OUR STORY

Have you noticed how pretty butterflies are? Well, butterflies start out as small caterpillars, then later turn into cocoons, and then transform into the flying, fluttery marvels that we all love. Yes, many beautiful things start small.

Synergeia started as a small “learning circle” in 2001 where 17 Ford Foundation grantees discussed ideas on how students could learn better in school.

After a year, Synergeia became a Foundation and committed itself to pooling together government partners, school administrators, teachers, parents and students, and local communities to make our schools better.

The Foundation’s projects initially covered 17 towns in 2003. Today, Synergeia is present in 102 municipalities, eight cities, and 78 villages across the country.

   
 

OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Every effective organization needs to have a strong leader, pretty much like a basketball team needs a good coach. At Synergeia Foundation, we are governed by a Board of Trustees which is elected by members.

Board of Trustees, Meetings

Our head coach is Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, S.J., who chairs the Board of Trustees. He is also the President of Ateneo de Manila University where the famous Blue Eagles come from.

The other trustees are:

  • Mr. Washington Sycip, Founder, SGV Group of Companies
  • Mayor Jesse Robredo, Mayor of Naga City, and RM Magsaysay Awardee on Public Service
  • SRA Administrator Rafael Coscolluela, former Governor of Negros Occidental
  • Dr. Antonio Torralba, Dean, College of Liberal Arts, University of Asia and the Pacific
  • Bro. Robert McGovern, FMS, Vice President, Notre Dame University of Dadiangas
  • Mr. John Silva, Senior Consultant, National Museum of the Philippines
  • Dr. Cristina Lim-Yuson, President, Museo Pambata Foundation, and
  • Prof. Solita Monsod, former Minister of Planning, Republic of the Philippines
  • Mr. Ramon R Del Rosario, Jr. President, PHINMA Group of Companies
  • Mr. Alfredo Ayala, CEO, LiveIT Solutions, Inc.

Dr. Milwida M. Guevara is our team captain as Synergeia’s President and Chief Executive Officer. She used to be the Program Officer of the Ford Foundation and former Undersecretary, Department of Finance.