Red Ribbon, Apl.de.Ap Foundation turn over 2-storey building to a public school in Zamboanga City

By dice admin on Wednesday, February 24th, 2016 in Buzz Room No Comments

Red Ribbon—one of the leading bakeshop chains in the Philippines—together with Apl.De.Ap Foundation (ADAF) recently turned over a two-storey classroom building to Talon-Talon Elementary School in Zamboanga City to help bring the youth back to schools.

The ADAF is a non-government organization founded by Allan Pineda (aka Apl.de.Ap) of the Grammy Award-winning group Black Eyed Peas. Pineda attended the turnover ceremony along with a few representatives from Red Ribbon and Habitat for Humanity.

A total of 14 classrooms were built inside the school’s premises; these classrooms are to be occupied by new elementary school pupils on top of its existing 64 students.

The first seven new classrooms are set for the use of SPED Gifted and Talented classes starting from kindergarten to grade six, with one advisory class per grade level. Twenty eight students that need SPED are expected to occupy each of these classrooms.

The eighth classroom will be used by the 41 students who fall under its SPED Non-Graded category, seated as one class and under the responsibility of three SPED teachers. The remaining six classrooms are intended for the use of third graders, each accommodating 53 students.

According to Zinnia Rivera, general manager of Red Ribbon, it was timely for Talon-Talon Elementary School to receive these new classrooms since the number of its students spiked from 6,169 in SY 2014-2015 to 6,412 this SY.

“There was a need for a conducive place for learning in Talon-Talon Elementary School. Now, with the new classrooms in place, we will be able to provide better learning and teaching experiences to both students and teacher,” Rivera said. “On top of this, we will be more capable of addressing the need for an improved learning environment to children who need special education.”

She added, “Red Ribbon is one with other governing bodies in encouraging the youth to go back to school and mold their own future. By giving them more venues to acquire knowledge, we are also giving them more opportunities to discover their own strengths and learn from their experiences. Our partnership with different organizations made this possible. As we move forward, we will continue to engage in strategic partnerships that not only strengthen our vision but also help in nation-building.”

Habitat’s Chief Operating Officer for Disaster Response, Tots Escalada thanked Red Ribbon and ADAF for their efforts in helping the children of Zamboanga go back to school.

“Schools are children’s second homes. In Habitat, we want to help them have a more conducive place to learn, play and enjoy their childhood. We are very grateful to our partners for helping us give them that oppprtunity,” Escalada said.

This is part of Red Ribbon’s Macaroons for a Cause initiative where the brand sold its best-selling macaroons nationwide for P50. For every pack of ‘Macaroons for a Cause,’ Filipino consumers were able to allocate 14 percent or P7 directly to the ADAF who will fund the project.

Aside from the combined efforts of Red Ribbon and ADAF, the program was also supported by Jollibee Group Foundation and Habitat for Humanity Philippines.

To know more about Red Ribbon, visit www.redribbonbakeshop.com.

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