We welcome the summer months with a sigh of relief for the end of a school year and with renewed anticipation for the beginning of a new one! This is an exciting time for UNLAD, marked with celebrations for the past year’s wins, and informed planning for the coming year.
At the Baruyan Elementary School (BES) Philippines:
During our recent visit, the students and teachers delivered a beautiful program for our year-end celebrations, filled with prayer, poems, songs and dances.
Ms. Katherine “Kat" M. Jumaquio received the Lito Cantos Outstanding Teacher award, (and accompanying lap-top) based on her outstanding accomplishments in instructional excellence; community contributions; and personal and professional growth and development. We also acknowledged Ms. Ligaya Rayos and Ms. Donalyn Calanog, past years awardees.
UNLAD’s 20 1st-6th grade scholars moved on to the next grade, with GPAs of 80-92! Two of these scholars were recognized for their outstanding academic performance.
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We welcomed our new Principal,
Ms. Maribel Domingo,
a dynamic former BES teacher, who
quickly focused on planning
UNLAD-supported programs
for the 2024-25 school year and
beyond.
For 2024-2025 and beyond, we are committed to:
Sustaining the provisioning of school supplies, and necessary items to 20 high-potential, underprivileged students.
Sustaining the Lito Cantos Outstanding Teacher award
Starting a lunch program for 20 underprivileged students to encourage attendance.
Funding the position of a Librarian to enable students with library access and improve reading and literacy levels (mostly affected by the pandemic)
Reviving and enriching the Athletic and Arts after-school programs creating avenues for students to perform, build confidence and thrive. UNLAD will fund equipment and supplies, honoraria and snacks for all the 90 students participating in the basketball, volleyball, visual and performing arts programs.
Initiating several “Outstanding Student Awards” for each of the program areas, including one for academics and one for leadership.
Our hope is that we are able to instill not only a culture of access, inclusion and excellence.
“Project Baruyan High-School” is still in the works, with hopes of opening in school year 205-2026. Stay tuned on this!
Our College Scholars in the Philippines are moving on to their 3rd year, and we are looking forward to welcoming additions/a new batch of scholars in the coming year!
In the USA:
UNLAD continues to support our commitment with the Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) to provide financial assistance towards the completion of a skills development training leading to certification for employment
Our scholar, Marleny Lara Salcedo, graduated from high-
school and has been accepted at Virginia Tech. Marleny
is the first in her family to attend college.
We are very grateful to our generous personal benefactors in the US and the Philippines, and organizations providing BES with books and supplies: the Montero Medical Mission, the Libo Libro Project and the Rotary Club of Makati.
This is our story: we believe that small acts matter and small wins count. In the words of Mother Teresa, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples”.
Salamat! (Tagalog for “thank you”)