The four-classroom building constructed by SM Prime Holdings Inc. through SM Foundation for Bakod Bayan Elementary School in Barangay Bakod Bayan this city comes with four toilets, chairs, blackboards, four teachers’ desks and four computer units, said Sheen Crisologo of SM City Cabanatuan’s corporate communication office.
The building that was formally inaugurated on March 31 would be used occupied by Grades 5 and 6 students, she said.
“This school was known in adopting indigenous people (IP) known as Badjaos thus making this endeavor doubly meaningful,” said school principal Trinidad Beltran.
So far, Beltran said, there were 56 Badjao students from more than a thousand student population. “We are looking forward to bringing more IP children to school,” she said. Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara who worked to have the nomadic Badjaos resettled and given continuous livelihood programs in the village, lauded the project.
Beltran said the new school building has provided them a space more conducive to learning.
“SM provided us with a very good learning environment for our students and because of this, we grateful that our school was chosen to be the beneficiary of this project and we promise to take care of this so that many students will benefit,” she added.
Carmen Linda Atayde, SM Foundation executive director, said that she is looking forward to turning over classrooms and school buildings in the city as part of the social responsibility efforts of SM to continue the vision of Henry Sy.
Atayde said they have also opened a scholarship program to send Nueva Ecija students to college.
“Right now, we have 10 scholars in this city currently enrolled at Araullo University and Central Luzon State University and we expecting more in the future” Atayde added.
