August 18, 2025 – Joy radiated from the faces of Indigenous People (IP) students at Balay Paglaum, an extension campus of Sindaton National High School, located in Barangay Lower Panaga, Panabo City. The occasion marked the official launching of a feeding program in collaboration with the Sotelo Group of Companies Inc. and the Department of Education – Panabo City Division.
After years of continuous support through feeding initiatives at the school, DepEd Panabo and the Sotelo Group of Companies Inc. held a ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). This formalized their partnership and commitment to implementing health-focused programs that benefit young IP learners. As part of the agreement, a monthly cash allocation of Php 6,000 will be provided to cover food expenses for the students of Balay Paglaum.
According to Daisy Sotelo, CEO of Sotelo Group of Companies Inc., the feeding program is one of the key projects under their advocacy called “Your Future, My Mission.” She shared her personal motivation for supporting this cause:
“I know how hard it is to go hungry because there’s no money. I also experienced the hardships of life. We were poor, and it was very difficult to go to school.”
During the launch, Panabo City Mayor Jose E. Relampagos joined the celebration and expressed his appreciation for the initiative.
“I am truly grateful to organizations like yours who continuously support the students of Balay Paglaum and other young scholars,” he said.
Also present at the event were key figures from both the local government and the education sector:
- City Councilor JM Relampagos
- ASDS Basilio P. Mana-ay Jr., CESO VI
- SGOD Chief Aileen B. Añonuevo
- CID Chief Janwario Yamota
- IPED Focal/EPS I John Visillas
- DIO Armando Aguilon Jr.
- PSDS Avelino Bitang
- DCP Manuel Esperanza
- School Head – Roxas Elementary School, Mirasol Diana
- School Head – Sindaton NHS, Ronilo Labrador
Also in attendance were various school heads and feeding focal persons from Sotelo Cares Feeding Partner Schools and the Sotelo Heart Foundation Scholarship Program.
|MCG