News

Citigroup Success Fund Awards Ceremony

(L to R) Ms. Lizzie Zobel, Mr. James Hunt, Representatives of one of the wining School, Sec. Butch Abad, Ms. Margarita Delgado and Mr. Hans Sicat during the Citigroup Awards Ceremony in DepEd Pasig City

The Citigroup Success Fund: Awards for Innovation in Reading Program for Nation Building honored its top 9 winners last February 11, 2005 at DepEd Bulwagan ng Karunungan, Pasig City. Present during the awards ceremony were SAS President Margarita L. Delgado, Vice President Lizzie E. Zobel, Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz, Luigi Bernas, Monique Villonco, Rayvi Sunico, Executive Director Beng de Villa and Grace Alcid. Representing Citigroup were Country Officer James F. Hunt and Philippine Chief Representative Hans B. Sicat and Vice President Lillibeth V. Fajardo. Principals and team members from the winning schools were delighted to receive their trophies and cash awards from Secretary Florencio Abad, DepEd’s top man. The nine winners were LEAP (Love for Extensive Academic Progress) Through Reading by the Naga Central School I, Naga City; Book Relay by the San Fernando Elementary School in San Fernando, Pampanga and “Read and Save!” Program by the San Miguel Elementary School in La Carlota City; Project CREATES - Create Reading Entertainment Through Arts and Theatre Environ and Stimulation by the Buli Elementary School in Buli, Muntinlupa City; BOP (Book of Power) Reading Program, Reading Passion by Excellence by the Hen. Pio del Pilar Elementary School in Makati City; Pandora’s Box Challenge by the Bibiclat Elementary School in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija; Pick-Read for an Art by the Hambabauran Elementary School in Ubay, Bohol; Reading Enhancement Program by the Bagong Buhay E. Elementary School in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan; Program CARE by the Makati Elementary School in Poblacion, Makati City.

Sa Akalat Sisikat teamed up with Citigroup, DepEd, and Project Consultant Grace Alcid to launch the program last September 14, 2004. Of a total of 298 SAS schools invited to participate, 118 or close to 40% submitted proposals for consideration. Educators and Citigroup volunteers formed the panel of screeners. The criteria was designed by Dr. Frederico Macaranas from the Asian Institute of Management, under the direction of Margarita L. Delgado and Grace Alcid. The main objective was to promote innovation and team building in teaching reading to our public elementary schools.