School, and Dr. Nenita Rivera, Superintendent of the Department of
Education—Division of Malabon. Together, they lauded Mr. Lopez for
sharing his time and effort in making sure that Malabon has its own
60sqm, one story Liwanag Learning Center.
On the other hand, Mayor Toby Tiangco personally
requested the Lopezes to help him in his programs to improve the
lives of his constituents. Thus, the second Liwanag Learning Center
was turned over to the city inside the Dagat-dagatan Elementary
School. The turn-over was an auspicious time since it coincided with
the festive mood of the holiday season.
“We are very happy that Meralco has been
helping us in our community development projects and the Liwanag
Learning Center is more special since it will cater to the kids of
Navotas who will someday lead this city to development,” said
Mayor Tiangco, who also agreed with Mr. Lopez on the power of
education to improve the lives of people and uplift communities.
In turn, Mr. Lopez lauded Mayor Tiangco’s
innovative feeding program and said that a nourished child makes
learning more fun and worthwhile. The kids also delighted the
Meralco contingent with a Christmas song. After the ceremonies, the
pre-school kids were toured inside their new classroom and were
given gifts from Meralco and its mascot, Kiko Meralco.
Besides the construction of the school, the
Liwanag Learning Centers are equipped with a Liwanag Learning
Package consisting of learning materials, storybooks, educational
toys; furnishing and equipment to support the holistic development
of the child.
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