One Meralco Marks Earth Day 2023 with Two Million Nurtured Trees

One Meralco has marked a significant milestone in its sustainability journey with the successful planting of over two million trees across the country as the world celebrates Earth Day 2023.

A total of 2,037,450 trees have been planted and nurtured in different parts of the country under the One for Trees environmental advocacy program led by One Meralco Foundation (OMF), the corporate social responsibility arm of Meralco.

According to OMF President and Meralco Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer Jeffrey O. Tarayao, the successful planting and nurturing of over two million trees is a testament to the power of grassroots partnerships to impact lasting change.

“One for Trees goes beyond reforestation and embraces sustainability by working with communities to ensure that the trees they plant will also benefit their own families,” Tarayao said.

The One for Trees program, Tarayao explained, advocates multi-dimensional sustainable solutions to address reforestation and environmental protection and conservation in the Philippines while empowering communities through economic and social development.

Since its launch in 2019, One for Trees has contributed to a greener future in different parts of the country including Bohol, Bukidnon, Aklan, Agusan del Norte, Pampanga, Bulacan, Laguna, Quezon City, as well as Panay, and Cebu, where reforestation sites of Global Business Power Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meralco PowerGen Corporation, are located.

One for Trees also provides new sources of income for tree-farming families through partnerships with people’s organizations. These strategically contribute to the program’s aim to plant five million new trees by 2026 in biodiverse landscapes in the Philippines.

“Our reforestation efforts are in line with One Meralco’s wholistic approach to embed sustainability not just in our business operations, but also in the development of the communities we serve. As we continue to engage more stakeholders in environmental protection and conservation, we remain committed to helping ensure that the responsibility and benefits of investing in our planet is shared by all,” Meralco President and Chief Executive Officer and OMF Vice Chairman Atty. Ray C. Espinosa said.

Centered on preserving and protecting the planet, One for Trees is a key initiative under One Meralco’s sustainability agenda called “Powering the Good Life” which is deeply rooted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

AGC’S JP ACLAN AWARDS 15 MUNTIMLUPA COPS FOR HONESTY AND HARDWORK

AGC Building, Alabang, Muntinlupa City – John Paul Aclan together with City Police Chief Angel Garcillano led the awarding ceremony of 15 honest and deserving cops of Muntinlupa City with AGC Honest Cop Awards.

The AGC Honest Cop Award aims to give recognition to the hardworking police men and women who have deemed exemplary and has given outstanding service with integrity in the community.

Awarded by a private company, Aclan Group of Companies, led by the visionary JP Aclan, Founder, President and CEO of Aclan Grouo of Companies, this event was established to inspire our brave and selfless police, for them to be encouraged to uphold the rule of law with compassion, integrity and humility.

“The AGC Honest Cop Award is an initiative by AGC Group of companies to give recognition to honest cops here in Muntinlupa. In coordination with the leadership of Col. Angel Garcillano of Muntinlupa City Police, we have selected deserving policemen who not only have shown their dedication and commitment to work, but more importantly, have been honest and truthful. Now a days, when unfortunately, we have some uniformed personnel who have issues, it is always a breath of fresh air to know that we have cops that are still honest and can be trusted by our constituents here in Muntinlupa” said Aclan.

A total of 15 deserving cops were recognized during the AGC Honest Cop Awards. They are: PMAJ John Glenn Siguan, PMAJ Peter C. Aquino, PCPT Michael F. Tilan, PSSg Rodolfo Motio Jr. , PSSg Abdul Rahman Atabay, PCpl Melvin Dejan, PCpl Nino Paolo Ganaden, Pat Mark Diloy, PMAJ Eutecio Ona, PCPT Reynaldo Par, PSSg Marlon Argame, PSSg Rolly Boy Antoniega, PCpl Albert Mallete, PCpl Reynaldo Quilala and Pat Zander Capillo all assigned in the city of Muntinlupa.

During the recognition, each awardee was treated with refreshments and food and each were given a plaque of recognition plus a special ACG Honest Cop Award pin that symbolizes their honesty and integrity in doing their work as uniformed men and women.

“We hope that with this simple gesture from AGC Group of Companies can inspire and motivate our hardworking policemen and police women to continue their passion and commitment in serving the people of Muntinlupa in all their honesty and with integrity. We are also looking forward that this event can have a ripple effect of having honest uniformed personnel not only here in Muntinlupa but in all parts of the Philippines as well” added Aclan.

The Aclan Group of Companies is a true game-changer in the business world. The highly respected and imaginative John Paul Aclan, who is the company's founder, CEO, and chairman of the board, has led it to enormous growth and success, expanding into a variety of industries and sectors. It is understandable why so many people in the business community have such high regard for the Aclan Group of Companies.

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The monthly AGC Honest Cop Awards is just one of the many community projects that was initiated by the company and mainly, this is because of their appreciation for the Muntinlupa City Police in doing a great job of maintaining the city’s peace and order.

Rex Education and PEAC Sponsor Future Teachers In ‘Edukampyon Iskolar Para Sa Kinabukasan’ Scholarship Program

This coming school year, 14 young and promising students will be pursuing teacher education and taking up the challenge to rekindle our aspiration of bettering lives through education.

Rex Education and the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) are sending 14 scholars to Centers of Excellence by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) under the PEAC–REX Edukampyon Iskolar Para Sa Kinabukasan Scholarship Program, an initiative that hopes to strengthen the quality of teachers in the country by seeking out and encouraging students to take teacher education programs in Mathematics and Sciences.

“Teaching is such a noble career—it is the profession that creates all other professions. But in reality, with a lot of career options to choose from, Education is not always the top-of-mind choice of students. Great teachers inspire great students. This is why we want to encourage the best and the brightest to work with us, commit to the profession, and start creating a ripple effect as we enhance teachers’ quality today,” said Don Timothy Buhain, chief executive officer of Rex Education.

Teachers are some of the most impactful champions of education—Edukampyons—since they are the closest to the students and can directly impact their education. The scholarship program, launched in October 2021, rings true to REX’s Edukampyon advocacy that aims to champion, strengthen, and advance teacher education.

The students who will receive scholarship grants and pursue their specialization in the Sciences from Ateneo De Naga are the following: Lellian Joy L. Alegre, Leschell Mae L. Llagas, Jyla Mir P. Dangca, April Mariella B. Nieves, Maia Niña T. Enimedez, Sheila May B. Ceguerra, Denise Angela P. Rebueno, Kazzandra Jhean R. Alvarez, and Ma. Bernadette Jane S. Aguay.

The students who will pursue their specialization in Mathematics from Ateneo De Naga are Florence M. Pangilinan and Jassi Mary E. Sayson.

Three students will also pursue specializations in Mathematics at Capitol University: Jenika Rosandra S. Diaz, James Elvin A. Ipulan, and Maria Ruth Precious O. Lindawan.

REX and PEAC hope that this batch of scholars under the PEAC–REX Edukampyon Iskolar Para Sa Kinabukasan will be the first of many, so that more students, Centers of Excellence, and other education champions contribute to the highest quality of teaching in the country.

“We want to champion teacher education. We want to make teaching an attractive proposition for our young. And at the same time, ensure that the program will have a very strong values formation program, so that our scholars will have a very strong sense of social responsibility and contribute to nation-building,” said Doris Ferrer, Executive Director of PEAC.

An effort to address the challenges faced by the education sector

The PEAC–REX Edukampyon Iskolar Para Sa Kinabukasan is one of the many efforts and collaborations REX enters into to help address the challenges faced by Philippine education.

“We all agree that the quality of teachers facilitating learning has to do a lot in making sure that the quality of education itself is also improved. So any intervention that is designed to provide the Department of Education (DepEd) with better inputs in terms of teachers will truly be a welcome contribution,” said Diosdado M. San Antonio, DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction.

International competitiveness reports and activities participated in by the Philippines in 2018–2019 suggest a big gap in quality that should compel critical attention from the government and the education sector.

In a study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2018, 81% of the 15-year-old Filipino students who were surveyed scored below minimum proficiency levels in reading, mathematics, and science compared to most countries that participated. Grade 4 students obtained the lowest scores in mathematics and science among the 58 countries surveyed by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement’s (IEA’s) Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) in 2019.

While limited resources and a challenging learning environment are realities many Filipino learners have to deal with on a daily basis, there is much to improve in terms of uplifting the quality of education that students receive. Quality teachers who nurture students at the basic education level can therefore have a ripple effect in improving Philippine education.

“Improving teacher quality in schools will mean attracting and selecting the best candidates into the teaching profession. To strengthen teacher quality, [we] should begin from selecting the right people into the profession. Policies in teacher recruitment and hiring should be aimed at increasing the attractiveness of the career, such as incentivizing high achievers to pursue teacher training and eventually enter into the profession,” read the World Bank Philippines Report 2021.

“This small act that we are doing at present, can have a great impact in all our futures. Invest in our teachers to-be today, so we can enjoy a bright and progressive tomorrow,” said Buhain.

Follow the Rex Education Facebook Page for updates about the PEAC–REX Edukampyon Iskolar Para Sa Kinabukasan scholarship program. For more information about Edukampyon, visit www.rex.com.ph/#/edukampyon.

PHOTO CAPION: (L-R) Mr. Diosdado M. San Antonio, Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction, Department of Education; Ms. Doris Ferrer, Executive Director of Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC); Judge Benjamin D. Turgano, President of the Association of Christian Schools, Colleges, and Universities (ACSCU); Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Commissioner Dr. Aldrin Darilag, CHRP, RMT, RN and wife; Dr. Fe Juarez, Executive Vice President of Capitol University; Ms. Jeanne Fontelera, Chief Marketing Officer of Rex Education; Dr. Ester B. Ogena, Former President of Philippine National University, and Founding Chair and President of ASEAN Teacher Network; Mr. Don Timothy Buhain, Chief Executive Officer of Rex Education; and Rev. Fr. Roberto Exequiel Rivera, SJ, President of Ateneo de Naga University

Ride to commemorate Bataan Death March heroes slated on Araw ng Kagitingan

Ride for Valor, a bike-for-a-cause to raise funds for the maintenance of the Bataan Death March markers and other World War 2 heritage sites is slated on April 9, 2023 or Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor), also known as the 81st Anniversary of the Fall of Bataan and the start of the Death March.

Mike Villa-Real, Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB) first vice president for marketing and communications, said the event, in partnership with the Department of National Defense, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, Provincial Government of Bataan and Wartime Heritage Guild-Philippines, aims to preserve the legacy of Filipino and American soldiers who fought for freedom and democracy during World War 2.

"The Bataan Death March is a somber reminder of the bravery and selflessness of Filipino veterans during the Second World War. It is an essential part of Philippine history and culture, and the Ride for Valor is an important way of honoring the veterans and preserving their legacy. Plus rider get to learn more about this historic event as they will be be traversing the actual route of the Death March," he said.

The ride is open to fully vaccinated cyclists and all types of bikes with brakes. Villa-Real said the event will start at 2:30 a.m. from the Kilometer Zero in Mariveles, Bataan, to Capas National Shrine in Tarlac.

The non-competitive bike ride will have four pitstops: Mt. Samat, Balanga Provincial Capitol’s The Bunker, San Fernando Train Station, and Angeles Museum. Giveaways will be given in selected pitstops. Villa-Real said participants may ride at their own pace, adding there will be a 12-hour cut-off during the event.

He noted that the event will also implement a "No Helmet, No Ride" policy to ensure the safety of the participants. Villa-Real also said a mechanic will be available to help those who encounter mechanical difficulties, while roving marshals will be present to keep track of the riders' progress. Support vehicles are allowed, but riders should only ride in the vehicle if they choose to drop out of the event.

The Bataan Death March is one of the darkest chapters in Philippine history, where around 80,000 Filipino and American soldiers were forced to march more than 100 kilometers in grueling conditions by Japanese forces in 1942. Thousands of soldiers survived but many also died due to starvation, dehydration, diseases, and the brutality of Japanese captors. The markers serve as reminders of the tragedy and heroism that occurred during that period.

PVB is a private, commercial bank owned by World War 2 veterans and their families. With Its new Charter signed into law, the Bank's ownership now includes Post War Veterans and AFP Retirees.

Ride for Valor 2023 is supported by Without Limits PH, Traqs Philippines, OneLGC, AIR21, Panahon.TV, and the Integrated Waste Management Inc, Neo Zigma PH, Hotel Sogo, The Oriental Hotel-Bataan, AFAB, Booster C Energy Shot, and Fitbar.

For more information about the event, follow Ride for Valor on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RideForValorPH.