GMA Kapuso Foundation inaugurates classrooms in Brgy.

Sulangan Guiuan, Samar

July 25 2014
GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF) recently inaugurated 15 classrooms in two
separate schools in Guiuan, Samar forming part of its extensive rehabilitation efforts
in areas devastated by Typhoon Yolanda.
On July 25, 5 rehabilitated and 2 newly constructed classrooms were inaugurated at
Sulangan National High School, while 6 rehabilitated and 2 newly constructed
classrooms were inaugurated at Sulangan Central Elementary School. Both schools
are located in Brgy. Sulangan, identified as the hardest hit area in the municipality
of Guiuan.GMAKF Executive Vice President and COO Ms. Mel C. Tiangco lead the
inauguration ceremonies together with Guiuan Municipal Mayor Christopher Sheen
P. Gonzales. Also present in the inauguration were Sulangan National High School
Principal IV Jesus Esteban S. Lapada, Sulangan Central Elementary School Principal
III Epifania G. Gaytos, Sulangan Central Elementary School Principal-in-Charge, Delia
Sabulao, CSEE Schools Division Superinterdent Bernardo Adina. The blessing of the
buildings was officiated by the Parish Priest of Guiuan Rev. Fr. Joberto A. Picardal. In
the wake of Yolanda, it can be recalled that 95 percent of schools in Samar were left
damaged, in Sulangan 100 percent of the buildings devastated. Building of the
classrooms began in early March and was completed in June. These classrooms are
now being used by the students of the two schools, whose young lives were greatly
affected by the super typhoon.
We definitely saw the need for both schools to have their buildings rehabilitated as
well as to have additional classrooms constructed, said GMAKF EVP and COO Mel C.
Tiangco on the significance of the project. We want these children to realize that
despite what happened, they must still persevere to reach for their dreams and the
first step is to value education, shares Tiangco.
Meanwhile, a tree planting activity was also featured on last July 23 on Padfour
Strait in Brgy. Sulangan, a protective mangrove area in the Municipality of Guiuan.
According to DENR, mangroves are the best plants to protect the coastline and also
serve as breeding ground for fishes. 200 seedlings of mangroves were planted by
students and teachers of Sulangan Elementary School along the coastline of Brgy.
Sulangan.
October 21, 2014
24 New Classrooms Turned-Over to Four Schools in Leyte
Students of four schools in Leyte will never worry again about missing their classes
or worse, losing their classrooms to devastating typhoons. The Lopez Group through
funds donated to the Sagip Kapamilya Program of ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya
Foundation, Inc. completed the construction of four new buildings with 14 typhoonresilient classrooms in New Ormoc City National High School in Ormoc City, Matlang
Elementary School in Isabel, and San Joaquin National High School in Palo. The
group also finished the repair of 5 buildings with 10 classrooms in Milagro
Elementary School in Ormoc City. Nearly 7,000 students will benefit from these new
classrooms.
The new buildings and classrooms are sturdier and can withstand wind velocity of
250 kilometers per hour which is the standard of the Department of Public Works
and Highways (DPWH) for typhoon-resilient structures. The classrooms roofing is
reinforced using a new method of connecting the galvanized iron sheet to the
trestle. The walls are thicker, almost double the old classrooms. Instead of gutters
where ripping off of the roof starts, inclined floors with drain canals were
constructed. The classrooms have higher ceiling and wider windows for better
ventilation, and furnished with electric fans and toilet facilities.
Lopez geothermal firm Energy Development Corporation (EDC), which operates the
Leyte geothermal power plants, supervised construction activities for the
classrooms. Our philosophy is not to build back to the original but to build better.

We believe that all rebuilding efforts after the massive devastation by Typhoon
Yolanda should truly be future proof. That is why all the schools we are building in
partnership with ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya have been designed to withstand
another Yolanda, EDC President and Chief Operating Officer Richard Tantoco said
during the inauguration of the four schools.