These are fearful times, indeed. Like many countries, the Philippines scrambled to adapt to this “new reality” of disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Afraid of the full impact of the uncertainty on the education system brought by the virus, a philanthropist is tripping his intention to instill the most crucial thing for financially challenged kids to give them a brighter future amid the gloomy skies: Hope.
“It is part of our social responsibility to assure the next generation of leaders of continuing progress in society. I was exposed at an early age to the plight of the underprivileged by my grandfather, who was then a local chief executive of Daet,” ABC TECH Ventures, Inc. chairperson and CEO Arvin Arik Carranceja said.
In an interview, Carranceja said his philanthropic endeavor to help less fortunate kids to secure a great future is part of his company’s corporate social responsibility.
Growing up, Carraneja said he saw the struggles of families in Daet, Camarines Norte, who had a hard time providing good education to their children. His heart bled seeing students fail to conquer their dreams because they are less in monetary means.
“I feel a strong sense of empathy for these financially challenged but academically deserving students because their innate talents will just be put to waste,” he said.
Further, he said he is doing his unsolicited share to the society, as he remains optimistic that the youth is the nation’s future. Poverty is not a hindrance to success.
“To a greater extent, this cliche still finds much relevance because of the natural cycle of life where seasoned guards fade away, leaving a void in leadership,” Carranceja told the Daily Tribune.
And as the present government has allocated the most significant budget allocation for education under the National Expenditure Program for 2023, he said he sees the efforts of lawmakers and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to elevate the country’s education system.
“Contentment is relative, and human needs increase over time. Moreover, the government is limited to the approved budget by the legislature. An augmentation to this budget would mean private citizens doing their fair share in nation-building,” he said.
Under the NEP 2023, the education sector will receive an 8.2 percent increase next year at P852.8 billion and will remain with the highest budgetary priority as mandated by the Constitution.
DepEd’s budget received an increase from P633.3 billion in 2022 to P710.6 billion in 2023.
Partnering with WOOP
And with a firm resolve to educate less fortunate kids, Carranceja has invested heavily in the Windows of Opportunity or WOOP, a scholarship matching platform, to produce more educated, financially challenged children.
A unique platform that employs user-friendly means to ensure accessibility to scholarships, WOOP focuses on breaking barriers and providing avenues for financially challenged but driven and deserving Filipino students, thereby bridging the gap between those who endeavor to help and those in need of securing scholarships from the private sector.
On the other hand, ABC TECH Ventures Inc. is a company that manufactures digital tablets specially designed for educational purposes.
The youthful Carranceja, a visionary whose fidelity to the cause of education has led him to establish his company, is a past president of JCI Daet Kabihug, a past regional vice president for the Bicol Region of JCI Philippines, and is likewise a member of the Rotary Club of Manila, the first in Asia.
In these organizations, his social consciousness and awareness were honed aside from his impeccable leadership skills, which were harnessed at such an early age.
With nation-building as one of his advocacies, Carranceja will undoubtedly bring more smiles to the next generation of leaders of our country, as his company’s philanthropic ways will best serve the interests of a nation whose focus on educating its population is beyond reproach.