As students begin a new school year, a remote indigenous school is gaining access to improved learning facilities, sustainable energy, and digital connectivity through Aboítiz Foods’ (AF) corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, which supports Aboítiz Foundation’s AuroraPH project.
On June 11, 2026, Mabaldog Elementary School (ES) officially received a 6kWp off-grid solar power system, Starlink internet connectivity, digital learning tools, classroom refurbishment, industrial fans, and school supplies.
Implemented through the collaboration among AF’s subsidiary Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corporation (Pilmico), Aboítiz Foundation, Aboítiz Power, the Department of Education (DepEd), the local government of Gabaldon, and technical partners, the AuroraPH project helped bridge gaps in access to electricity, connectivity, and the vital learning resources needed to nourish the potential of last-mile students.
“Through AuroraPH, we are igniting a new light of opportunity to help build a modern sanctuary of learning, where students can study in comfort, explore the world through digital connectivity, and dream without boundaries,” said Atty. Ceazar Ryan Aquino, Aboítiz Foods Vice President for Business Development & Public Policy.
Learning against the odds
Perched atop the mountains of Gabaldon, the school serves around 40 Dumagat students from kindergarten through grade 6. From the nearest accessible road, it takes nearly an hour by motorcycle or almost three hours on foot during rainy days to reach the school, crossing streams, rivers, and rocky trails.
Yet every school day, students arrive early and eager to learn. Many of them travel long distances through the same rugged terrain to attend classes. Their teachers make similar sacrifices, staying at the school during weekdays and returning to their families only at the end of the week.
“Meron pong mga bata na halos 1 hour po naglalakad papasok, kaya pagdating nila sa school, pagod po sila. Pero masipag po silang pumasok kahit araw-araw silang naglalakad,” narrated Teacher Dyane, one of the three teachers at Mabaldog ES.
[English translation: “Some children walk almost an hour going to school, so when they arrive, they’re already tired. But despite that, they are eager to go to school even if they have to walk every day.”]
This school year opened on a hopeful note for these students. Two new classrooms welcomed them at the start of classes, while a Smart TV donated by DepEd introduced new opportunities for interactive learning.
Building on these upgrades, AF, together with its partners, further enhanced the school’s learning environment through AuroraPH.
From darkness to digital empowerment
For years, Mabaldog ES relied on a small solar power system that could provide electricity for only a few hours each day.
Through AF’s support, the expanded solar installation provides a more reliable source of electricity, allowing the school to maximize the use of digital learning tools, charge devices, and improve everyday teaching and learning conditions. The industrial fans help create a cooler, more conducive learning environment, while the teachers’ office now has air conditioning, providing them with comfort as they plan lessons during their stay on campus.
“Noong wala pa iyong bagong solar panels, ang dilim po. Ganyan po iyong struggle ng mga estudyante. ‘Ma’am, hindi po namin makita. Ma’am, ang init po.’ Ganoon po sila noong wala pa po kaming kuryente,” recalled Teacher Dyane, adding, “Ngayon, iyong electric fans sa classroom ko, sasabihin nila, ‘Ma’am, itapat n’yo po sa amin. Ma’am, isindi na po natin iyong ilaw.’ Maliwanag na po. Excited po sila.”
[English translation: “Before we had these new solar panels, it was so dark. That was the students’ struggle. ‘Ma’am, we can’t see. Ma’am, it’s so hot.’ That’s how they were when we didn’t have stable electricity,” recalled Teacher Dyane, adding, “Now, with the electric fans in my classroom, they say, ‘Ma’am, please point it toward us. Ma’am, let’s turn on the lights.’ It’s brighter now. They are excited.”]
The addition of stable internet connectivity further expands access to educational resources previously difficult to reach in a geographically isolated community.
“At Aboítiz Foundation, our long-term goal is to power up and connect 300 last-mile schools across the country. And we cannot do this alone. Real transformation begins in partnerships,” said Aboítiz Foundation Manager for Accounting Danielle Marie Laurente, adding, “Together, we continue working towards a future where no school is too far, no learner is forgotten, and no dream is out of reach.”
A shared commitment to the future
Mabaldog ES is the eighth school that AF has supported under AuroraPH. In 2025, the company also supported two remote schools in Tarlac and five schools in Iligan City through the initiative.
AF CSR Specialist Pinky Christine Baroman, who oversaw the project implementation, noted that the initiative serves as a powerful model for how strategic collaboration can directly dismantle educational inequalities.
Reflecting on the collective effort of the community, Baroman remarked, “It takes a village to raise a child. And every child, every student here at Mabaldog Elementary School, deserves equal opportunity with students in the city. Bringing technology closer to last-mile schools bridges that gap and allows underserved students to experience the same modernized way of learning.”
True to its name—symbolizing a new dawn—AuroraPH helps open doors to new possibilities for students and teachers in last-mile communities. With access to reliable power, internet connectivity, and digital learning resources, schools are better equipped to prepare learners for the future.
Through initiatives like AuroraPH, AF upholds its commitment to creating lasting impact, proving that through collaboration and a shared purpose, even the most remote schools can become places to nurture aspirations, broaden possibilities, and nourish the future.
