As alumni of the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS), one thing that has been instilled in us is the value of having access to quality, relevant, and equitable education. As a laboratory school for the UP College of Education, and a service and feeder school for the University of the Philippines, UPIS showed us two important things: 

1) For education to fulfill its purpose of contributing to the attainment of social justice and equity, it needs to take care of its faculty and personnel by offering discounted tuition fees to their children; and 

2) For education to find out what works for its teachers and learners, it needs to provide spaces for innovation, research, and discovery. 

As we celebrate 25 years of having graduated from UPIS in the year 2022, we would like to share what UPIS has imbibed in us. Just as UPIS is committed “to educate students who shall develop their potential and who shall be proud of their culture and national identity,” we are also committing to support a minimum of three UPIS students who need financial assistance*, from Grade 7 until they graduate. Together with the UPIS Scholarship Committee, we will be selecting students to support for six years in the hope of ensuring that the assistance will allow them to fully participate in the education being offered by one of the country's pioneer integrated schools. This means a total pledge of at least PHP 540,000.00 from our batch from SY 2022-2023 to SY 2027-2028. 

(*The financial assistance will be used for the payment of student fees, instructional materials, PTA donation, food and internet allowance.)

In addition, we will be providing appropriate and engaging internship opportunities to Grade 12 students. We will also equip Grade 7-12 students by giving talks and webinars on a) track- or profession-related information and inspiration, and b) life skills (such as work ethic, mindfulness or self-regulated learning). This will be in coordination with the Department of Student Services of UPIS and will be in keeping with the mission of UPIS “to equip students with life skills in their search for knowledge that will contribute to nation building”.

We know that this is an ambitious batch Legacy Project, but we believe this is the best way we can pay forward what UPIS has given us. This focus on supporting UPIS students is especially crucial as education goes through changes as a result of the current pandemic and resulting lockdown. As equal access to technology and the emphasis on personalized education focused on strengths and passions become more significant, we want our legacy to be learner-centered, purposeful, and related to real-life issues and concerns.

Thank you to those who joined us light the path for these bright young minds!