Despite heavy rains, thick fog, and steep, zigzagging roads, representatives from the leading home improvement retailer MR.DIY embarked on a grueling 8-hour journey to bring smiles to schoolchildren in Benguet Province for the ‘Pencil for a Smile’ initiative.
Assisted by the RECU Cordillera K9 Unit and the Pagna’t Imontanosa Group, the team navigated challenging roads that often disappeared into the terrain to reach isolated communities in Tuba, home to Ligay Elementary School, Ligay Daycare Center, and Bes-ig Daycare Center.
Despite the arduous journey, the teams were greeted with warm hospitality from the community, who were clearly delighted – all with big smiles in a place where the clouds seemed within arm’s reach.
Recognizing the needs of children in these isolated communities, 80 students from Ligay and Bes-ig received essential hygiene kits and school supplies to support their daily activities and education.
Representatives from Ligay Elementary School, Ligay Daycare Center, the local barangay, and other partners delivered messages to mark the occasion. Students also enjoyed free haircuts provided by the RECU Cordillera K9 Unit and an encouraging talk about anti-bullying and violence against women and children by Jenelyn Bingwasan, chief for Police Community Relations of Tuba, Benguet.
As a vital component of MR.DIY’s corporate social responsibility program, Acts of Kindness (AOK), the company remained steadfast in its commitment to student well-being and success through ‘Pencil for a Smile,’ in partnership with the Pagna’t Imontanosa Group.
For the past three years, MR.DIY and Pagna’t Imontanosa had conducted various outreach efforts aimed at enriching the lives of schoolchildren in isolated areas across Benguet and Mountain Province.
Charles Salecina, deputy head of Marketing at MR.DIY Philippines, emphasized how simple gestures could significantly impact the lives of children, especially those in remote areas.
“Every day, we have opportunities to help, encourage, and share a smile. These small gestures could transform the lives of these young children in a big way. At MR.DIY, we believe in the impact of Acts of Kindness (AOK), and together with partners like the Pagna’t Imontanosa Group, we continue our commitment to empowering education and enriching children’s lives,” Salecina said.
