Literacy deep inside Uratex's heart

MANILA, Philippines - Showing the importance of education as a catalyst for national development, the RGC/Uratex Group of Companies, makers of Uratex Foam and Uratex Premium Mattress, Uratex Monoblock, Readywrap Containers and supplier of various automotive parts to the Automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) industry, has been contributing its resources to help in various activities related to literacy and learning, especially among young schoolchildren.

One such activity is the initiative of AGAPP or the Aklat, Gabay, Aruga tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa Foundation. This group, made up of former classmates of President Noynoy Aquino or P-Noy, aims to elevate the quality of preschool education in the country so that these children may lead successful lives in the future.

AGAPP has already partnered with several private companies, including government and non-government organizations, since it started the “Silid Pangarap” project, which aims to build hundreds of one-story, two-room school-library facilities, mostly in poor and marginalized areas around the country. AGAPP also hopes that parents and other concerned citizens can also join in the cause.

The setup involves one room at a Silid Pangarap facility to function as a classroom while the other can serve as a school library.

During the first year of P-Noy’s administration, AGAPP was able to build around 109 Silid Pangarap rooms. For the second year, the group is hoping to build up to 150 Silid Pangarap classrooms and, ultimately, AGAPP hopes to build a total of 1,000 Silid Pangarap classrooms by the end of P-Noy’s six-year term.

Last month, during official turnover rites held at Casino Español in Cebu City, one of the foundation’s major partners, the Aboitiz Foundation Inc., turned over to AGAPP over 52 preschool classrooms in 26 public schools as part of its commitment to build 90 classrooms by 2012.

Jon Ramon Aboitiz, president of the Aboitiz Foundation, was present together with AGAPP president and presidential sister Pinky Aquino-Abellada, and RGC/Uratex representatives Peachy Cheng-Medina, managing director; Stephen Cheng-Lee, Vis-Min general manager; and John Ferdinand Cheng-Rosagas, management trainee.

As a co-sponsor, Uratex joined the project by donating Uratex monoblock tables and chairs for the 150 classrooms that have been built so far, and has committed to donate more to fill the rest of the 1,000 classrooms that AGAPP will build. 

“For us, it was a joy watching these kids study under the watchful eyes of their teachers but more importantly, in brand-new classrooms with enough materials to aid them in their learning,” explains Pinky Cheng-Rosagas, finance director of the RGC/Uratex Group of Companies. “Our vision in supporting AGAPP is for the long term, because we believe that education is of prime importance in building a highly literate citizenry and, more importantly, an empowered nation that will push for progressive national development.”

Children use the Uratex kiddie monoblock tables and chairs inside their Silid-Pangarap classrooms.

Supporting education initiatives, especially geared towards the literacy of the Filipino youth, is not new to Uratex. The company is part of another ambitious project: the country’s first world-class science museum for the benefit of Pinoy children. Aptly called Mind Museum, the ultra-modern science museum, which will be built on a 12,000-square-meter site at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, is set to open by year’s end.

“We have always looked at education as a necessary tool for national development,” adds Cheng-Rosagas. “We are more than happy to be involved in efforts related to education like the ‘Silid Pangarap’ project and now the Mind Museum. Aside from our other endeavors, education is closest to us, and this also serves as a fitting legacy to our father, Robert Cheng, who would have loved to see what his company achieved when it comes to educating the youth of today.”

For other details on Uratex, visit www.uratex.com.ph. To learn how to help AGAPP and The Mind Museum, visit www.agapp.ph and www.themindmuseum.org.