MANILA, Philippines – Teachers and pupils at the Sta. Monica Elementary School in Barangay Sta. Monica, San Pablo City got more than they wished for: aside from a new one-storey two-classroom schoolbuilding to accommodate the growing population of the school, textbooks/ library books and computers came with the donation. The donation came complete with desks, tables, electric fans and complete toilet facilities.

In a prepared program, a group of students gifted SM officials with paintings depicting their  gratitude for the donation. Another group performed songs and a “Sabayang Bigkas,” narrating the social ills plaguing the country and how they, the pupils in a remote town in Laguna can impact on the youth of today.

The new building was made possible through the partnership of Monolith Construction & Development Corp., SM Prime Holdings, Inc. & SM Foundation. According to Engr. Joanna Christin Sia, administrative manager of Monolith Construction & Development Corp. who was the official representative of the company at the inauguration, a Fun Run held late last year was able to raise P500,000 which they decided to donate to the SM Foundation.  The amount was matched by SM Prime to finance the construction of the schoolbuilding.

Project partner Monolith, among the top construction companies in the country with Manuel Mendoza as president, is involved with the construction of several SM building projects as well as projects of big corporations. The company’s Executive Vice-President, Mariano T. See Diet says that the company’s commitment to quality and safety has made it the choice of those planning to put up residential and commercial buildings, high-rise condominiums, hotels, and shopping malls not only in Metro Manila but also in other parts of the country.

At the turnover ceremonies held in the campus of the school were officials of SM Foundation led by Carmen Linda Atayde, Exec. Director for Education;  SM Prime Holdings,  Inc. represented by John Jason Terrenal, regional operations manager, South Luzon 2 & Gabriel Timothy Exconde, mall manager, SM San Pablo and Monolith Construction & Development Corp. represented by Engr. Sia.

On hand to receive the donations were DepEd’s  Asst. Schools Division Superintendent Helen Ramos, District Supervisor Ileen Rada, PTCA President Jennifer Bantigue  & School Principal Renato Cortez.  Local Government officials were also present, among them Councilor Enrico Galicia, Brgy Captain Daniel Asejo and Basilio Amado, a representative of Congresswoman Marisol Aragones of the 3rd District of Laguna.

According to School Principal Cortez, the school was founded in 1924 on a lot donated by kind hearted citizens who felt the need of a permanent school site for the children of barangay residents. The school was initially called the Gaudencio Funtanilla School named after the donor who effected the construction of the 1st schoolbuilding.  In l963 the name was changed to Sta. Monica Elementary School after a circular from DepEd prohibited the use of names of private persons in identifying schools.

There are presently 500 students from K-12 presently enrolled in the school. With the new schoolbuilding, the ratio of schoolchildren per classroom will be from 35 – 40 students.