• COVERSTORY

EDUCATION
IS OUR BUSINESS

AS OUR PLANHOLDERS, you would know, of course, that we are primarily engaged in the business of selling pre-need plans which, if the customer so chooses, may be used as
pension, savings or educational plan. The title above, however, refers much more to just an educational plan.

Yes, we at Berkley and Family First have made the education of the Filipino youth our concern, our cause, our reason for being. We have made it our business to get involved and promote education, aware that it is one of the last hopes of the nation to free itself from the shackles of poverty.

The last few months have seen the company embark on social responsibility programs whose focus is the promotion of education. It is our humble way of returning your trust through projects that will leave a legacy of a brighter future for the next generations.

As our valued planholders, we are proud to give you an update:

1. Partnership with the Knowledge Channel of ABS-CBN - Berkley/FFI inked a Memorandum of Agreement with the Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. (KCFI), the only all-educational cable television channel in the Philippines owned by media giant ABS-CBN. KCFI runs DepEd curriculum-based instructional video modules which have been proven to increase learning competencies.

Under the partnership, Berkley/FFI will fund the cabling of 8 public schools in Metro Manila, allowing these schools access and viewership of Knowledge Channel’s educational shows.

Berkley/FFI recognizes that given the many problems of our educational system, especially regarding population and the student-to-teacher ratio, the applications of modern technology may offer the only feasible medium for delivering high-quality instruction and upgrading our educators. Further, television has proven itself to be an effective learning tool due to its inherent persuasiveness, pervasiveness and familiarity to young audiences.

2. Continuing Computer Donation through our partnership with the Department of Education’s Adopt-a-School Program. Just like television, the computer carries with it an immense potential as a learning tool thus, the Company has deemed it appropriate to donate some used but perfectly working computers to public high schools in Metro Manila that are in need of such. At time of writing, we are set to donate our third batch consisting of 10 units. News of this program has deluged us with requests but it is primarily the DepEd which determines priority lists. Our IT (Information Technology) Department prepares the units and off they go to the beneficiary school which usually prepares a short but heartwarming program to show their gratitude.

3. Sponsorship of Education Majors - We believe that one of the best and most direct ways to create an impact on education in the country is to improve the educators themselves. To this end, we plan to help produce more, as well as better, teachers for the future. We will sponsor poor but deserving college students majoring in education in a premier state university that has become known for the quality of its education graduates. By engaging in a long-term, albeit limited, scholarship program, we hope to help these deserving students finish their course and, through the young lives they will later on touch, scatter little seeds of wisdom across the country that will bear fruit a thousandfold.

As a young organization just going on its 7th year, we consider ourselves fortunate that we can already afford to pursue the programs mentioned above. Your continuing trust is what drives and inspires us. Your unflappable support is what will make us see them through. - Gina dela Vega-Cruz