On 19 October 2026, the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI), spearheaded by President Gerald Uy Chan, paid a courtesy call on Hon. Sonny Angara, Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), at the DepEd Tech Zone in Makati City. The 9:30 a.m. meeting focused on discussing potential areas of cooperation and exploring initiatives to further support and strengthen the Philippine education sector.
Also present during the meeting were Usec. Carmela Oracion and Usec. Edson Byron Sy, who joined Secretary Angara in recognizing CFBCI’s continuing contributions to education. These include the Pagharap sa Pangarap College Scholarship Program, which has provided educational assistance to deserving students since 2009, as well as CFBCI’s recent donation toward the construction of a school building at Arigoy Integrated Mangyan School in Oriental Mindoro.
Among the key areas of discussion was the possibility of strengthening the work immersion component of the K–12 curriculum through greater private sector participation. Secretary Angara encouraged CFBCI and its member companies to provide training opportunities for senior high school students, emphasizing the importance of equipping them with practical skills and workplace experience before entering the labor market. “As business leaders, you can contribute in training our senior high school students in your companies, so they will be well prepared before entering the real-world employment,” he said.
President Chan welcomed the proposal and expressed CFBCI’s openness to exploring initiatives that would help bridge classroom learning and actual workplace experience. He also presented CFBCI’s other education-related projects, including its recent gift-giving initiative on 16 October 2026, which benefited 500 teachers from three schools in Binondo, Manila, in recognition of their dedication and invaluable contributions to shaping future generations.
The engagement reaffirmed the importance of collaboration between the government and the private sector in expanding access to quality education, improving school facilities, and creating meaningful opportunities for Filipino learners. CFBCI remains committed to working with DepEd and other stakeholders in advancing educational initiatives that empower students, support educators, and contribute to a more inclusive and accessible education system in the Philippines.
