SM Supermall and ACS-Davao distribute School Supplies to 4 Marilog Schools

October 25, 2022 • in News & Events

1,120 pupils and students from 4 schools in Marilog District, Davao City, received the first batch of books and school supplies on October 24 from SM Supermall through Adventist Community Service (ACS) of Davao to support learners’ needs in the remote villages within the territory.

The collaboration of SM Supermall and the Davao Mission of Seventh-day Adventists started through Ms. Gillian Sanchez Nantes, SM Supermall’s Customer Services Officer, as she was scouting for an institution that could help their company reach out and support communities. She then remembered the Seventh-day Adventist church that helped SM distribute relief goods to the victims of typhoon Odette in Dinagat Island last year. So the partnership keeps growing.

Six hundred sixty (660) high school students from Mountain Ridge Christian Academy in Sitio Mahusay, Salaysay, Marilog District received pouches and school supplies from the team led by SM Supermall thru Ms. Nantes; Pastor Rudy Esteban, DM Sabbath School Director; Pr. Geronimo Jose, DM Health and Stewardship Director; Pr. Irnie Hemoroz, Church Pastor of Bangkal Adventist Church; Ms. Joy Africa-Tan, and the Hope Channel Davao. The philanthropist couple Mr. & Mrs. Jessie Pinongcos were also on the ground for this event. They are very significantly instrumental in this partnership with SM Supermalls.

The first visited school, the Mountain Ridge Christian School (MRCS), started operation seven years ago with only eight students; year after year, the enrolment increased. Most of its students are from indigenous families, and some are from far-flung communities of Davao, Bukidnon, and Cotabato. The school founder, Mr. Larry Membrado, a seaman, and his wife, Ruth, a midwife and nurse, pay the teachers’ salaries and wages from their pocket with government subsidies without asking for tuition fees from the students. Their daughter Miss Karthl Leigh, School Director, along with the 17 faculty members and staff, thanked the team, with an impressive choral rendition.

The group proceeded to Manaong Elementary School (MES) at Sitio Manaong, Salaysay, which required the team to transfer the goods twice and to hike to MES with seven teachers, led by their school head, Mr. Hanzel C. Salva and 117 pupils, primarily lumads.

The Manaong National High School (MNHS) has 65 students and three teachers on the same campus, headed by its School Head, Mr. Elmar P. Labus.

The last trek of the mission was to Upper Masawang Elementary School (UMES) at Sitio Falcata, Barangay Salaysay, with 278 pupils, including daycare and kindergarten learners. The nine teachers, headed by their school head, Ms. Ann Velez, could not contain their happiness seeing their pupils filled with gladness for their gift packs.

By bonding a charitable institution like SM Supermall with a loving Adventist church, children will grow, feel and learn that they are treasures of Jesus. (Dan Florante Callo/DM Communication)