Excitement filled the air at the Lawa Elementary School and Tawiran Elementary School in Obando, Bulacan in the first week of 2025 as students resumed class with renewed enthusiasm.

Inspiring the schoolchildren’s return to their classrooms were new backpacks, school supplies and storybooks given them under the annual Balik Eskwela project of One Meralco Foundation (OMF) supported by the National Bookstore Foundation Inc. and Meralco Employees Fund for Charity Inc.

Volunteers from the Meralco Valenzuela Business Center delivered the school kits and literacy tools.

Each child received a backpack containing notebooks, pencils, crayons, alphabet flashcards and storybooks.

For the schools themselves, OMF donated storybooks to their libraries, enriching the educational resources available to students and fostering a culture of reading. These contributions highlight the foundation’s commitment to empowering students and ensuring they have access to materials that spark curiosity and imagination.

Making the charity event more special was the live storytelling session for the children conducted by OMF employee-volunteers.

Photos shared on Facebook on 8 January captured heartwarming moments of students listening intently, their faces lit up with smiles and giggles. The interactive session brought stories to life, inspiring the young learners to explore the wonders of reading and storytelling.

The collaboration ensured that the initiative reached more students and schools, demonstrating the power of collective action in creating positive change.