Masaganang Bukas Learning Centers inaugurated in QC

MANILA, Philippines — Operation Damayan, The Philippine STAR’s social arm, has inaugurated the Masaganang Bukas Learning Centers established in partnership with the Galing ng Bayan Foundation Inc. and District 2 barangays in Quezon City.

The STAR president and CEO Miguel G. Belmonte (MGB) and his son, Galing ng Bayan Foundation Inc. founder and president Mikey Belmonte, led the inauguration of the learning centers in Barangays Payatas, Bagong Silangan and Batasan Hills last Saturday.

Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte talks to parents and children about the importance of education to their future.

MGB, who is celebrating his 55th birthday, noted the importance of supporting the education of the Filipino youth.

“One of our advocacies in The STAR is the education of young people. We all know that the future of our country is in the hands of our youth, so we want to do our little bit to help contribute to their education,” he said.

Shown turning over the key to the daycare center at Brgy. Payatas B are (from left) Miguel and Milette Belmonte, Mikey Belmonte, Kgd. Noy Pulmones, barangay captain Manny Guarin, Kgd. Maria Fe Guarin, SANKAHILL HOA president Rodel Vergara and Kgd Bong Bernardo.

Mikey, a civic leader, said the daycare centers were put up in areas where young children have to walk quite a distance just to go to school. 

“Having a daycare center in those areas will help with the education of the youth, which is really an advocacy that the Belmontes have been promoting for a long time. The areas selected are those where there are no daycare facilities so that young kids there won’t have to walk so far just to acquire basic education,” he said.

“Based on studies, the main formative years of a person’s life are the ages between five to 10, that’s daycare age,” he added.

Young children hold a ‘thank you’ message for the donation of a daycare center in Sitio Veterans, Brgy. Bagong Silangan, Quezon City. With them during the inauguration of the new facility are STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte, Mikey Belmonte, Asprer Humanity Homeowners Association president Arman Arboradora, Brgy. Bagong Silangan Kgd. Willy Cara, Kgd. Ariel Jardino, SK chairman Patricia Suarez and Kgd. Fed Marcelo.

The younger Belmonte said he, together with barangay officials, envisions to further expand the learning centers, which he said could have a second floor where additional training may be provided.

Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte lauded the efforts of her nephew Mikey to put up the facilities in the city. She noted how fast the project was implemented, recalling that it had just broken ground last month.

Quezon City District 4 Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. joins the outreach event at Brgy. Holy Spirit.

In addition to the inauguration of the Masaganang Bukas Learning Centers, an outreach program was held in Barangay Holy Spirit in celebration of The STAR president’s birthday. Some 1,000 children enjoyed Jollibee meals as well as performances and games organized by Galing ng Bayan Foundation Inc., The STAR and volunteers from the five barangays of District 2.

“Fifty-five years is a milestone and I wanted to celebrate it in a more meaningful manner,” said MGB.

“My wish is for the betterment of our country. I hope that we continue to pray for the good of all of us here in the Philippines. We love our country and we hope that the remaining years of the Duterte administration will be very successful – for the sake of the Filipino people – and of course even after that,” he added.

At the inauguration of the brand new daycare center at Brgy. Batasan Hills are (from left) Milette and Miguel Belmonte, Mikey Belmonte, NAMABA HOA president Siony Villanueva and barangay PRO Joe Frias.

Barangay Holy Spirit chairman Chito Valmocina expressed gratitude to the Belmonte family for organizing the outreach for their constituents.

Also present during the event were former House speaker and incumbent Quezon City District 4 Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, MGB’s wife Milette and son Santi, and other local officials.