The Philippines’ leading carrier, Cebu Pacific (CEB), together with its NGO partner, Ministries Without Borders Philippines, launched Brigada Eskwela at the Epifanio de los Santos Elementary School (EDSES) in Pasay, recently.
This year’s Brigada Eskwela, which has the theme “Tugon sa Hamon ng Ligtas na Balik-Aral,” encourages education stakeholders to contribute their time, effort, and resources to ensure that the school facilities are ready for school opening.
Around twenty-one (21) volunteers for Cebu Pacific went to the school to drop donations from partners and repainted the school’s guidance office. The students received basic school supplies, hygiene kits, and snack loot bags. The teachers on the other hand were given L’Oreal products, Cebu Pacific merchandise, and waste bins. Collectively, the additional items came from Universal Robina Corporation, Coca–Cola Philippines, Philippine Business and Social Progress, Sentinel, and Councilor Mark Calixto of Pasay LGU District 1.
“Our school caters to students in Pasay, and since no national government money was put into Brigada Eskwela, we tapped private businesses, NGOs, private individuals, and local government to solicit donations to cover the repair and maintenance of the school. We were very lucky that Cebu Pacific selected our school as their recipient for this year’s Brigada Eskwela. Despite the challenges brought by COVID-19 Pandemic, quality education must continue and true enough this airline company extended their utmost effort so these less fortunate learners could have better education,” according to Dr. Tirso V. Gali, Principal IV of EDSES.
Aside from the on-ground activity, Cebu Pacific also supported Ministries Without Borders Philippines by airlifting for free 4,500 school supplies for students residing in Cotabato, Leyte, Ozamis, and Palawan.
“We hope that through all these efforts, we were able to help these kids who will be returning to school after the pandemic lockdown shut classes. The students are very excited to go back to school and will resume face-to-face engagement,” said Carmina Romero, Director for Corporate Communications of Cebu Pacific.
Founded in March 1996, CEB is the largest carrier in the Philippine air transportation industry, offering low-cost services to more destinations and routes with higher flight frequency within the Philippines than any other airline. Stewardship for its people, the environment, and creating Juan Community are the airline’s major pillars in its sustainability journey. CEB currently offers flights to 34 destinations in the Philippines and 18 international routes spanning Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.
