Adopt-A-School: Rotary Club of Metro East Taytay Brings Hope Through Education

Taytay, Rizal — August 26, 2025.

A brighter future now awaits the learners of San Juan Elementary School Annex as the Rotary Club of Metro East Taytay (RCMET) officially turned over its landmark Canopy for Learners and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Project under Rotary’s Adopt-A-School Program.

The turnover was not just an event—it was a celebration of hope, service, and the power of partnership. With the unveiling of the new canopy and refurbished WASH facility, over 1,437 students and 28 teachers will now enjoy safer, cleaner, and more conducive spaces to learn and grow.

A Project that Transforms Lives

For years, students had endured studying under trees with only trapal sheets to shield them from the elements, while the old washing area had become unsafe and inadequate. Today, those struggles have been replaced with durable infrastructure:

• A Canopy for Learners that offers comfort, safety, and shelter for school activities;

• A refurbished WASH station that encourages good hygiene and promotes student health; and

• New ceiling fans, lighting, and power outlets, making the space cooler, brighter, and functional even after school hours.

This project does not only improve learning conditions—it restores dignity, health, and opportunity to every student who walks through the school grounds.

United in Service

The initiative was made possible through the leadership of RCMET President Donato “Don” G. Santiago, alongside Service Project Chair PP Ariel Espino, Project Owner Rtn. Rolando Panlaqui, and Project Coordinator Rtn. Milagros Javier. Working closely with Principal Dr. Melchor T. Tagudando, teachers, and the School Parent-Teacher Association (SPTA), the project was completed in just one month—from two ocular visits in early August to construction and refurbishment ending on August 25, followed by the turnover on August 26, 2025.

More than Infrastructure—A Legacy of Hope

This initiative is deeply aligned with Rotary’s Seven Areas of Focus, especially in Basic Education and Literacy, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, and Community Development. It demonstrates how service, when done with passion and purpose, creates multi-impact change that benefits not just students, but families and the entire community.

Rotary signages and markers installed on-site now stand as enduring reminders of accountability, transparency, and the club’s commitment to serve humanity.

“This is more than just a structure—it is a symbol of hope and opportunity,” shared President Don Santiago. “When Rotary and the community work together, we don’t just build projects—we build futures.”

Building Futures, Uniting for Good

The Canopy for Learners and WASH Project is proof that lasting change is possible when hearts and hands unite for a common purpose. With this milestone, the Rotary Club of Metro East Taytay once again lives up to its mission to Unite for Good—transforming education, empowering communities, and leaving behind a legacy of service that inspires.

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By: Meme Borja