Wed | May 23, 2018 | 3:50 PM

The newly-inaugurated four-storey, 20-classroom building will serve as the new home of senior high school students in Lubao National High School in Pampanga.

Former President now Pampanga’s Second District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (3rd from left) and PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Andrea D. Domingo (2nd from left) inaugurate the four-storey, 20-classroom building in Lubao National High School (LNHS) in Pampanga. Joining them are (from left) Casino Filipino Angeles General Manager Redentor Rivera, Lubao Mayor Mylyn Cayabyab, LNHS OIC Aurora Samia, Department of Public Works and Highways District Engineer Gregorio Audea, PAGCOR’s Vice President for Corporate Social Responsibility Group Jimmy Bondoc, Department of Education representative Eric Tayag and LNHS Student Government President Aljen Santos.

Pampanga’s Second District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (first row, 2nd from right) and PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Andrea D. Domingo (first row, right) lead the unveiling of PAGCOR’s logo in the new three-storey, nine-classroom building in Manibaug Paralaya Elementary School in Porac, Pampanga.

Porac, Pampanga – Former President and now Pampanga’s 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo joined Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) Chairman and CEO Andrea D. Domingo in the official turnover of new PAGCOR-funded school buildings to two schools in Pampanga.

A four-storey, 20-classroom building was inaugurated in Lubao National High School (LNHS) while a three-storey, nine-classroom building was turned over to Manibaug Paralaya Elementary School (MPES) in Porac.

The 20 new classrooms in LNHS will be used by senior high school students. Because of the additional rooms, they will no longer share classrooms with junior high school students. Likewise, students will no longer adjust to shifting schedules since there will be enough rooms to accommodate the students.

In her speech, Rep. Arroyo thanked PAGCOR for its unrelenting support to the province of Pampanga through its various projects like the school building. “I hope that this generous gift from PAGCOR will continue to contribute to the blessings and progress of our beautiful municipalities of Lubao and Porac.”

Arroyo also shared that Porac greatly suffered after the tragic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991.  But through the efforts of the local government and help from various stakeholders, the municipality was able to rise again.

“We thought life had ended for Porac. But now, life is bustling. We have a school building and we have good teachers. So let us make our province beautiful. Let us continue to make our province the counter magnet from Metro Manila with an educated set of young people and hardworking Kapampangans,” Arroyo enthused.   Counter magnet is defined as towns that can be developed as alternative centers of growth.

Meanwhile, CEO Domingo shared she was honored to grace the inauguration of the PAGCOR school buildings together with former President Gloria Arroyo. She added that PAGCOR is doing its best to implement more projects that would greatly benefit marginalized Filipinos. “Included in our plans is to provide multi-purpose hall, audio-visual rooms and other facilities for the benefit of the students,” she cited in Kapampangan.

Domingo also advised the students that since education is the great equalizer, they must strive hard to reach their goals. “Pag nag-aral ang bata, walang mayaman at mahirap, pantay-pantay lahat. Kaya dapat kayong mga bata, mag-aral ng mabuti para matuto,” she said.

Department of Education (DepEd)’s Division of Pampanga Chief Education Supervisor Dr. Arceli Lopez said they were grateful and appreciative for the generosity of the agency.

“PAGCOR has been our partner not only in providing school buildings. PAGCOR has been extending support particularly in addressing malnutrition through their feeding program. In fact, DepEd Pampanga has been receiving the biggest share in the feeding program because they believe that if we will be able to improve the nutrition of our children, we can improve the quality of education.”

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