Empowering the indigenous learners in the Philippines through education

Jun 1, 2018 | Microsoft Philippines Communications Team

There are over 11 million indigenous people in the Philippines, many of whom live in very remote
locations around the country with limited access to technology and quality education. One such
community is the small town of Maguisguis in Botolan, Zambales.

Because of its remote location, Maguisguis faces several barriers to education and technology – schools
have no electricity, students walk 2 hours to go to school, and teachers trek down mountains just to
access the internet.

“Microsoft’s mission is to empower every organization and every person on the planet to achieve more.
We seek to bypass barriers by providing our educators the proper tools to impart the right skills to our
students. With the right skills, we are able to prepare the youth for employability. said Hans Bayaborda,
Managing Director of Microsoft Philippines.

Microsoft, in partnership with Lyceum of the Philippines Manila (LPU-Manila), is helping bring quality
education to indigenous learners across the country. This endeavor on digital inclusion seeks to
empower the lives of every Filipino through inclusive and accessible education.

“Lyceum of the Philippines University’s mission is rooted on the values of inclusivity, equality, equity, and
relevance in education. With the help of our Microsoft education ambassadors in LPU, we empower
indigenous peoples by using technology as an equalizer, giving them access to quality education,” said Dr.
Marilyn Ngales, Director for Community Outreach and Service Learning of LPU-Manila. They currently
serve 14 provinces with more or less 21 ethnic tribes.

Edilberta Romualdo, Head Teacher at Maguisguis Integrated School, is herself an Aeta and has seen the
struggles of their community. “The Aetas of Maguisgis lived by planting on the plains. But after the
eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, many had to look elsewhere to make a livelihood. Some of them were not able
to adapt to the different way of life and eventually returned to their homeland. While the community’s
primary needs remain to be food, shelter, and clothing, education is still very important need,” she said.

Microsoft and LPU-Manila’s programs around inclusion and accessibility includes equipping IP
communities with future-ready skills. “It’s important that children learn to read, write, and count. But it’s
also valuable that we prepare them for the world of work — teaching them how to use ICT to
communicate, building skills like computational thinking, critical thinking, and analytical thinking through
the proper use of technology,” said Clarissa Segismundo, Education Programs Lead of Microsoft
Philippines.

Technology is an equalizer. Through the use of basic tools from Microsoft, students and teachers from
Maguisguis and other indigenous communities are given an opportunity to have a brighter future.
YouTube Video

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