Believing that the youth are the hope and leaders of the future, Doña Marta T. Hernandez Foundation, Inc. (DMTHF), the social development arm of Victory Liner, Inc. (VLI), recently donated school supplies and held a feeding program for the students of Mabato Primary School and Paite Balincaguing Elementary School of Sitio Lubong at San Narciso, Zambales.
Over 250 public school children were given school supply kits to help prepare them for the new school year. Each contains basic school items such as a backpack bag, notebooks, pencils, ball pens, eraser, sharpener, pencil box, crayons and an umbrella.
The activity was spearheaded by Alma Veronica Abcede, president of DMTHF, together with volunteers from the Hernandez family, DMTHF and VLI.
Victory Liner, INC and DMTHF
“Personally implementing social development programs has been a longstanding tradition at the Hernandez family, since it was established in 1997 by the children of Doña Marta and Don Jose Isaac Hernandez—the latter being the founder of Victory Liner,” explained Abcede. “This was taught to us by our grandparents, and we intend to continue passing this on, not only to family members, but also to Victory Liner employees.”
In addition to the school supplies, the Hernandez family members also donated clothes, shoes, books and other necessities. The initiative was conducted in time for the opening of the school year, and public schools in Sitio Lubong were identified as beneficiaries because of their remote location.
“Sitio Lubong is particularly very far from the town proper, located near the foot of the Zambales mountain range. Equipping school children there with the basic materials that they need will greatly help and motivate them to do well in school,” said Abcede.
More than donating school supply kits to elementary students, the foundation also holds public school classroom cleanups and painting of school chairs. DMTHF has likewise spearheaded a book donation drive and has funded the construction of a public school classroom and a library.
VLI and Its Employees
Moreover, deserving children of VLI employees receive financial assistance from the foundation to help with their education. To date, more than 900 VLI scholars have already been benefitted.
“The foundation aims to promote better education, health and entrepreneurship for Filipinos. We especially focus on serving the needs of communities along VLI routes in Northern Luzon. It’s our way of giving back to the communities –by proactively making a positive difference in areas where we operate,” said Abcede.
Aside from provinces along VLI routes, DMTHF further extends assistance to communities damaged by natural disasters. In October 2013, the foundation provided financial donations to the Diocese of Tagbilaran for the victims of the Bohol earthquake. Also in the same year, family members and employees from VLI packed 10,000 bags of relief goods for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.
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