Security Bank Foundation and DepEd Expand Teacher & Principal Training Nationwide

Front row, from left to right: Rev. Fr. Bienvenido F. Nebres, SJ, Former President, Ateneo de Manila University; Mr. Eduardo M. Olbes, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Security Bank Corporation; Mr. Rafael F. Simpao, Jr., Chairman, Security Bank Foundation, Inc.; Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara, Department of Education; Dr. Carmela C. Oracion, Assistant Secretary for the National Educators Academy of the Philippines, Department of Education; Mr. Jose Ramelle E. Javier, Director, Central House Administration – De La Salle Philippines.

Second row, from left to right: Dr. Leland Joseph Dela Cruz, Assistant Vice President for Social and Environmental Engagement for Development and Sustainability, Ateneo de Manila University; Mr. Michael Joseph Cabauatan, Director III, DepEd Office of the Secretary; Ms. Melissa R. Aquino, Trustee and Corporate Secretary, Security Bank Foundation, Inc.; Ms. Graciela Mendoza, Director IV, DepEd External Partnerships Service; Mr. Amorsolo Camara, Jr., Director IV, DepEd International Cooperation Office; Ms. Brigitte Anne Limbo, Director of Lasallian Mission Services, De La Salle Philippines

The Department of Education (DepEd), Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI), and Security Bank Corporation have formalized a partnership to expand SBFI’s Mentoring Future Leaders for Nation-Building program, a three-year training initiative for teachers and school principals.

Under the agreement, DepEd will endorse qualified applicants, grant learning and development credits, monitor action plans, and provide essential data to measure impact. Education Secretary Sonny Angara, lauded Security Bank’s long-term commitment: “Looking at the figures, Security Bank is truly one of our most steadfast allies from the private sector. Their support has never been a fleeting gesture, but a lasting commitment—one that continues to create evidence of change not just for years, but for decades, transforming communities, schools, families, and individual lives.”

Developed with Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle Philippines, and international partners The HEAD Foundation (Singapore) and the University of Bristol (UK), the program equips principals with leadership and problem-solving skills, and trains teachers in modern instruction methods for English, Math, and Science, student assessment, and community engagement.

SBFI Chairman Rafael F. Simpao, Jr. emphasized: “Physical structures alone cannot improve education. True transformation lies in the hands of principals and teachers.”

Now in its third year, the program has trained 167 educators—many from SBFI’s beneficiary schools—preparing them to serve as mentors and leaders in their communities. It complements the Foundation’s flagship Build a School, Build a Nation classroom donation program, extending impact beyond infrastructure to long-term capacity building.

Learn more about Security Bank Foundation’s commitment to education at www.securitybank.com/foundation.