HP brings 'My Backyard' to Tondo school

MANILA, Philippines - A lot of good and green descended upon a school in Tondo, Manila last month when Hewlett-Packard put into action one of its biggest environmental and education campaigns called “My Backyard.”

With its commitment to environmental sustainability, HP collaborated with the Ayala Foundation Inc. and the Center of Excellence (CENTEX) in Tondo to teach the young pupils how to build a sustainable and eco-sensitive community and the role technology could play to make this possible.

My Backyard exposed CENTEX students to a full roster of activities that foster environmental awareness, protection, and restoration.      

The campaign’s activities include a community-wide cleanup and the development of a dedicated website where students can upload photos, essays, and videos featuring nature-friendly themes.

The CENTEX grade school students also composed an original song and a music video that aims to inspire people to adopt behavioral changes and become responsible stewards of the environment.

Similarly, HP enhanced the students’ awareness about today’s environmental issues through interactive discussions with environmental advocates. 

“HP believes that technology plays a vital role in education. CENTEX’s newly renovated computer room will certainly enable students to leverage on the power of technology not only to help them meet the demands of schoolwork, but also allow them to share ideas on how to best care and save Mother Earth,” said Satjiv Chahil, senior vice president for global marketing of HP’s Personal Systems Group. 

“We need to make our young people mindful of the environment. Through HP’s My Backyard project with the help of CENTEX students, we have shown that even little things can make a big difference,” said Dette Nacario, country general manager of HP Philippines’ Personal Systems Group.

“HP’s My Backyard campaign is about today’s youth doing their part in protecting the environment by starting with their communities,” Nacario added. 

Through the project, HP also funded the construction and development of a new computer room for CENTEX to enhance the students’ education.

The new digital classroom hosts robust HP technologies, including HP Pavilion PCs, an HP TouchSmart PC, and HP LaserJet and All-in-One printers.

The CENTEX students also met with My Backyard singer-endorsers Charice Pempengco and Arnel Pineda, with the former lending her voice to the campaign song “My Backyard” that was written by the CENTEX students.

As one of the world’s largest IT companies that put premium on environmental responsibility, HP, through the My Backyard project, hopes to encourage and empower the youth to be stewards of the environment through the use of technology. – Alma Buelva