We departed Bacoor early that morning of February 18, 2025 bound for Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, with a mission: to deliver STARBOOKS to two deserving schools.
What exactly is STARBOOKS? The name might playfully remind you of Starbucks, the ubiquitous coffee chain where a weekend order in Tagaytay can test your patience. But STARBOOKS is something entirely different, and arguably far more valuable. But it is actually a project of DOST STII (might want to google it yourself to flex some nerves in our brain). It stands for Science and Technology A- R- B-O-O-K-S. Actually it’s bringing e-library to our schools whether it’s public or private, with more than 8,000 books uploaded from DOST library and still counting.
So, why the long journey to share STARBOOKS? This act of giving is deeply ingrained in the Association of Science and Math Educators of Public and Private Schools (ASMEPPS). Before the pandemic, ASMEPPS was already dedicated to outreach. Professor Eloisa Olivera, the president of ASMEPPS, chuckled when I mentioned how the association’s reach had expanded beyond its Calabarzon origins. This expansion is a testament to the dedication of its members. The association’s typically low-profile and humble founder stands in contrast to Dr. Castillo, the COO, who possesses a more boastful personality. Dr. Castillo was once my college professor, and now, I’m fortunate to be working alongside them in this organization.
While ASMEPPS has been in existence since 2012, its founder established Cavite ASMEPPS 103-A Lions International to augment its social responsibility arm by sharing proceeds from the competitions the association has been hosting which became widely accepted through online during the pandemic and now going back to face to face competitions. Through its Treasurer, Ms. Celia Rasing, it formed the club as Charter President in December 2020 to reach more communities all over the Philippines.
ASMEPPS augments its social responsibility efforts by sharing proceeds from its competitions. These competitions gained popularity online during the pandemic and are now transitioning back to in-person events, with online still available in some far flung regions.
To further extend its reach, ASMEPPS’s Treasurer, Ms. Celia Rasing, was elected as the Cavite ASMEPPS 103-A Lions International club Charter President in December 2020. This were followed by Dr. Janet De Guzman who continued the distribution of STARBOOKS during her term. This LY wherein yours truly is the club president, we continue to distribute this to deserving public schools.
This club serves as the social responsibility arm, using funds raised from the competitions to support communities throughout the Philippines.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the dedicated leaders of the Department of Education (DepEd) for their warm welcome and support during our recent outreach. We especially thank:
• Dr. Catalina P. Paez, Schools Division Superintendent (SDS) of Cabanatuan.
• Sonny De Leon and Romeo Hipolito, Education Program Supervisors.
• Leah A. Alvaran, Principal of Cabanatuan East Central School.
• Teresita P. De Leon, School Head of Bakero Elementary School.
• Christian Keith M. Ortiz, School Head of Bagong Buhay Elementary School.
Cabanatuan East Central School was delighted to receive new SciDama benches and tables, providing students with enhanced learning spaces. Meanwhile, Bakero and Bagong Buhay Elementary Schools were each gifted with StarBooks units, opening up a universe of knowledge for their students. This initiative was made possible through the collaborative efforts of ASMEPPS, who provided the computer hardware and kiosk, and DOST-STII, who supplied the invaluable software. As the current President of Cavite ASMEPPS 103 PMJF Lions Club, I was honored to sign the deed of donation documents, formalizing our commitment to these schools. The journey may have been long, but the opportunity to give back to the community makes every mile worthwhile. ||
