For students at Pangantucan Community High School (PCHS) in Bukidnon, learning basic computer skills has been a challenge not because of a lack of ability, but because access to computers has been limited. That is something Caltex, marketed by Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), hopes to address with the donation of 20 refurbished laptops to the school.
The devices are intended to give students more opportunities to develop their digital skills while also expanding their access to online educational resources. More importantly, the laptops can be used directly in their day-to-day schoolwork, making computers a more practical part of the learning experience.
For mathematics and science classes, students can use the laptops to create spreadsheets and perform data analysis. In social studies, literature, and religion, the devices can provide greater access to online readings and other digital resources.
The laptops can also support presentations, videos, graphics, and other multimedia projects. That gives students a chance to build creative skills alongside the computer literacy they will need beyond school.
The impact also extends to the faculty. With resources limited at PCHS, teachers rely on the Internet for educational materials, demonstrations, and research for their lessons. The donated laptops can therefore give educators additional tools to make lessons more engaging and accessible.
PCHS President Rev. Fr. Marlon T. Fabros, SJ, pointed out that the digital divide goes beyond simply having or not having a device. Students also need opportunities to use computers, make mistakes, practice, and gradually gain confidence. That is perhaps the more important part of the donation.
Twenty laptops alone will not erase every digital gap, but regular access to technology can give students practical experience that would otherwise be difficult to obtain. The Pangantucan donation is also part of Caltex’s history of supporting the community via laptop donations to schools and organizations, including the Jesuit Bukidnon Mission and Ateneo de Naga University.
Pongtorn “Bon” Tangmanuswong, General Manager and Country Chairman of Chevron Philippines Inc., said the company views education investment as one way of helping communities thrive. The company’s social investments also cover areas including safety, health, livelihood, and the environment.
Autocar’s Take
A laptop may seem like a fairly ordinary piece of technology, but for students who rarely get the chance to use one, it can open up an entirely different way of learning. That is what makes Caltex’s 20-laptop donation to Pangantucan Community High School worth noting. The value is not simply in giving students devices, but in giving them opportunities to practice digital skills and become more comfortable with technology.
From spreadsheets and research to presentations and multimedia projects, these are skills they can carry beyond the classroom. Bridging the digital divide starts with access, and this is the fuel giant‘s own practical step toward that.
