More than 7,000 public school students nationwide received school kits from employees of the Manuel V. Pangilinan–led Manila Electric Company (Meralco), its subsidiaries, and One Meralco Foundation (OMF), reinforcing the group’s long-standing commitment to supporting the education sector.
This year, the Balik Eskwela project reached 82 public schools across Metro Manila, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, Palawan, Camarines Sur, Albay, and Cebu.
Each beneficiary—particularly Kindergarten and Grade 1 learners—received a customized school kit containing a storybook, alphabet flash cards, a tracing workbook, a pencil case with pencils, and a box of crayons. These learning tools are essential for children beginning to read and write, helping build foundational skills critical to early childhood education. Meralco employee-volunteers also conducted interactive storytelling sessions during distribution activities, encouraging active participation and collaborative learning among students.
Eurilyn Ricote, a parent of one of the beneficiaries from Ciudad de Strike Integrated School in Bacoor, Cavite, said the kits provide meaningful relief for both students and parents. “Mas matututong magbasa ang bata dahil may bagong storybook. Hindi na rin kailangang bumili ng crayon at flashcards,” she shared.
At Rosauro Almario Elementary School, where hundreds of students received kits, Manila First District Representative Ernix Dionisio recognized the initiative, saying: “Lubos po naming pinahahalagahan ang patuloy ninyong suporta sa sektor ng edukasyon, lalo na sa mga batang mag-aaral ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Ang inyong malasakit ay mahalagang ambag sa kanilang pagkatuto at paghubog ng kanilang kinabukasan.”
In Indang, Cavite, Mayor Vergel Fidel joined OMF and Meralco in distributing school kits at Dr. Alfredo Pio De Roda Elementary School, expressing gratitude for giving back to the school where he himself was once a student.
One Meralco for Balik Eskwela
The Balik Eskwela initiative also reached Albay in the Bicol region, where students from San Isidro Elementary School and Bulusan Elementary School in Libon received school kits through the Meralco Employees Savings and Loan Association, Inc. (MESALA), in partnership with Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc. Meanwhile, in the remote island of Caponayan in the Cuyo Islands, Palawan, learners also benefited from the program’s expanded reach.
The success of this year’s Balik Eskwela program was made possible by Meralco employees and subsidiary personnel who pooled resources to extend assistance to more beneficiaries. In 2025, OMF and its partners nearly doubled the number of students served compared to 2024.
For Meralco auditor Aaron Sandoval, volunteering continues to be a deeply fulfilling experience. Since 2020, he has actively supported company-led initiatives aimed at bringing relief and encouragement to underserved communities. “I feel glad and motivated to keep supporting these initiatives, knowing that every contribution—no matter how big or small—creates real change and reaches those who truly need it,” he said.
Balik Eskwela 2025 was powered by generous donors led by Champion Donors Meralco Employees Fund for Charity, Inc. (MEFCI), MPower, Vantage Energy, Meralco PowerGen (MGEN), Miescor Logistics Inc. (MLI), and Meralco Customer Retail Services. Advocate Donors included Clark Electric Distribution Corporation and Meralco Employees Savings and Loan Association, Inc. (MESALA). Supporter Donors comprised Customer Frontline Solutions (CFS), Radius Telecoms, Inc., Meralco Energy, Inc. (MSERV), Bayad, MSpectrum, Meralco Cybersecurity, Meralco Finance, Meralco Internal Audit, Meralco Regulatory Management Office, Meralco Human Resources, Meralco Legal, Meralco Information, Communications, Technology and Transformation (ICTT), Meralco Networks, and Meralco Corporate Security Management, among others.
The initiative also highlighted the strong partnership between OMF and the National Book Store Foundation, Inc., whose donation enabled the delivery of essential learning kits to young students.
OMF President Jeffrey O. Tarayao said the project’s success reflects the collective bayanihan spirit of Meralco employees. “Their heartfelt dedication is the true driving force behind ensuring these kits reach the most vulnerable young learners. As corporate citizens, this is one way we invest in the next generation and help parents focus on what matters most—learning,” he said.
Since its launch in 2014, the Balik Eskwela program has raised over ₱20 million in employee donations and benefited more than 50,000 students and 6,000 teachers across over 700 schools nationwide. The initiative directly supports the mandate of the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure quality and equitable access to basic education for all Filipino learners.