OMF and Meralco Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan (middle), together with the heads of Meralco departments, offices and its subsidiaries, show their full support for the Balik Eskwela project.
More than 7,000 public school students across the country are heading back to the classroom better prepared, thanks to the renewed Balik Eskwela initiative of the Manila Electric Company, its subsidiaries, and the One Meralco Foundation.
Driven largely by employee volunteers and donors, the program this year reached 82 public schools spanning Metro Manila, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, Palawan, Camarines Sur, Albay, and Cebu.
Designed to support early learners, particularly those in Kindergarten and Grade 1, each beneficiary received a customized school kit containing a storybook, alphabet flash cards, tracing workbook, pencil case with pencils, and a box of crayons.
These learning tools are intended to help children build essential reading and writing skills at a crucial stage of their education. Beyond distributing supplies, Meralco employee-volunteers also conducted interactive storytelling sessions, encouraging participation, curiosity, and confidence among young students.
Meralco employee-volunteers partake in storytelling sessions with students, part of engaging students in literacy activities as part of the Balik Eskwela project.
For parents, the assistance provided immediate relief. Eurilyn Ricote, whose child studies at Ciudad de Strike Integrated School in Bacoor, Cavite, said the kit eases both educational and household expenses. “Mas matututo siyang magbasa, may bagong storybook na siya. Hindi na rin bibili ang mga magulang ng crayon at flashcards,” she shared.
Local leaders likewise welcomed the initiative. Manila First District Representative Ernix Dionisio expressed appreciation during the distribution at Rosauro Almario Elementary School, noting that sustained private-sector support plays a meaningful role in strengthening public education and shaping the future of young learners in the city.
OMF, with the help of Meralco employees, brought smiles and hope to students of Rosauro Almario Elementary School in Manila through the Balik Eskwela project.
In Indang, Cavite, Mayor Vergel Fidel joined Meralco and OMF volunteers at Dr. Alfredo Pio De Roda Elementary School, describing the outreach as especially meaningful after returning to the very school that helped shape his own childhood.
The Balik Eskwela program also extended its reach to more remote communities. In Albay, students from San Isidro Elementary School and Bulusan Elementary School in Libon received kits through the Meralco Employees Savings and Loan Association, Inc., in partnership with Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc. Farther west, on the island of Caponayan in the Cuyo Islands, Palawan, learners from the Mystical Garden Child Development Center were also among this year’s beneficiaries.
The expanded reach of Balik Eskwela 2025 was made possible by collective fundraising efforts of Meralco employees and partner organizations, nearly doubling the number of beneficiaries compared to last year. For Meralco auditor Aaron Sandoval, who has volunteered in various outreach programs since 2020, the experience remains deeply fulfilling. He said seeing the children’s smiles reinforces the value of every contribution, no matter the size, in creating real and lasting change.
This year’s initiative was supported by a wide network of donors, led by Champion Donors Meralco Employees Fund for Charity, Inc., MPower, Vantage Energy, Meralco PowerGen, Miescor Logistics Inc., and Meralco Customer Retail Services. Advocate Donors included Clark Electric Distribution Corporation and Meralco Employees Savings and Loan Association, Inc., while numerous Meralco business units and partners contributed as Supporter Donors.
The program also benefited from its continued partnership with National Book Store Foundation, Inc., whose donation of learning materials helped ensure that essential kits reached thousands of young learners.
One Meralco Foundation President Jeffrey O. Tarayao credited the program’s success to the strong spirit of bayanihan among Meralco employees. He said the initiative reflects the group’s commitment as corporate citizens to invest in the next generation by helping parents provide the fundamental tools children need to focus on learning and thrive in school.
Since its launch in 2014, the Balik Eskwela program has raised more than ₱20 million in employee-donated funds and has directly supported over 50,000 students and 6,000 teachers across more than 700 schools nationwide.
The initiative aligns with the mandate of the Department of Education to ensure quality and equitable access to basic education for all Filipino learners, reinforcing the role of private-sector collaboration in advancing inclusive education.