The Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. donated school bags to students of  Northville IV and Northville IV-B Elementary School in Marilao, Bulacan last September 28, 2015.  The Foundation gave away a total of 4,227 school bags during a turnover ceremony at Marilao Central School. The activity was supervised by Anne P. Castillo, Northville IV Principal III, and Priscila P. Iliscupidez, Ph.D., District Supervisor, Marilao District. 

The Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc.  (TYKFI) has continued the legacy of educating the youth because it is in starting them young that they are prepared well and ensured of  a better future.  This year, TYKFI has once again visited adopted communities to distribute much-needed uniforms and supplies to children from some of the poorest families in the country.

The Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. (TYKFI) brought cheers to several  schools in Ilocos Sur and Nueva Vizcaya when the TYKFI team distributed  packs of food and gift items to hundreds of schoolchildren last December 2014 as part of the Foundation’s food distribution project. 

The Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. (TYKFI) reached out to 3 districts in Eastern and Western Samar namely, Hernani, Guiuan North and Basey I Districts for its Adopt-a-School supplies giving project last December 1, 2014. However, instead of just giving out school supplies, the Foundation under its Planting Calendar and Seeds Distribution Program also distributed more than 1,000 packs of various vegetable seeds to the students to aid in the more recent typhoon, “Ruby”, and still of course the more tragic typhoon “Yolanda”. This is also to support the DepEd’s “Gulayan sa Paaralan” project. 

Day Care students, as young as they are, are also in need of proper school supplies to assist their learning. The Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. (TYKFI) recognizes those needs that’s why the foundation also reached out to Day Care centers in Nueva Vizcaya, as part of the Adopt-a-School Program last November 11, 2014. Bags with notebooks, pad papers, pencils, and pair of slippers were handed out.

The Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. (TYKFI) brings its Adopt-a-School program to Nueva Vizcaya by issuing school supplies to more than 3,000 pupils from 6 districts (Sta. Fe, Aritao II, Kayapa East, Bayombong II, Kasibu East and Kasibu West) last September 2-4 and November 10, 2014. A total of 3,101 student beneficiaries from 36 schools received the gifts composed of a bag with notebooks, pad papers, pencils, and a pair of slippers (pupils from Tan Yan Kee, Buyasyas and Macdu Elementary Schools received a raincoat and school uniforms).

San Luis, Pampanga. It was a promising and hopeful afternoon for the students from San Luis Central School and San Juan Elementary School as they were about to receive gifts from the Lucio Tan Group of Companies through Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc (TYKFI) Adopt-a-School Project.  A total of 854 students which belong to the 4P’s of DSWD were bright-eyed as they each accepted a bag with notebooks, pad papers, pencils, and pair of slippers from the foundation last August 30, 2014. 

The Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. (TYKFI), as part of its Adopt-a-School program, reached out to Ilocos Sur and Vigan City. The Foundation distributed school supplies to three (3) schools: Babayoan and Sidaoen Elementary Schools in Sta. Cruz District, Ilocos Sur and San Julian Elementary School in Vigan City last August 22, 2014. A total of 591 students received the school supplies consisting of a bag with notebooks, pad papers, pencils, raincoat, a pair of slippers and school uniforms. 

The Adopt-a-School program by TYKFI (Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc.) was off to an early start last August 11, 2014 at Marilao Central School for their turn over ceremony. The Foundation gave away 1,792 bags to students of the said school. The ceremony was graced by Hon. Andre Favian D. Santos, Vice Mayor of Marilao Bulacan, and Ma. Neriza F. Fanuncio, Ed. D., Public Schools District Supervisor. Representatives from TYKFI and DepEd were also present at the event. 

“True generosity has no strings attached. Generosity is giving more than you can and pride is taking less than you need. The manner of giving shows the character of the giver more than the gift itself,” an excerpt from the opening speech in Hampipila Elementary School, Leyte during the school supplies giving ceremony last August 5-7, 2014. 

TYKFI, in partnership with DepEd, brought provisions of educational supplies and resources that address the immediate lack of materials and tools for children—a setback to pursue schooling—to schools in Gubat, Sorsogon and Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya at yearend 2012.  

Some 237 Grade 1 pupils of Gubat North Central School in Sorsogon benefitted from school supplies packages which help them pursue the remaining months of schooling. 

December 2012 and January of this year saw TYKFI in partnership with the Department of Education-Leyte Division, Asia Brewery, Inc., and Tanduay Distillers, Inc. Tacloban Sales Office in a food assistance project reaching out to some 5,000 pupils in various public schools of Leyte. They variously received reusable bags, t-shirts, food items, and cases of the health drink Ginger Roots Brew of Asia Brewery, Incorporated.

Dr. Sarah T. Apurillo, CEO VI, Schools Division Superintendent, Division of Leyte thanked the Foundation and Asia Brewery for the gifts to pupils whom she said came from remote areas of the province and for whom this was a first time in receiving gifts for the Christmas season.

The Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. covered North and South of the country for its Adopt-A-School Program together with the Department of Education and Local Government Units in the areas, during the first semester.  

NUEVA VIZCAYA
Selected indigenous student populations in elementary schools in Nueva Vizcaya  last June received school supplies for one school year.  The package included pad paper, pencils, notebook for the curriculum needs, especially as a support for students as they begin complying with the K to 12 program.  

The terrain in Sta. Fe, Aritao, and Kayapa is mountainous and students need to walk one to three kilometers under such condition. Rain makes it even harder for them to get to school.  To help prevent absences because of terrain and weather conditions, TYKFI also provided raincoats, slippers, water bottles, and school bags.  

The Sisters of Mary, whose charism is to the serve the poorest of the poor by giving them quality secondary education intensive of technical-vocational training, try to respond to this dire need of the youth. The Servant of God, Msgr. Aloysius Schwartz, our founder and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for International Understanding in 1983, had envisioned that if the youth would be equipped with skills fit to the job market demand coupled with moral and spiritual values, then they will be productive. This would redound to progress not only to their families but to the country as a whole.

Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya. The Tan Yan kee Foundation, Inc. in partnership with the Department of Education and the Local Government Unit of Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya distributed last July, 2012 school supplies packages under the Adopt-A-School Program.  This year, on top of a school bag, five notebooks/writing notebooks, five pad papers, two pencils, and a pair of slippers, TYKFI also provided a raincoat for each package to protect schoolchildren during the rainy months.  

Buyasyas Elementary School in Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya recently inaugurated a four-classroom building, replacing the old school. Barangay Buyasyas, populated by some 653 residents of the I’wak Tribe, is practically isolated during the rainy season accessible only by a five-kilometer trek.  Sweet peas and sweet camote through upland farming are the main produce and source of income here.

Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya. The Tan Yan kee Foundation, Inc. in partnership with the Department of Education and the Local Government Unit of Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya distributed last July, 2012 school supplies packages under the Adopt-A-School Program.  This year, on top of a school bag, five notebooks/writing notebooks, five pad papers, two pencils, and a pair of slippers, TYKFI also provided a raincoat for each package to protect schoolchildren during the rainy months.  

The Tan Yan Kee Elementary School (TYKES) in Brgy. Balete, Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya prepares for opening of classes and the rainy season with the construction of Slope Protection Phase 2 to protect the school from soil erosion.  Shown in photo are TYKES principal, teachers, pupils, and residents providing sweat equity with technical guidance from the Municipal Engineer and resources from Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. TYKES has  four classrooms donated by TYKFI and three from the Provincial Government.  Meanwhile, TYKFI also donated 300 copies of English textbooks for TYKES Grades 1 to 6. This textbook was localized by  DepEd Nueva Vizcaya Division for use of pupils and teachers in the province. 

The University of the East, through TYKFI, recently donated armchairs to a number of public schools in Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur.  A welcome addition to school needs, Manuela Joven, Ed.D DepEd District Supervisor Region 1, Division of Ilocos Sur, Principals Jeroboan C. Ragasa, Ligaya J. Cadiente, Veronica Vilog, Gil Savellano, Fatima Jimeno, Teachers-in-Charge Rona Quitilen, Nena Pilayan, Dionisia Corpuz  were on hand to accept the donation to the following primary and elementary schools in the district.  

DepEd District Supervisor  Monaliza Cabato calls the Tan Yan Kee Elementary School (TYKES) the School of Love from Dr. Lucio C. Tan.  Ms. Cabato’s description puts in a short phrase the generosity of spirit of private-public sector partners who planned, built, and now run the mountaintop school that makes it possible for the very young to keep their dreams alive.  

Marking its first anniversary last March 21, TYKES is proud to have raised enrolment level and providing pupils with resources to feed the hungry curiosity of the young as they gain knowledge. In simple rites, the school recalled how it was built and now their community’s source of pride and caring.  

December 2011 brought joy to Tan Yan Kee Foundation’s beneficiaries in the communities of Balete and Buyasyas in Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya.  

The Foundation spearheaded the cementing and blessing of the one-kilometer foot path leading to the Tan Yan Kee Elementary School in Barangay Balete, serving some 135pupils, six teachers, and around 500 community residents.  This was done in cooperation with the Department of Education, the LGU Council of Brgy. Balete, and Fo Guang Shan/IBPS, Manila.  The blessing was officiated by the Venerable Miao Jing of Fo Guang Shan in a traditional practice of Chinese-style chanting for newly built infrastructure.  

A total of 395 pupils each received school supplies which include 5 notebooks, 2 pad papers, 2 pencils, school bag and a pair of slippers.  Recipients are pupils of Buyasyas, Cauco, and Tan Yan Kee Elementary Schools.

Five elementary schools in Leyte benefited from sets of school supplies donated by the Tan Yan Kee Foundation, Inc. in partnership with Air Philippines, which airlifted said school supplies.  These are Astorga, Sulpa, Mazawalo, Tabon-Tabon, and Cahagnaan Elementary Schools. 

Barangay Balete in Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya is some 250 kilometers north of Manila.  Located in the mountainous region accessible via Dalton Pass (now Balete Pass), it is home to the Kalanguya Tribe, a sub-tribe of the Igorots of the Mountain Province.  

Children of school age in this barangay hardly go beyond the second grade.  Factors such as financial difficulties, an unforgiving terrain leading to the nearest school, obligations at an early age render access to basic education a daunting challenge.