From Malls to Mountains: HOPE Travels to Bring Classrooms Where Dreams Begin

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Makati City, August 26, 2025 — In a nation where the classroom gap has long cast a shadow over the dreams of millions of children, the seeds of hope are being planted—quite literally—from malls to mountains. The Department of Education (DepEd), under the leadership of Secretary Sonny Angara, has joined hands with Generation HOPE and a powerhouse roster of local brands to take on one of the most pressing challenges in Philippine education: the shortage of classrooms.

What began as a bottled water project in 2012 is now a sweeping national movement. Generation HOPE, founded by philanthropist and social entrepreneur Nanette Medved-Po, has proven that small everyday choices—buying a drink, shopping at a mall, grabbing a ride—can ripple outward into life-changing opportunities for children. This year, the movement gains even greater momentum as brands like BDO, SM, Penshoppe, Grab, Aivee, Carmen’s Best, and Sunnies pledge their support to the classroom-building initiative.

A Nation’s Call, A Collective Answer

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called for closing the country’s massive classroom gap, and DepEd believes the private sector’s involvement is vital. “Sa tulong ng HOPE at ng ating mga private partners, nais naming patunayan na kapag nagkaisa ang pribado at pampublikong sektor, mas mabilis nating matutupad ang pangarap na walang batang naiwan sa edukasyon,” Secretary Angara declared.

His words struck at the heart of what this movement represents: hope not as a passive wish, but as a shared labor—something Filipinos build together.

More Than Four Walls and a Roof

Each HOPE classroom is far from the typical makeshift structure children in remote areas have grown accustomed to. Built to last, the 7-by-9 meter classrooms are designed for both function and resilience:

Chalkboard and teacher’s desk anchoring the learning space

Cathedral-style ceilings for cooler airflow in tropical heat

Big windows and wall fans for ventilation

A toilet facility to ensure dignity and comfort for students and teachers

These classrooms are not just structures; they are sanctuaries where possibility takes root.

The Power of Everyday Choices

Nanette Medved-Po describes Generation HOPE’s work as an invitation to participate in nation-building in the simplest yet most profound way. “Filipinos always come together in times of need. In a world that is increasingly divided, let’s harness that power every day to support something we can all agree on: investing in the youth of this country to build a nation and ensure a brighter future,” she said.

Indeed, what makes HOPE unique is its funding model. One hundred percent of profits from products such as Hope in a Bottle and Hope in a Box go directly into building classrooms. Now, with partner brands across industries—from banking to fashion, food to transport—the movement is multiplying its impact by reaching more Filipinos in their daily lives.

A Legacy Already in Motion

The numbers tell a story of transformation:

144 classrooms built

52,000 students given a better place to learn

32,000 farmers supported

2 million seedlings planted

9.1 million kilograms of plastic diverted from nature

21,938 tons of carbon sequestered

These figures are not merely statistics—they are living proof that hope, when translated into action, can reshape futures.

Building Bagong Pilipinas, One Classroom at a Time

In the spirit of “Bagong Pilipinas,” the Generation HOPE partnership with DepEd is more than a program; it is a movement of shared responsibility and shared victory. Each classroom erected is a testament to what Filipinos can achieve when they bridge the divides of sector and status, uniting around a common dream for the nation’s children.

From the polished floors of city malls to the rugged trails of mountain schools, hope is traveling, hope is building, hope is alive.

For every Filipino who has ever believed that education is the strongest foundation for nationhood, the message is clear: the future is not just something we wait for—it is something we build together, one classroom, one child, one choice at a time.

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