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CENTEX Newsletter
October 2012
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www.centex.org.ph
Prospero World supports CENTEX
When CENTEX started in 1998, a number of donors—individual and
corporate— expressed their desire to contribute to the cause of
uplifting the quality of education. Through the years, the number has
grown, and now Prospero World Foundation, a philanthropy group
based in Britain, has been added to the list.
Last March, Prospero World spearheaded a fashion show that
showcased the designs of the Philippines’ best and brightest fashion
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raise funds for CENTEX to continue its mission of providing quality
education for underprivileged children. At present, a total of 968
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To enrich the learning experiences of the students, enrichment
activities are scheduled throughout the year. Nature and cultural
walks, museum trips,
and leadership camps
are among these offerings. This semester’s trips included tours and discussions at
The Mind Museum, The Ayala Museum, NUVALI Evoliving Park, Bioresearch, and
Intramuros sites. The trips were also made possible by additional support from Ayala
Land and Children’s Hour.
Merry Christmas!
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The assistance also strengthens the CENTEX
teacher-training program. This year, the
annual teacher training program for 90
teachers from CENTEX Manila and Batangas,
Food for Hungry Minds School and Buklod
Bahayan Daycare Center was held at the
Lima Park Hotel in Malvar, Batangas. This
year’s sessions were about developing critical
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Dr. Zosimo Lee and Mr. Lumberto Mendoza,
professors of Philosophy at the University
of the Philippines, engaged the participants
in small group discussions following the
Philosophy for Children method.
continued on page 2
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On last day of the teacher training, the core values of
Commitment and Patriotism were discussed by Dr. Ronnie
Motilla of Miriam College.
The Prospero World fund also supported our drive toward
developing critical thinking through workshops on:
Classroom Management by Harry and Rosemary Wong
(attended by selected teachers along with thousands more
at the SMX Convention Center), The Art of Questioning
by Vanessa Mazullo, and Brain-Based Education by John
Joseph.
For the third year in a row, France-based Maria Victoria
Lagoutte shared her expertise with sessions on literacy +DZDLLEDVHGYROXQWHHU9DQHVVD0D]XOORWDONVDERXWWKH$UWRI4XHVWLRQLQJDVDLGWR
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Prospero World’s support allowed CENTEX not only to provide its students with additional books and school supplies, but also with
transportation allowance and food.
These training programs, coupled with the provision of educational materials, food and transportation allowance, helped CENTEX
students become more actively engaged in their education. Storybooks in English and Filipino strengthen the literature-based
approach advocated in language arts classes. Books written by Filipino authors like Virgilio Almario, Rene Villanueva among others,
and those by foreign writers supplement the instructional materials.
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Foundation, private sponsors and volunteers continue to partner
with CENTEX to ensure that students continue to receive quality
education. Our aspiration is to replicate the CENTEX concept and
put it in operation elsewhere in the country, so that more children
from marginalized families will have more opportunities to access
quality education and join the pool of globally competitive workers
and future leaders of the Philippines.
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When Dreams Come True
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It is fascinating to recall
events in our lives that
made us who we are
today. Sometimes we
have experiences we
would rather not have
endured, which we learn
to appreciate only when
we look back. Countless
people arrive in our
lives, some of whom we
know well, while others
are complete strangers.
But one thing is certain-each of them makes our
lives richer.
As a kid, my favorite
pastime was watching basketball, and my favorite college
basketball team was the De La Salle Green Archers. In the
early 2000s, the team won four consecutive championships.
Since then, I dreamed of being an Archer someday. I never
realized how pricey college education would be, or what it
would take to study in a prestigious university, but I insisted
that someday I would study at La Salle. My father never said
that my dream was impossible; instead he encouraged me to
continue dreaming.
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from my dream school.
I was born on a hot afternoon in a hospital ward somewhere
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in Pampanga. I know every detail of the story of my birth since
my mother, every time I did something wrong, always reminded
me of how she almost died giving birth to me. My parents said
that I was very quiet as a child. I rarely played outside but
was eager to go to school—not a common characteristic of
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school trauma. At the early age of 5, I was enrolled in a Grade
1 class consisting of more than 60 students. Being two years
younger than my classmates, I was the smallest and the main
target of young bullies. I stopped going to school for a month,
which forced my parents to look for another school. Through
the principal of T. Paez, my parents found a school where I
belonged— CENTEX-Manila.
My childhood at CENTEX was very enjoyable. I felt the security
I didn’t have in my previous school. We had privileges a lot of
students must have wished they had, and the quality of educaWLRQFRXOGFRPSHWHZLWKWKDWRIDSULYDWHVFKRRO,KDGP\¿UVW
taste of competition when I participated in a math contest with
students from different elementary schools in Metro Manila. This
encouraged my competitive nature and led me to discover my
talent at solving math problems. The development of my analytic skills paved the way for me to study in one of the most
competitive high schools in the Philippines.
I had never heard of Philippine Science High School before. If
elementary was simple and enjoyable, the same could not be
said about life in high school.
The thought of staying in a dormitory away from my parents
scared me, coupled with the idea of competing with the brightest
students in the Philippines. I almost quit. The encouragement I
needed then, I got from my father. Having been laid off a couple
of times and having
entered
multiple
types of businesses,
my father was no
stranger to new
circumstances. He
told me that it was
normal to feel fear
when facing the
unfamiliar and the
best I could do was
to face what troubled
me, for I would face
it again and again
throughout my life.
My life changed
when I entered
Pisay. It became
more complicated
and I had to try
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a bit harder than
most kids of my
age. I experienced
disappointments
I
rarely felt earlier in
my life. High school
was fast paced, my
feelings
of
being
exhausted, energized,
disappointed,
and
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rapidly. I found it
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subjects I wasn’t
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interested in. Luckily, I
had a lot of support from my friends, my CENTEX family, and my
parents. They made me realize my mistakes and also gave me
sensible advice. As my favorite Beatles song goes “I get by with
a little help from my friends.”
Choosing a course for college came very easily for me. I knew
what I was good at and I wanted to pursue a career involving
statistics, so I chose to be a math major. Having a full scholarship
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steadily improve on.
But one day my mother came home and sadly told my father that
the factory where she had worked for 30 years closed suddenly.
Unfortunately, my father also worked for the same company. We
as a family tried different side jobs to survive. I sold homemade
candies and bread to my classmates to help my parents, while
they tried their luck at selling home-cooked meals to our
neighbors. My parents packed food for me so that I didn’t have
to buy lunch at the canteen. I also tutored my classmates and
some varsity athletes for extra income. I had a brief realization
of what I had to do.
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After a while, my father found a new job and everything went
back to normal.
Finally, after ten years of dreaming, I graduated from college. I
received my Bachelor’s degree last October. I am determined to
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by those who believed in me. Currently I am in a three-month
training program conducted by Statistical Analysis Software to
improve my knowledge in statistical research. In another 10
years I hope to achieve another dream --to travel to at least 5
countries and be a respected Business Analyst.
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alter our future. When I look back and imagine: what if I had
stayed on at T. Paez, or if Ayala Foundation had started CENTEX
one year later than it had? I wouldn’t have met the people who
gave me the chance to realize my dreams. I know there is still a
long journey ahead and that there will be more events that will
affect my future, but I will always be grateful for the moment
when I came across the organization that lit up the roads I am
traveling upon.
Where are they now?
of 75 original Kindergarten
students (Class 2005)
100 %
95 % 89 %
graduated from
elementary school
(vs 74 national average)
Emmanuel Orinario,
Diploma in Multimedia
Arts graduate, CIIT
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graduated from high school
(vs 58 national average)
enrolled in college
(vs 23 national average)
85 %
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Registered Nurse in a year’s time if
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are expected to
graduate from
college in 2013
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a total of 400 families in CENTEX Manila and Gregorio Del Pilar Elementary School. This was during the onslaught of almost
week-long monsoon rains that affected many parts in Metro Manila and nearby provinces in August.
At CENTEX, a total of 247 (out of 508 students; 50%) families living near the North Harbor pier and Sampaloc/Sta.Ana/Sta.
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day or two for all, and had not brought any damage to their homes.
Displaced families from the community were evacuated to Gregorio Del Pilar Elementary School. A total of 120 relief package
were distributed to them.
The relief efforts registered a total of 48 volunteers who assisted in the repacking of goods. Volunteers included CENTEX
Manila students, teachers, parents and alumni.
After-Hours Music
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Twenty-four primary grades students
continue to receive violin and cello
lessons under Filipino violinist Alfonso
‘Coke’ Bolipata and Pundaquit Virtuosi
apprentices as part of CENTEX’s after
hours activities.
Choir sings at Habitat for
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To honor the support
extended to the fouryear “I Build” program,
Habitat for Humanity
Philippines celebrated
its Prime Movers Night
last August 23 at the
Rigodon Ballroom of
the Manila Peninsula.
Launched on the same
night was their coffee
table book “I Build
My Philippines” which
highlights
Habitat’s
success in uplifting the
lives of economically 7KH&(17(;&KRLUWUDLQVRQFHHYHU\ZHHNZLWK7HDFKHU7LQ6DULJXPED
disadvantaged Filipino
families in the country by providing them with ground-breaking and sustainable
housing solutions.
The CENTEX Children’s Choir rendered the song “Tagumpay Nating Lahat” originally
sung by Lea Salonga, which captures the essence of achieving successful nationbuilding through public and private partnerships.
Steps awarded at the Philippine Dance Cup
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Thirteen CENTEX Manila Steps Foundation scholars along with 13 other dancers from Steps Dance Studio joined this year’s
roster of winners in the Philippine Dance Cup held at the Meralco Theater last October 20 and 21.
The Philippine Dance Cup, the award given to highest scoring entry of the entire competing populace, was awarded to Steps
Dance Studio competitors for their interpretation of “Afrikano” choreographed by Mr. Jun Saagundo. They also got the top place
in the National Category for the same dance.
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“Channel” choreographed by Mr. Marion Ignacio.
The Steps Dance Studio students’ participation was
the generous
generous sponsorship
sponsorship of
of Ms.
Mr.
made possible by the
and Mrs.
Fernando Mr.
andand
Kit Mrs.
Zobel,
and Ms.
Ging
Sofia
Zobel-Elizalde,
Fernando
and
Kit
Montinola.
Zobel,
and Ms. Ging Montinola.
Close to 300 students from 15 dance schools in the
country participated in this year’s dance cup.
Currently, Steps Foundation supports 24 CENTEX
Manila students who are now on their third year
under scholarship.
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volunteer activities.