Members of Diamond Hotel Philippines’ employees’ association, Ugnayan, spent an entire afternoon repainting fences, iron railings, and other facilities of Fernando Ma. Guerrero Elementary School (FMGES) in Paco, Manila.

Last May 26, more than a dozen hotel staff helped spruce up the school, as part of the week-long Brigada Eskwela program of DepEd. Some of the employees were on their day off from work but chose to do volunteer service, true to the spirit of the Brigada program, which fosters bayanihan or the collaborative participation of the community to help prepare public schools for the opening of classes on June 6.

Mrs. Herminia Gonzales, FMGES principal, said the assistance translated to substantial savings in manpower and material resources for the school. “This means savings in our Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) since we did not have to buy supplies and get workers for the paint job,” Mrs. Gonzales said. She expressed appreciation to the hotel for its continuing assistance, as more activities are being planned for SY 2011-2012.

FGMES is one of two schools in Manila implementing an education program, with support from Diamond Hotel Philippines. The program, which is being undertaken in partnership with Synergeia Foundation, Inc., aims to raise pupil performance through greater collaboration between the school, parents and the community.

More than a dozen hotel staff helped spruce up the school, as part of the week-long Brigada Eskwela program of DepEd. Some of the employees were on their day off from work but chose to do volunteer service, true to the spirit of the Brigada program, which fosters bayanihan or the collaborative participation of the community to help prepare public schools for the opening of classes.