There are mornings in High School in Pangasinan when learning starts even before the bell rings, and sometimes, it already feels demanding.

Grade 7 student Krish Rasca wakes up early, packs her notebooks, pens, and a small electric fan. Not for comfort, but as a necessity. Her old classroom waits with closed walls, little air, and long hours of heat that stays.

“Pag nagki-quiz po kami, hindi komportable, kaya may mga quiz po akong hindi ganun kaganda ang result o may mga mistakes po ako,” she shared. It was never a lack of ef fort. Never lack dreams of the students. And sometimes, even d e t e r m i n a t i o n g e t s tested by space that is not enough.

Many students believe that school is not just about lessons. It is also about adjusting, enduring, and continuing even when conditions challenge learning every day. The recently turned over two- story, four-classroom school building by SM Foundation at Alaminos City National High School offers students a learning space designed to support both comfort and academic growth. Equipped with well-ventilated classrooms, whiteboards, individual armchairs, storage areas, and accessible comfort rooms, the facility represents better opportunities for learning.

With the new building, excitement is already building among both students and teachers.

Prince Jiwani Aquino, one of the teachers who will soon be using the facility, shares that the difference is immediately apparent.

In their previous classrooms, limited space of ten restricted movement and classroom activities. Teachers found it more challenging to closely monitor students’ work, while collaborative activities frequently required squeezing desks together in already crowded spaces.

“I hope these classrooms will be remembered as places where they [students] discovered their potential, built lasting memories, and received the foundation that helped them succeed in life.”

Now, there is space to move. To reach learners one by one. To see work closely. To guide without rushing through bodies and desks packed too tightly together.

“Ang pagkatuto ng bata ay nakadepende rin sa environment,” Aquino said. “Kapag mas maayos, maliwanag, at komportable ang classroom, mas nagiging handa silang matuto.”

According to Principal Rey Pascua, Alaminos City National High School has long been recognized as an educational hub in the region. Students from all 39 barangays of Alaminos City, as well as neighboring municipalities such as Mabini, Bani, Agno, Anda, and Bolinao, come to the school in pursuit of quality education.

In recent years, however, growing enrollment placed tremendous pressure on the school’s facilities.

Following the pandemic, the school accommodated more than 6,000 students, forcing administrators to implement morning and afternoon shifting schedules due to a shortage of classrooms. Some students and teachers began their day as early as 4:30 in the morning, while others returned home as late as 7:00 in the evening.

But the school continued with a dream to inspire students to pursue their dreams despite challenges.

The new building helps ease this long-standing pressure. It allows a return to regular class schedules and gives both teachers and students a more stable learning rhythm starting School Year 2026–2027.

“Ito ‘yung kauna-unahan na mga classrooms na hindi na kami gagamit ng chalk dahil ang nai-provide na sa amin ay mga whiteboard. Ipinapakita lang nito na sumusulong na yung paraan ng pagtuturo at ang SM Foundation ay merong malaking papel sa mga pagbabagong ito sa larangan ng edukasyon,” said Pascua.

Around 200 students from the Special Program in Mathematics will begin using the rooms. Cleaner space, better comfort, safer facilities including PWD-accessible comfort room, all designed to support learning that feels more focused and less interrupted.

“I hope these classrooms will be remKrish now looks at her future differently. No longer thinking about heat or discomfort. She dreams of becoming a lawyer someday, and now she says it feels a little closer than before.embered as places where they [students] discovered their potential, built lasting memories, and received the foundation that helped them succeed in life.”

Krish now looks at her future differently. No longer thinking about heat or discomfort. She dreams of becoming a lawyer someday, and now she says it feels a little closer than before.

Each classroom now carries more than chairs and boards. It carries stories of students’ effort who continue even when conditions are not easy.

And now, those stories meet a chance to learn without being held back by what used to limit them.