Presidio Education® team members hand-deliver new backpacks filled with school supplies for all 92 Adlaon Integrated School first graders in Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines. Presidio Education®, 2018.
Cebu Impact
Community Empowerment Through Education in the Philippines
Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines
In the summer of 2018, Presidio Education® flew members of our faculty, staff, and college intern teams to Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines, to support children in extreme poverty. We donated 280 handpicked Presidio Education® backpacks filled with brand-new school supplies to first graders at Hipodromo Elementary School and Adlaon Integrated School.
Many of these young Cebuano students live well below the poverty line. Some reside in makeshift homes built near cemeteries, and many families cannot afford basic necessities — including pencils, notebooks, or even used sandals. Despite these heartbreaking conditions, these children greeted us with remarkable love, joy, and hope.
At Presidio Education®, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive in a safe and supportive environment. Education is one of the most powerful tools to break cycles of poverty, and we are committed to creating opportunities for children who need it most. We hope our stories and images from this journey inspire students, parents, and educators to take action.
Please contact our Sustainability Team to learn how you can join us in helping vulnerable children through our global Impact Projects. Together, we can make a lasting difference.
A Few Words from
Kenley Lou
Presidio Education® Social Science Teacher
Growing up in Cebu enabled me to observe various societal problems, including gaps in educational opportunities, access to public health and the increasing poverty rates. Despite these challenges, Cebuanos are very close-knit. Rooted on bayanihan, which means the spirit of helping and cooperating with each other, locals have a strong sense of community for no personal benefit. Despite the relatively low standards of living in Cebu and an evident income gap, locals never forget to be happy and grateful.
In the past five years, the Philippine education system was revised to a twelve-year curriculum to match international standards. Due to the lack of financial resources from the government, the public school system experiences insufficient facilities, which negatively impacts student growth and understanding of STEM subjects. Moreover, there is limited access to quality education through private and international schools, which are often unaffordable for families far below the poverty line.
The Cebu Impact Project is a project close to heart. Through this project, we were able to make a positive impact in the lives of 280 first grade students. The joy of being able to reach out and give back to my own community is very humbling. Providing school supplies and backpacks goes beyond giving students the right tools to start school. The children know we really care for them.
Vast improvements with funding for health care and education sectors are needed. Due to restrictions with government funding and family finances, many Filipino children do not have access to good medical care and vaccinations. In larger families, only some of the children are able to receive primary and secondary education. Older siblings are frequently forced to sacrifice obtaining an education to take care of younger siblings. School administrations and local government officials try their best to assist under-resourced children.
Hipodromo Elementary School
Reaching Children Living in Extreme Poverty
In the summer of 2018, our team distributed handpicked Presidio Education® backpacks filled with brand-new school supplies to all 188 first-grade students at Hipodromo Elementary School in Cebu City, Philippines. These supplies—so basic to many of us—were deeply meaningful to children who had never owned a backpack, notebook, or even a pencil.
During our visit, we met several Barangay Hipodromo officials, led by Barangay Captain Honorable Ruperto “DonDon” Bacolod. Captain Bacolod explained that the school and broader barangay community suffer from chronic underfunding. Many of the children and their families live far below the poverty line, with some forced to build homes in nearby cemeteries. These makeshift shelters offer no clean water, electricity, nor protection from crime. Despite these inhumane conditions, the children remain hopeful, eager to learn, and grateful for every small act of kindness.
This project served as a powerful reminder of how far a simple gesture—like donating school supplies—can go in restoring dignity, supporting education, and inspiring change. We encourage students, families, and community members to learn more about how they can help break the cycle of poverty through direct action and global compassion.
Adlaon Integrated School
Bringing Educational Hope to Remote Jungle Communities
In the summer of 2018, our team distributed handpicked Presidio Education® backpacks filled with new school supplies to all 92 first-grade students at Adlaon Integrated School, located deep in the mountainous jungles about 19 miles from the center of Cebu City, Philippines. The school's remote location makes it difficult to attract public attention or receive consistent support, leaving both students and staff in urgent need of educational resources.
Volunteer Teacher Jenebe Arcilla warmly welcomed us and introduced us to the local barangay leaders, including Barangay Adlaon Captain Honorable Nieves Narra and Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council) Chairwoman Honorable Lhyn Arcilla. Despite their dedication, the school struggles with minimal funding. One teacher gently asked if we had enough resources to provide just a single STEM textbook for their fifth-grade class—an unforgettable moment that underscored the overwhelming need and the deep humility of the faculty.
This visit opened our eyes to the power of direct support in areas that are often overlooked. Schools like Adlaon Integrated School are filled with potential, but they need our help to unlock it. We urge students, parents, and educators everywhere to join us in supporting underserved schools in remote and rural areas. Schools like Adlaon Integrated School don’t just need one book—they need consistent support and meaningful investment to ensure their students have a real chance at a brighter future.
Adlaon Integrated School first grade girls eagerly looking inside their new backpacks. Presidio Education®, 2018.
Fighting Child Poverty
Bringing Dignity and Opportunity to Children in Crisis
Every child deserves a fair chance at life—but around the world, millions still live without access to basic needs. In far too many cases, children go without proper health care, clean water, nutritious food, or safe shelter. In an effort to combat this injustice, our Presidio Education® faculty, staff, and college interns traveled to Cebu, Philippines, to donate backpacks filled with school supplies to 280 deeply impoverished children. A local government official shared that many of these children live in makeshift homes built inside cemeteries, without running water or protection from harm.
While global organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) work to address public health challenges, it’s up to all of us—students, parents, and community members—to take meaningful action. Together, we can reduce child poverty and bring dignity and opportunity to the lives of children who need it most. Join our mission. Help make a lasting difference.
Families inside their makeshift home in a mausoleum within the Chinese Cemetery in Barangay Carreta, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines welcoming Presidio Education® faculty. Photograph by Presidio Education®, 2018.
Supporting Impoverished Communities
Turning Compassion Into Action for Vulnerable Children
Donating money is often essential to fund academic programs for underprivileged children—but sacrificing time to meet, play, and connect with them is truly priceless. When we volunteer with orphans and children in need, our presence sends a powerful message: you are seen, you are valued, and you are not alone. These children deserve to feel loved and supported.
We encourage students, parents, and community members to take real action. Whether through local volunteering or global outreach, your efforts help build a more compassionate world. By working together, we can ensure no child feels forgotten. For more information on how to support abandoned and vulnerable children, visit the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and explore how you can get involved.
Hipodromo Health Clinic Nurse Charlyn Leyson conducts health checks on a young child in Barangay Hipodromo, Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines. Photograph by Presidio Education®, 2018.