Telus Digital Philippines Refurbishes a 52-Year-Old High School in Iloilo, as Company Marks Its Fifth Year in the Region

More than 240 volunteers from TELUS Digital Philippines recently came together at Mandurriao National High School to refurbish classrooms and campus facilities for more than 3,200 students. The day also included sessions to help young people build skills for safer and more responsible use of digital platforms. The event marks the fifth anniversary of TELUS Digital’s Iloilo sites, during which team members have mentored, fundraised and given back to the communities where they live and work.

Held under TELUS Digital Philippines’ TELUS Days of Giving (TDOG) initiative in support of the Department of Education’s Brigada Eskwela program, the effort brought together team members from the company’s Strata and Pavia sites. Volunteers worked on three school buildings, repainting 15 classrooms, seven hallways and five staircases and restoring over 180 student chairs. The 52-year-old school serves more than 3,200 students and 160 teachers.

Thirty high school students also took part in a TELUS Wise® digital literacy session, where they learned practical ways to stay safe online and become more responsible users of social media.

The school refurbishment and digital literacy session reflect two important dimensions of education: creating environments where students can learn well, and equipping them with the knowledge to navigate the digital spaces that are now part of everyday life.

“For us in Iloilo, volunteerism is about truly being part of the community. Our team members live and work here, so being able to contribute to a school that serves thousands of students makes the impact feel very immediate and personal,” said Jonabee Catura, Senior Director and Iloilo Site Lead, TELUS Digital Philippines. “Even though we’re here  for one day, the spaces we help improve, and the opportunities they create for students, help serve the community for much longer.” 

The Philippines is currently facing an estimated 165,000-classroom shortage, with the gap projected to grow by another 58,000 to 81,000 classrooms by 2040. Learning outcomes are also  a concern, with international assessments pointing to persistent challenges in reading, mathematics and science across the country.

Brigada Eskwela brings together schools, communities, private organizations and volunteers to help address some of these challenges by improving school facilities and creating more supportive environments for students and teachers.

“Volunteerism creates a different kind of connection between an organization and the communities where it operates,” said Rajiv M. Dhand, Senior Vice President of Global Customer Experience and Trust & Safety Operations at TELUS Digital. “It’s our team stepping out from behind their desks to give something real: their time, their hands, their hearts. In Iloilo, that meant transforming the spaces where students learn, and helping young people build the skills and confidence to thrive in an increasingly digital world. This is who we are, and we couldn’t be prouder.”

Since 2021, 780 TELUS Digital team member volunteers in Iloilo have contributed more than 3,780 volunteer hours to Brigada Eskwela activities, helping improve learning environments for students across the province.

The company has also supported initiatives that expand access to education, health services and opportunities for underserved communities in Iloilo. Through the TELUS Digital Philippines Community Board, the company’s grant-giving foundation, TELUS Digital Philippines has supported local organizations including Walk and Work Foundation, Inc., to provide assistive devices and educational support for children and youth with disabilities, the Center for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development to bring basic health services to underserved farming communities in Passi City, and the University of San Agustin Research and Development Foundation Inc. to advance culturally responsive, play-based learning for children in Indigenous Schools of Living Tradition in Iloilo and Antique. This partnership was recognized with the Outstanding CSR Project for Education award from the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) in June.

Through TELUS Days of Giving and the TELUS Digital Philippines Community Board, TELUS Digital Philippines continues to bring its team members closer to the communities where they live and work, turning volunteer time into tangible support for students and schools.