Sterling Bank of Asia takes part in DepEd’s 2017 Brigada Eskwela nationwide

STERLING BANK OF ASIA LENDS A HAND TO F. BUSTAMANTE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL FOR DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION’S (DepEd) 2017 BRIGADA ESKWELA. Sterling Bank of Asia, one of the country’s leading thrift banks, took part in the repainting, repairs and cleaning two adopted classrooms in F. Bustamante National High School last May 20, 2017 in Davao City. Volunteers from the Bank’s rank and file and its senior officers also donated 100 new armchairs for the public school’s students.

In line with its 10th anniversary, Sterling Bank of Asia, one of the leading thrift banks in the country, recently partnered with Department of Education (DepEd) and took part in the 2017 Brigada Eskwela program by helping refurbish selected schools in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao in time for the start of the school year.

Living up to the principle of banking to a different beat and promoting social responsibility, Sterling Bankers gathered to help in the repairs, repainting and cleaning of adopted classrooms from San Juan National High School in San Juan City, Metro Manila; Labangon Elementary School in Cebu City; and F. Bustamante National High School in Davao City last May 20, 2017.

Aside from restoring the 5 classrooms in San Juan, 2 classrooms in Cebu and 2 classrooms in Davao, the Bank together with the employees also donated a total of 450 new armchairs to the chosen schools.

Reiterating its unique proposition of being a “Bank with a Heart,” the Bank’s President and CEO Cecilio D. San Pedro said, “This project is a continuance of Sterling Bank of Asia’s dedication to giving back and being a pillar of the community.”

“As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we want to make it more meaningful by expanding our community works that make a difference to the people. We want to underline the Bank’s decade of heartfelt service to the community. This is particularly close to my heart as it involves education,” added San Pedro.

One of Sterling Bank of Asia’s recipient schools is San Juan National High School which is the only public high school in the country’s smallest city, with a population of over 3,700 and an average of 45 to 50 students to a room. The improvement of five classrooms and the donation of armchairs will help provide an environment that is conducive for learning.

The project of Sterling Bank of Asia is the first partnership of the public high school with a private institution. According to San Juan National High School Principal Lucila Galang Artuyo, such partnerships between public schools and private companies should happen more often.

“We are very grateful to have been a recipient of Sterling Bank of Asia’s volunteerism project. It will make such a difference to the students while they are learning. Private companies like Sterling Bank of Asia are the ones who have the capability to provide what the schools need and we hope that this continues on for years to come,” said Artuyo.

“Brigada Eskwela is all about community service and stakeholders’ participation, it is not just merely making improvements in the school. And when education of our country’s children is concerned, we are all stakeholders,” Artuyo added.